Page 57 of Everything's Better With You
“You can’t be everywhere, though. All you can do is lead by example and when someone fucks up, show them no mercy. If more of these assholes had limits set for them when they were younger, who knows? Maybe things would be better.”
Their beautiful conversation had turned dark, but Leslie counted it as a win that Joe was finally opening up to him. He just wished he was there before him, beside him, to walk with him and show him how serious this was to him. All of it.
“You know, talking with you all of these years changed me in a lot of ways, but probably the most important was that you gave me the motivation to confront toxic masculinity and stop letting it get past me. There’s gotta be a way to change this terrible dynamic in our corner of society or at least make a dent.”
Joe sighed and smiled, still not looking at the phone. “If anyone can do it, it’s you. Dammit Leslie, you’ve changed my mind from thinking it will never get better to having hope. Why do you do this to me? Before I met you, I was content being this pessimistic ogre and you make me see things can be better. Why, dammit, why?”
Leslie burst out laughing, which made Joe laugh, and the tension was gone.
“You make it to campus yet?”
“Almost. I’m near Jacket Pond. Man, that little house was going to be fun,” Joe said. “I love that you had it all ready for me.”
“I hate that it was ruined. I heard from Brother Barry that they’re going to have to rebuild all three cottages from the ground up. Too much structural damage.”
“Oh. Man. Oh well. The dorm isn’t so bad. I don’t have to set an alarm, I have the shortest commute ever, and I don’t even have to cook if I don’t want to continue eating clean.”
“Look at you, all positive and shit,” Leslie said with a laugh. “We’ll figure something out if you want to get off campus. Maybe there’s a house for rent—”
“It’s fine,” Joe said. “At least I can sneak off campus, right? And gallivant.”
Leslie flushed and his slacks were real tight now. He thought about Joe’s last visit to his house, and he thought about what might happen if he actually came inside next time. What if he spent the night? What if he…moved in?
But he was getting ahead of himself and he needed to slow down.
Slow and steady wins the race, Payton.
“Okay, I made it to Higdon. Oh, sounds like Matty’s got some friends over. God, I hope I can get past without them noticing—Oh hey, what’s up? No, thanks, heading to bed. Good night.” He slammed the door and Leslie laughed. “Phew, that was a close one.”
“You’re hilarious. Listen, I’m glad my brother called tonight on your phone, but you might want to change your password—”
“I don’t have it password protected. It’s old.”
“You might want to check your pictures then.”
Joe frowned at the screen and then his eyes went wide. “Oh my God, is that his nipple?”
“Probably. Randy is notorious at planting gems like that on unsuspecting phones. I’d suggest you add some security if you’re going to be out drinking with my brothers.”
“Duly noted. Hey, I hope that wasn’t too weird. I was trying to be, um, what’s the word? Congenital? Congenial? Collegial?”
“Right. You sure you only had two beers?”
Joe rolled his eyes. “Listen, my old-ass unprotected battery is about to die, or I’d take you to bed with me and make you talk to me until I fall asleep, but that would be selfish since you need to rest. What time are you going to be back tomorrow?”
“Early. I’ve got to go over films with my coaches before practice. We’ve only got three days until the game and they start classes Wednesday. Plus, we’ve got fundraising to do.”
“Right. We’ve got a head start on you guys. You need to catch up.”
Les grinned. “Already working on it. Get some sleep, Twinkle Toes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Leslie. And thank you.”
“For what?”
And Joe’s phone either died or he hung up, Leslie wasn’t sure. What hedidknow was that they’d had a major breakthrough. Not only were they going to have a getaway weekend, but Joe agreed to give this thing between them a real shot.
He was about to score in all the ways that mattered: a winning team and the guy of his dreams. He drifted off to sleep believing there was no possible way he could lose…and that maybe he believed that because the alternative was unacceptable.
