Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“If you tell the professor the problem, they should be able to work around it. It’s up to them to decide what to do. Turns out they’re pretty lax on the fucking thing if you’re honest about it.”
Zach tries to cover a wince.
I step closer. “But it’s entirely up to you if you want to go there.”
His gaze flicks to mine. “I … I—”
“You don’t need to make a decision right now. If you ever did want to take that next step, I’m all for it. But I won’t pressure you, and I’d never make you do something you don’t want to do.”
I don’t want to flat-out tell him I overheard him, but I need him to understand that I mean every word coming out of my mouth.
He licks his bottom lip.
“Think about it.” I lean in and whisper, “Just know I’ll make it good for you.”
I force myself to walk away before I offer to take him right here and now.
I think I scared Zach off. And maybe I was a little too forward.
Is tact something you can learn? I might need some of that.
Nuance 101. I’d take that class.
By Thursday, I’m ready to turn up on his doorstep and ask him, but I promised myself I wouldn’t push. My laundry is piling up, so I make the decision to go home to wash my clothes so my weekend is open in case a certain nerd decides he’s free.
Only, when I get home and push my way through the door, I find my brother in front of the TV.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
He lifts his head and looks at me. “Could ask you the same.”
I hold up my bag of laundry.
“You’re gonna have to wait in line. Mine’s in there right now.” He waves a finger between us. “Weird voodoo twin thing.”
“If we want to get technical, the deal was you do my laundry if I watch out for Zach …”
“That was a one-time deal.”
“Was it? I don’t recall a timeframe. Maybe I meant forever.”
“Maybe I meant to do this.” My brother flips me off.
“Nice.” I throw myself on the couch next to him and try to ignore the weird energy between us.
He’s watching some National Geographic show about snow leopards. It’s boring as fuck, but I don’t ask him to change it. I kinda feel like I don’t have a right to ask my brother for favors right now.
“How’s Zach?” he eventually asks. “I haven’t heard from him since the game.”
At least I’m not the only one Zach’s avoiding.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since Monday.”
“What did you do?”
I huff. “I didn’t do anything. Well, not really. I might’ve told him I wanted to fuck him. Maybe.”
“Jesus Christ,” Seth mutters.
“Well, it was more eloquent than that.” Not by much, but still. “But I haven’t seen him since. Or spoken to him. Or messaged him. You’re his best friend. What does it mean when he goes radio silent?”
Seth points at me. “This. Right here. This is why I didn’t want you two getting involved with each other. I refuse to be in the middle of you two and that includes giving advice on either one of you. I’m Switzerland.”
“Did you know Switzerland wasn’t completely neutral? They allowed Nazis to transport Jews through the country on their train lines.”
My brother’s eyes narrow. “I didn’t know you knew stuff.”
“I know lots of things. I don’t know why people think I’m dumb because I play sports.”
“Wow, hot jock and brains. No wonder Dad’s so proud.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Has he said something?”
Seth grunts. “No. No more than the usual anyway. If I do well this year, I’m all set to graduate top of my class with basically my choice of grad schools, but all Dad can talk about is how his hothead of a son blew the most important hockey game of the season.”
“The season hasn’t even started yet! It was a stupid game that’s gotten too big over the years. People think it’s important when it’s not. Everyone needs to let it go. I have.”
“Well, yeah, I already play second fiddle to you with Dad. I’m not going to do it with Zach.”
“You can give advice while staying out of it, you know. I don’t know how to read Zach. You do.”
Seth pauses. “It’s either one of two things: you scared him off and now he’s hiding, or he’s legit too busy studying and being Zach. He might not realize three days have passed or that you even exist in the same universe anymore.”
“That … doesn’t help at all. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
He goes back to watching his documentary, and I think that’s that, but nope. About five minutes later, he turns the TV off and swivels on the couch to face me.
“Why him?” There’s something in his tone. I can’t tell if it’s anger, resentment, or he plain can’t understand it. “You could literally have anyone on your campus. Why my best friend?”