Page 99 of A Stealthy Situation

“Take your time.”

“Read it yourself.”

“I want you to read it.”

His glare feels like he’s trying to make my head explode.

“What time is it, Benny?”

He huffs and looks back at it. “Seven … something.”

“Seven what?”

“It’s too small to tell.”

I take a deep breath. “What’s four times five?”

His whole face goes white, hazel eyes and black circles under them the only things standing out on his face.

I step forward and grab him, tug him into a hug that’s so tight it’s like I want to transfer my pain onto him. I didn’t know. I didn’t understand how deep this went, and that he stepped up and tried anyway blows my mind.

He sniffs and wipes his eyes on my shirt.

“Don’t know why you’re hugging me,” he mumbles.

“I needed one.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m worried you’ll get mad at what I’m about to say.”

That makes him pull back. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“What? Fuck no. I just …” How the fuck do I word this? “Have you ever been tested?”

“For STDs? Obviously.”

I stare him down because I’m not at all surprised he’s trying to deflect. “For a learning disability.”

“You think I’m stupid?”

“Don’t use that word.” I try to sound as stern as I can. “It has nothing to do with intellect. Some people need extra assistance, some just learn differently. It’s obvious you need help with math, and I think talking to someone at the disability and accessibility office on campus might be a good first step.”

“No way.” He backs up. “I can’t tell them I’m having issues when all of my tests have been near perfect. They’d throw me out of school if they knew what Em and I had done.”

“Fuck. Okay.” My mind is whirling. “Maybe not here, then. Maybe get a referral somewhere. I might be wrong, but we won’t know that until you talk to someone.”

The laugh he lets out is bitter. “My eldest brother is married to a math professor. My nerdy brother is a fucking math genius and graduated college four years early. You want me to tell them that not only do I not take after Rhys, but I’m probably going to fail out of college because of the subject they love so much?”

“There has to be something.”

Benny’s lips press together. “You should probably go. You didn’t sign up for this.”

I straighten, planting my feet firmer to the ground. If he wants me out, he’ll have to wrestle me from the room, and we know who won the last time we tried it. “No.”

“But—”

“You are who I signed up for. All of you. And I’m not going anywhere.”

---