Page 38 of Hello Forever
His face softened. “Are you sure? I mean, you are gay,right?”
“Why would you think that?” Panic rose in my chest, and not just because Jason had somehow figured me out. It was starting to sink in that Jason wanted to date Axel.Jesus Christ. If they became a thing, I’d have to stand by and pretend Ididn’tcare.
Jason blinked at me. “Well, this conversation got awkward fast. I’m sorry, Cax. I shouldn’t have assumed…” He blew out a frustratedbreath.
“It’s… Let’s just forget about it,” I said, still panicking. Still trying to cover my ass. “Actually, I have to go.” I took one more gulp of my beer and threw a ten down onthebar.
He squinted at me. “Already?”
“Got shit to do,” I said. I knew I was acting like a freak, but I had to get out of there. Yanking my coat off the back of the barstool, I headed forthedoor.
I made it as far as the parking lot before the evening got even worse. I was two steps out the door when a voice calledout. “Dude!”
It was Boz from the athletic department. “The engineers forfeited!” he howled. “Those pussies. Couldn’t fieldateam.”
I looked past him and found Axel watching me with a frown on his face. “You’re leaving?” heasked.
“Got work to do,” I said. “Have fun.” It came out sounding bitter, even though Axel had done nothing wrong. But Jason would still be sitting at the bar, and I’d just giving him the all-clear to askAxelout.
Fuckmylife.
I stalked past them both and kept onwalking.
ChapterFourteen
Axel
IfollowedBoz into the bar, trying not to wear a kicked-puppy expression. My coworker kept yammering about the engineers and how lame it was that they were too busy with their calculators to find five guys to shoot some hoops. I didn’t respond. I was too busy wondering why Cax had time to drink a beer after work, but notwithme.
His teammate Jason sat at the bar watching a sports highlight reel on the television. Beside him sat a half-empty bottle of beer that I’m pretty sure must have beenCax’s.
Cax liked the sex, but he won’t even be seen in public with you, a little voice in my headcomplained.
He was afraid—I understood that. But I wasn’t asking Cax to hold hands while we walked through the center of campus. I just thought we could have a beer together, like all the straight dudes inthebar.
“You eating?” Boz asked, waving at the bartender. “I feel a cheeseburgercomingon.”
“Sure. Order two.” I hadn’t spent much money this week. I could afford a burger andfries.
“You got it.” He leaned over the bar, and the bartender started scribbling on hisorderpad.
Jason flashed me a smile. “Have a seat. This one was justvacated.”
“Yeah? Thanks.” I pointed at a third stool for Boz, but he held up a finger and wandered off to talk to someone elseheknew.
I sat down beside Jason. “Hiagain.”
“No game with the pocket-protector crew, huh? We play the medschoolnext.”
“I heardthey’regood.”
“Surprisingly good. All those ambitious guys who want to play God? They have sharp elbows on thecourt.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when weplaythem.”
“Can I buy you a drink?” Jasonasked.
That woke me up. I turned to find him giving me a shy smile. “Um, thanks? Just, uh, a beer would begreat.”
