Page 5 of Spoonful

“I understand,” Miyazaki said genially.

“But I’d like to,” Jaylin continued quickly. “Take you up on your offer. If it was still on the table. If that’s okay.”

Miyazaki beamed at him. It was unfairly devastating, a fact which made Jaylin mad. He knew better than to fall for nice-guy stuff from handsome, put-together men. Brent had been a nice-guy once too.

“Oh hey, great,” Miyazaki said. “Of course it is. I’d love to help you however I can.”

“Thank you.” Something tight inside Jaylin loosened against his will in the face of Miyazaki’s enthusiasm. “I’d really appreciate it.”

“Sure,” Miyazaki said. He pulled out his phone. “What days and times work for you? I certainly remember being a full-time college student with a packed schedule.”

Jaylin did his best not to boggle. Miyazaki was an important person with an important job. Why in the world was he trying to acquiesce toJaylin’sschedule? “Um… I’m free now? I mean—it’s just that you’re here now. So if you’re free, we could maybe… just see if you want to really work with me? Before scheduling any more sessions.”

There, that was good and diplomatic, right?

“That sounds great,” Miyazaki said. “I want to help and I can’t imagine that changing, but I appreciate you giving me a trial run to see if you think I’d make a difference.”

That… wasn't at all what Jaylin had meant. “Okay,” Jaylin said weakly.

Miyazaki looked around the study room, then down at his watch before giving Jaylin another smile. Was he like this all the time? Just… smiling that brightly at everyone and anyone? “How do you feel about changing locations? My treat.”

“Oh, uh, sure.” Jaylin didn't care. Miyazaki was the one going out of his way. “Wherever works for you.”

“Great,” Miyazaki said conspiratorially. “It’s perfect hot cocoa weather.”

Chapter 2

Perfect hot cocoa weatherapparently meant fancy artisan hot cocoa at a cafe a few blocks away from the campus library that Jaylin didn’t know existed. Miyazaki asked if Jaylin wanted to walk over, and Jaylin was relieved to agree. Even though Miyazaki was Aditi’s friend, Jaylin hadn’t been looking forward to getting into a car with a quasi-stranger. He had done that enough to last a lifetime.

It was only a few blocks, but they were long blocks, so it was a bit of a walk. Normally Jaylin wouldn’t mind since he was well-used to walking or public transit-ing pretty much everywhere, but it was cold and windy and he was wearing Brent’s coat, not his nice warm one, so he was shivering badly by the time the cafe came into sight.

He also felt kind of bad, because he was pretty sure Miyazaki had driven to the campus library, but he had chosen to walk over to the cafe with Jaylin. So now not only was Miyazaki also red-faced from the weather, but he’d have to walk back to get his car.

Great first impression,Jaylin told himself miserably, as they finally approached the cafe.

The walk over had been okay though. It had been too windy for much conversation, but Miyazaki had asked how Jaylin knew Aditi, which was a safe topic, and then he’d talked about his own relationship with Aditi and her family in general. It was interspersed with funny stories that Jaylin might have teased Aditi about later if he were braver and they had had that kind of relationship. His own responses got more stitled the longer they walked, but that was only because he had to focus on keeping his teeth from chattering.

Miyazaki got to the door first and opened it, then held it instead of going right in. It took a second for Jaylin to realize that he was holding itfor Jaylin.He hurried inside, unable to quell his sigh at the welcome rush of warm air.

“Much nicer in here than out there,” Miyazaki said, pulling off his gloves and unwinding his scarf. Jaylin couldn’t help but notice how well-made the gloves seemed, sleek but undoubtedly warm, how soft the scarf looked.

He shoved down the pangs of envy, but caught himself unable to look away from Miyazaki as they walked further into the cafe. Miyazaki’s hair was windswept but managed to look good, effortless in that dumb, model-type way that Jaylin, until just now, had figured didn’t actually exist in reality. It made Jaylin even more self-conscious about his own unstyled curls, and he had to fight the urge to touch his hair to feel the damage.

“But I’m sorry,” Miyazaki continued.

Jaylin didn't know what he was talking about. “What for?” He asked.

“Suggesting we walk in this. I didn’t realize it was that cold out until we were a few minutes in.” Miyazaki ran a hand through his tousled bangs. “I would have offered to drive you, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel getting into the car of a man you’d just met.”

“Oh,” Jaylin said faintly, unprepared for the way Miyazaki’s concern warmed him. Jaylin had gotten into the cars of plenty of men he had just met, often for not very long.

It wasn’t an experience he particularly enjoyed.

“It’s okay,” he said. He was still freezing, but the warmth was starting to penetrate. “I’m used to the cold.”

At Miyazaki’s sudden frown, Jaylin added quickly. “I-I mean, it happens every year, right?”

“Right,” Miyazaki said after a second. “Well, here, it’s time to warm up, yeah? Pick anything you like. My treat, like I said.”

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