Keeping Casey (Keeping Him #1) - Amy Aislin Page 0,20

during office hours.”

“Oh, for the love of . . . Forget it.” He left, making a mental note to email the professor directly.

Stepping out of Glen Hill Hall, he squinted against the sunshine and scoped out the quad for his friends. Spotting Ethan, Theo, and Brant waiting for him under a leafy tree in the quad, Casey smiled. It was beyond cool that Brant had stuck up for Ethan the other day. Even cooler that the three of them were now friends. Casey was tempted to leave them alone to have lunch without him so they could bond.

But he and Ethan were like opposite poles, and Casey was so drawn to him it was often all he could see. He couldn’t walk away if he was paid to.

And probably not even then.

Ethan looked good as he smiled at something Theo was saying. Hands tucked into the pockets of his khaki cargo shorts, his navy T-shirt outlined broad shoulders, and his backpack hung off one shoulder, Casey’s I dig you button pinned to the front pocket.

Ethan’s Forget hydrogen, you’re my number one element button was pinned to Casey’s own backpack. It made his heart thump a little harder every time he got a look at it.

God, Ethan was wearing those atrocious socks with sandals. Casey grinned even as he cringed a little.

Ethan smiled when Casey walked up, making his stomach clench pleasantly.

“We got assigned a group project today,” Casey said glumly, dropping his backpack at his feet.

“I love group projects.” Theo’s eyes lit up. “I was totally bummed that I don’t have any this semester.”

“Casey hates them.” Casually, Ethan slung an arm around Casey’s shoulders. “Pretty sure he’d rather drown himself.”

Casey sighed and let his head fall onto Ethan’s shoulder. “You’re not entirely wrong.” The side that was pressed up against Ethan was tingly and warm. Casey had to resist the urge to snuggle closer.

Fake boyfriends, he had to remind himself. No snuggling unless Britton was around.

Okay. Maybe a little bit of snuggling. A lot of snuggling, actually. They’d been doing so since they started sharing the same bed during sleepovers as kids. Hell, they still shared the same bed on occasion.

So basically, nothing would change between them?

“I’m with Casey on this one,” Brant said, digging into a package of trail mix. “Group projects are the worst.”

Without moving from Ethan’s side, Casey patted Brant on the shoulder. “Knew I liked you.”

Theo coughed into his fist, gaze drifting past Casey. “Don’t look now, but Britton’s headed this way. I mean, not this way. Toward Glen Hill Hall. But he’s seen you.”

Ethan’s body language . . . changed. The friendly arm slung over Casey’s shoulders went loose, sweeping down his back to rest at his hip, pressing them more firmly together. Casey’s entire body erupted in goosebumps despite the warmth of the late summer day.

God. This whole fake-boyfriends thing would end up being either the best idea, or worst, he’d ever had.

After lunch, Ethan sat at an intricate iron table on Glen Hill Hall’s back patio with Casey. Much to Casey’s dismay, they’d foregone the college cafeteria for lunch, instead choosing the GH Eatery at the back of Glen Hill Hall where they could sit outside and enjoy the weather that would soon turn cold. Plus the Eatery served hot meals and Ethan didn’t want another salad from The Bean Bag.

Theo and Harkrader had taken off for their respective classes, and since Casey was done with them for the day, he’d opted to wait with Ethan for Roman Kinsey.

Once Ethan had submitted the online questionnaire for the mentorship program, everything had happened quickly. He’d received an email confirming the name of his match from the Vermont Trailblazers the following day, then Roman Kinsey had texted him the day after that to set up a meeting time, and now Roman Kinsey was on his way here, to Glen Hill College, to meet with him.

And Ethan had no idea what he was going to say.

Across from him, Casey’s leg bounced. Ethan narrowed his eyes.

“I’m cool,” Casey said, raising both hands in the air. “Totally cool over here.”

“Uh-huh.”

At least his leg had stopped bouncing.

Every move from Casey in the past hour they’d lingered over lunch had drawn Ethan’s gaze. Every time he’d bitten into his chicken sandwich. Every time he’d leaned back in his chair, stretching the material of his black T-shirt over his chest. Every time he’d run his hand through his thick hair, raking it back from his forehead. Every smile that lightly dimpled