Staccato (Magnum Opus #2) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,86
sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. “First choice.”
“Holy shit,” Adam breathed, and he was hit with yet another wave of inferiority, but he quickly shoved it down. “That’s amazing.”
“Grants covered most of it, and I got a part-time job as a legal secretary for one of the professors there—not one of mine,” he said, like it mattered—and maybe it did. “But I didn’t expect them to want me to start now.”
“Well, you got this,” Jay told him, and he sounded like a proud dad the way his voice lifted, the way he looked at his friend. “I’m fucking excited for you.”
Adam wondered if he stuck around long enough if people would feel that way about him. Even Damien, who had loved him like a brother, had never had much faith. And maybe it was just because Adam had never done anything worthy of that kind of praise or pride—and maybe he never would. But this made him want to stay more.
“I should get to the bank,” Adam said when Devon went back to his hysterical packing.
“I’ll be here all day,” Devon said, then looked up and half-rose. “Jay told you all my shit is staying, right? My sister said she’d come throw it all into storage, so just…you know. Don’t fuck it all up.”
Adam held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
Devon laughed and rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. Boy scout shit.”
Adam laughed with him, then he and Jay headed for the door and promised to be back a little bit later. They closed the door on the frantic soon-to-be law student and legal secretary, and Adam buried his hands in his pockets and closed them into fists when he realized the first person he wanted to call was Nik.
“He won’t care,” Jay said knowingly.
Adam rolled his eyes. “How about breakfast first, then the bank?”
Jay groaned with happiness as he unlocked the car. “Remind me to keep you forever, dude. If I had to hang with Nik any longer, I’d starve to death.”
Adam laughed, but he knew that was a half-truth. Maybe he’d try the lunch thing again with Nik. It would be a good time to tell him about the place, and maybe—if the mood was right—bring up the possible vacation.
Adam was so unsurprised he couldn’t even be vaguely hurt when Nik told him it was best to stay away from the school. In reality, he was a little bit relieved not to risk another scene, and instead he agreed to meet at Jay’s for movie night after his shift.
The shop was down to bare bones—Vincent working his appointments, Chris working on the walk-ins, and Adam working the desk. He had three ears with good tippers in the first hour, then the mall became a ghost town, and he found himself playing his bubble game until a text buzzed through from a number he hadn’t saved.
Unknown: Hey, it’s Seth. Um. Nik gave me your number, he said something about movie night tonight?
Adam: Yeah, for sure. We’re meeting at a friend’s house. I was just going to pick up pizza if that’s good with you?
Unknown: If it’s okay, I’ll grab my own stuff. I have weird diet restrictions, and it’s a pain. But I could use a night out.
Adam: Of course, man. Glad you took me up on the offer.
He sent the address to Jay’s, then picked up the desk phone and dialed Nik. He knew he was free by then, and he felt a warm wash of comfort when Nik’s voice sounded on the other line.
“And what would Vincent’s want to call someone like me for? A piercing suggestion? Ass tattoo?”
Adam rolled his eyes in spite of his grin. “They wanted to say you could use a little edge in your life. Maybe a Prince Albert.”
“My boyfriend is a hot piercer, and he’s already explained to me what all those are. You can’t fool me.” Nik laughed, then sighed into the phone. “Do you think my body’s boring?”
Adam groaned. “Oh my god, no. I think the sheer number of times I scream your name at night should make it obvious that I don’t think any of you is boring.”
“I mean, it’s something I’d think about, if you ever had a good idea for one.”
Adam frowned and rested his chin on his hand. “A piercing or tattoo?”
“Either. I’m not as dull as most people think.”
With a laugh, Adam shook his head and pressed his fingers against his eyes until he saw stars. “Babe, I don’t think anyone has ever