“No.” Jace’s food had lost its appeal. He forced a few bites anyway,
mostly just to keep himself from saying something stupid.
Victor filled the silence for him. “I like Adrien.”
Jace snorted, then stared when Victor appeared serious.
“Really, I do. It’s refreshing to meet someone with so few filters.”
Victor scratched at his chin. “You remember Star? She’s his opposite.
Everything that girl says is calculated and rolled in three layers of
bullshit. With Adrien, you know what you’re getting up front because
he’ll make sure to tell you.”
“He does make an impression,” Jace admitted. “You weren’t
offended?”
Victor smiled. “I’m also not going to let him win, so no.”
Jace felt like apologizing for Adrien, or at least explaining where he
was coming from, but mostly he wanted his name to be banished from
the table. He wanted to talk about them, which was frustrating because
there was nothing new to be said. Nothing had changed. Well, nearly
nothing.
“Greg said you got a job.”
Victor looked embarrassed, something even rarer than him being
surprised.
“That bad?” Jace asked. “Fast food industry?”
“No. It’s just that there aren’t many people willing to give someone
like me a shot. I never really worked before, so—”
Jace shook his head, still not understanding.
Victor seemed amused. “I’m not copying you or anything creepy like
that.”
“Bernie’s?” Jace said, slapping the table. “No way! Bernard gave
you a job?”
“Yeah.”
“He didn’t say anything about it to me when I saw him on Christmas
break.”
“It’s a fairly new development.” Victor looked defiant. “And I hate
it.”
“You love it,” Jace teased. “And look at your hair. You’ve got your
own lion’s mane now. I bet you figured if you couldn’t have me, you’d
try to be me.”
“You’re cruel,” Victor said, grinning. “And I still have you. In my
own way.”
Jace wouldn’t deny that. Part of him would always belong to Victor.
But he was still too shocked by this news to ponder that now. “So what
made you get your own hamster wheel? Trying out something new? Or is
it somehow ironic?”
“No, no,” Victor shook his head, attention on the salt shaker he was
twirling between two fingers. “It’s my mom. She’s uh—” His hands
went still and he stared into the glass vial like it was a crystal ball. Half a
minute passed before he spoke again. “It’s harder for her to work these
days, so I thought I’d help out.”
“Is she okay? Nothing serious, is it?”
“She’s fine,” Victor said dismissively. “It’s just my turn to take care
of her.”
Why’d he have to go and do something noble like that? Now if the
issue of Victor not wanting to move came up again… Jace mentally
backpedaled. There had always been more issues than that. Otherwise he
would have stayed. If Jace thought it could have worked, he would have
gone to college in Warrensburg instead.
“I think that’s awesome,” he said, the wind having left his sails. “Tell
her I said hello.”
Victor nodded. “Yeah. I will.”
Jace excused himself and went to get a bowl of cereal, even though
he wasn’t hungry anymore. The funny thing about four years of not
getting what you want, he thought, is how time made that forgivable.
Maybe it didn’t matter anymore that Victor would never be exactly what
he wanted or needed.
Maybe Victor was worth another shot, even if it wouldn’t be perfect.
Jace left the cereal bowl on the counter without pouring milk, went
upstairs without telling Victor what he was doing. He always seemed to
understand anyway. Then he found room 602 and knocked on the door.
He needed Greg to be there with them—needed a chaperone, as stupid as
that might sound. Otherwise he saw himself happily making the same
mistakes all over again.
* * * * *
“Goodbye.”
The words didn’t come easy. Jace felt three pairs of eyes watching
him. Standing next to the driver-side door, Greg was entertaining one last
hope. Waiting farther away, Adrien had an eyebrow cocked. He had done
well on Saturday, remaining civil and not taking any more potshots at
Victor. Bowling was fun and had given them all something to do. Victor
was a terrible bowler, Jace not much better. Greg and Adrien had owned
the lanes, which kept them both in high sprits, and more important,
distracted from their two very different crusades. They also remained
near enough to stop Jace from saying anything awkward to Victor. Now
was his last chance, something all of them seemed to sense.
Two eyes, one green, the other brown, watched him with
amusement. Jace had said goodbye, which should have banished Victor
from his life once more. Instead Victor just stood there, watching him,
before he turned to Adrien.
“He has the heart of a lion, you know.” Victor jerked a thumb in
Jace’s direction. “And he’s the most beautiful man you’ll ever meet.”
Adrien’s eyes widened. Clearly he didn’t know what to make of this.
“I know,” he managed.
“Take care of him for me.” Victor opened the passenger-side door,
not looking at Jace again until he was seated. A green eye considered
him briefly before winking. Then his profile was lost to his long dark
hair. Jace stared anyway, resisting the urge to chase after the car when it
started moving. When it disappeared around the corner, he turned to find
Adrien watching him. He gave a tentative smile.
“Okay, so maybe I can see why you were so crazy about him.”
Adrien offered his hand, like they were going to shake on a business
deal. “Come back inside with me. The bed is still warm.”
Chest tight with feelings he could barely comprehend, Jace reached
out and took Adrien’s hand.
Chapter Fifteen
“The balcony is nice, but it makes this room cold in the winter.”
Jace watched with detached interest as the young woman opened the
double doors. He’d already forgotten her name, despite the recent
introduction. Adrien had the situation in hand. He sprang like a ballerina
out onto the balcony, gasping in delight. Jace joined him, staring down at
the street, the people shopping in the warm evening air, the lone green
tree surrounded by brick and concrete.
“It’s small, but you can grill out here in the summer,” the current
tenant said. “Just don’t let the police catch you.”
“Oh, they won’t care,” Adrien said dismissively. “I’ll bribe them
with burgers. Right, baby?”
Jace grinned on cue. “Of course.”
“We could probably get a Christmas tree out here in the winter. How
classy would that be?”
“Good idea,” the young woman said, filling in for Jace. She seemed
happy to chat, which made the rest of the tour easy for him. There wasn’t
much to see. The apartment was a small living room with a kitchenette in
one corner, an even smaller bedroom, and a bathroom with a toilet and
shower stall. Adrien seemed thrilled enough. Four years in a dorm could
make even the smallest apartment feel like paradise.
“What do you think?” the young woman said, leading them back to
the living room.
“We’re definitely interested!” Adrien said.
The tenant was transparently relieved. “Great! My lease runs out the
end of summer, but I want to move home after graduating.”
“Where’s home?” Jace said, feeling he should make an effort.
“San Antonio. Um, I guess you’ll need to talk to the landlord. You’ll
probably need your parents to cosign since he acts like anyone in college
is still a child.”
Adrien turned to him with a pleading expression. He didn’t have the
best relationship with his parents, so it would be up to Jace’s.
“No problem.”
“Okay. I’ll get you his info. I think I have it in the bedroom.”
Jace zoned out while Adrien circled the room, naming off
improvements.
“We can put a divider there to section off the kitchen, like a dressing
screen. Or maybe some sort of shelving. I want an antique divan against
the wall here. Anything but a boring old couch. I know you like the one
we have in the dorm, but I never could get the drool stains out from when
Greg stayed the night. I pity the woman who lands him. What do you
think about the bedroom? I actually like the light fixture in there. We
could build a color scheme off it: ivory and gold. Jace?”
He blinked, trying to piece together the words he’d barely been
listening to. “The couch is fine. I like the drool stains.”
“Fine.” Adrien sighed. “It’s not like we’ll be able to afford new
furniture right away, but I was asking about the bedroom.”
Jace grimaced. His head hurt. What he really wanted right now was
to step back out onto the balcony, alone, just for some space.
“Are you okay?” Adrien asked. “You’ve been so out of it ever since
—”
This got Jace’s attention. He raised his head, waiting for one of them
to finally say it, to set the truth free so it could be dealt with. Things
hadn’t been the same for the past month, and they both knew why. He
just needed one of them to verbalize it.
“—well, for a while now,” Adrien finished. “I’m worried about
you.”
“I have a headache, that’s all.” He glanced around the apartment,
trying to show interest. “It’s going to be great, but let’s not start planning
until after we get it.”
Adrien bit his bottom lip. “You think your parents won’t cosign?”
“They’ll be fine. It’s the landlord who sounds like a jerk.”
“He can be,” the young woman said, returning with a scrap of paper
in hand. “But as long as you pay rent on time, you’ll never have to deal
with him again. It’s a very affordable apartment for the area.”
“Don’t worry.” Jace said. “I’m used to dealing with jerks. I live with
one.”
“Oh, you’re so funny,” Adrien said, slapping his arm. Then he
smiled, took hold of Jace’s arm affectionately, and addressed the current
tenant. “He’ll have the landlord eating out of his hand in no time. I speak
from experience.”
This cheered Jace up somewhat. Adrien totally got his sense of
humor, and they did have fun together. The best way to forget the past
was to make something of the future. Moving into this apartment would
change everything. Jace would have his degree, find a job, and finally
make something of himself. Adrien would continue to study, and from
the way he had rocked their dorm, this dingy little apartment would soon
be transformed into a classy and comfortable home. Their home.
Jace liked the sound of that.
* * * * *
Laws that regulate the benefits and working conditions of
employees, when imposed by government—
“Oh, tell me about it!”
Jace furrowed his brow at the text. Laws that regulate the benefits
and working conditions of employees—
“Sorry, hon. Do you remember where I put the cocktail napkins?”
Jace refused to be discouraged. —when imposed by the government
can lead to decreased expenses for—
“Never mind, found them. Do you want a martini? Jace?”
“I’m trying to study!” he snarled. His face remained red, from
embarrassment more than anger because they weren’t alone in their dorm
room.
Across from him on the couch were two students. Caleb was new to
Adrien’s circle. A chubby Asian freshman, he looked even younger
because of his wide-eyed approach to the world. Most freshmen had
gotten comfortable by now, mere weeks away from the end of their
second semester, but the first-day jitters never seemed to have left Caleb.
The way he followed Adrien around like a duckling was adorable.
Normally. Today Jace wanted to tell him to stop staring and get his shit
together.
And of course Tanner was watching him, like he always did. Tanner
didn’t talk much. Not until someone else said something incorrect. Then
he was happy to smugly educate them. He fancied himself an
intellectual, his elitist attitude the common bond he and Adrien shared.
Tanner was the one who talked Adrien into working at the library with
him instead of waiting tables. Fewer hours and no tips, meaning less pay.
But it fueled their image, so no doubt they both felt the sacrifice was
worth it.
“Less talking, more drinking,” Adrien said, bustling over with a tray
of martinis. “Hubby needs to study!”
Jace clenched his jaw. He hated when Adrien called him that. Lately,
everything Adrien did set his teeth on edge, but now was especially
irritating. Ten in the morning on a Saturday with finals looming straight
ahead, and they were drinking? Adrien assured him they also intended to
study, but Jace didn’t think Tanner shared any of his classes.
The next time Adrien spoke, he did so in a whisper, the others taking
a cue from him. Jace turned his attention back to the book, skipping
ahead a page because he couldn’t stand to read the same lines over again.
The whispers took some getting used to, but eventually he managed to
start absorbing information. That is, until the martini shaker started
rattling for a second round of drinks.
“Shaken, not stirred!” Adrien said with an apologetic look. “Sure
you don’t want one?”
“Sure you want another?” Jace countered. “Why don’t you guys go
find a bar?”
“I’m not twenty-one,” Caleb whispered. At least he intended to stay
quiet.
“But Adrien is. In Texas, if you’re old enough, you can buy liquor
for a minor.”
Tanner scoffed. “In Texas, only a minor’s parent, guardian, or
spouse can buy them alcohol, and must remain present when the alcohol
is consumed.”
“Fine,” Jace said. “Why don’t you marry Adrien and then you two
can adopt Caleb? That way you can drink away the weekends all you
like.”
“That’s hardly legal,” Tanner said, unperturbed.
“Just one more drink and we’ll head out,” Adrien promised. After he
distributed the second round, he sat on the bed next to Jace. “We were
talking about our first times.”
Jace grunted, turning his attention back to the book.
“Caleb slept with the school janitor!” Adrien said, still addressing
him.
“He just jacked off in front of me,” Caleb said shyly.
Jace lowered the book and raised an eyebrow. Then he tried reading
again.
“Of course Jace’s story takes the cake, since it was with a homeless
