Page 121 of Escape Velocity
He had fully told them that they were boyfriends, which must mean that Callum is ready for whatever they have going.
With most of their drama behind them, Mason has to prepare himself to be ready, but he’s sure that he is.
Suddenly, he’s nearly toppled to the ground by a strong force.
He gasps as strong hands snake around his waist.
“Found you.”
Mason relaxes as he realizes it’s Callum. Mason whirls around to see Callum grinning at him like he’s won the championship game already.
“What are you doing?” Mason asks, on the verge of a chuckle.
“I wanted to see you, duh,” Callum retorts.
Jenna stands next to them, crossing her arms and smirking at Mason as she watches them.
“How do you feel about a weekend getaway?” Callum whispers in his ear.
Shivers run down Mason’s spine. He blinks. He’s almost in the middle of finals. He still has his semester project for his journalism class and four textbooks worth of content to study for.
“Uh… I’d say you’re crazy.”
“I’m gonna—go to class…” Jenna says as she smiles suggestively at Mason and Callum before turning away.
“Uh, bye?” Mason says more as a question, wondering why she was taking off already.
“It’s… not crazy, actually. You need the break,” Callum says after waving goodbye to Jenna.
Mason frowns. “And what about you? Don’t you have… games? Practices?”
Callum shrugs. “They said I can have time off to ‘rest’ after all that’s happened… I haven’t taken it off yet but… maybe I should.”
Mason stiffens as he thinks about Callum taking some time off football. He’s not crazy about the idea, since he wants Callum to get drafted, but he knows he can’t stop Callum when he wants something.
“What about championships? Aren’t they soon?”
Callum snorts and puts his hands on Mason’s shoulders and rubs them softly. “We’ll be back before that starts, obviously. It’s just one night, Mase. Come on, what do you say? Take a break from your calculator?”
Mason sighs and stares into Callum, whose eyes twinkle as he stares down at him.
He’s more worried about Callum making a wrong decision than falling behind on his studies. He just wants Callum to be fully in it. He just lost his dad, and even if it’s something he’s always wanted, maybe he still has to grieve.
Mason sighs. “But on one condition.”
Callum nods eagerly. “Anything.”
“I get to bring my textbooks.”
37
MASON
The last dyingbreath of autumn clings to the trees along the barren back roads as Callum speeds down them.
Mason’s fingers are intertwined with Callum’s and he has his likely last maple latte of the season in his other hand, warming him up.
He’s never been to this supposed destination that Callum keeps alluding to, and never even heard of the area they’re traipsing around.
