my mom. You were captain for a reason. That virgin ass couldn’t be in safer hands.”
Max ruthlessly shut down all thoughts of Jeremy’s fine ass. “Look, it doesn’t matter if I’m into him. I said I’d help him get laid. That’s why we’re going out tonight.”
“Then help him get laid.” Honey swigged from a bottle of orange sports drink. “I know you’ll be all tender and shit. Want me to sleep at Alicia’s tonight?”
“No. I’m not screwing Jeremy. It wouldn’t be right. I’m going home to Pinevale in a few days.” The mess of feelings of both looking forward to Christmas while dreading his LSAT results was now joined by guilt over leaving Jeremy to spend the holidays alone. He hated to think of Jeremy all by himself in a depressing dorm room.
He was struck by a memory of his mom saying, “Christmas can be a very lonely time for some people.” He’d been baffled—Christmas was the best. Presents and food and time off school. His seven- or eight-year-old brain hadn’t been capable of imagining people lonely at the holidays.
Now, he imagined Jeremy’s family apparently off on some trip, leaving him in that bare dorm room. Max’s chest tightened. This was stupid. He barely even knew Jeremy. This was, what, day three? He shouldn’t feel attached to him already.
Sure, he was attracted to Jeremy. He could admit that. He was attracted to plenty of guys! It didn’t mean anything. But it was more than that. How was it more than that already? Why had he been watching the clock all damn day, counting down until he got to see Jeremy again?
“Even if Jeremy wanted me—”
“Oh, he does. You’re both real, real bad at hiding it.”
Despite himself, Max’s belly swooped like he’d just intercepted a pass. “You think he likes me?”
“Yeah, he passed me a note after third period. I put it in your locker. It said, ‘Does Max think I’m cute? Y-slash-N.’ So tomorrow in homeroom—”
“Okay, okay.” He had to laugh. “Fuck you.” Max slouched back on the cushions, blowing out a noisy breath. “This wasn’t the plan.”
“You and your plans.” Honey shrugged. “Roll with it. Now we gonna play, or what?”
They both grabbed controllers and started a new game. Max kept getting killed as his mind wandered again and again to Jeremy. T-minus five hours.
Not that he was counting.
“Just a sec!” Jeremy’s flustered voice came through the flimsy door.
Max could hear him scrambling around, and when Jeremy flung open the door, his wire glasses were askew and half his hair stood up in a mess. Max laughed. “Were you jerking off?”
Jeremy flushed even redder, shaking his head and tugging at the collar of his blue, too-big polo shirt. Which was inside-out. For a second, Max thought someone else was there and he’d caught Jeremy getting busy.
For a second, the jealousy burned so hot Max couldn’t breathe.
Which was ridiculous! He should be glad if Jeremy had found the confidence to hook up. They’d just met—Jeremy didn’t owe him anything. There was no reason to be jealous. Definitely no reason to feel weirdly hurt.
But when Max went inside carrying Jeremy’s shopping bags from yesterday, the room was empty, and Max was undeniably relieved. His mind circled back immediately to the idea that he’d interrupted Jeremy jerking off, and boy, did Max’s dick like that. Imaginary slideshow images of Jeremy working himself clicked through Max’s head, and his twitching cock was going to jump up to a full salute if he didn’t lock that shit down.
He cleared his throat. “Sorry if I’m early. I brought your stuff.” He put the bags on the floor. “I can wait in the hall if you want?”
“No, of course not. I lost track of time. I…” Jeremy was still wrestling with the shirt collar.
“It’s inside-out.”
“Oh!” Jeremy rubbed a hand over his face. “Oh my God, I’m an idiot.” His hands dropped to his sides. “I was trying to take a picture. For that app you recommended. I figured I should set up a profile, right? And I don’t want to show my face, so…” He motioned to his body, now draped in the huge inside-out polo.
“Gotcha. Want me to help?”
“Sure. It’s not like I could humiliate myself any more in front of you. Although I’m sure I can find a way if I put my mind to it.”
“I mean, you’re a bright kid. You should never limit yourself,” Max teased, fighting through another surge of jealousy at the idea of thousands of nameless, faceless men scoping