He stopped walking and faced his brother. “I just can’t. All I could think about was how I didn’t want to dance with anyone else. This would tear Ed apart.”
Marcus stuffed both hands in his pockets and stared at his feet. He was quiet a moment, and then asked softly. “Ed’s really the one?”
Jack waited until his brother looked up at him. “Yeah, he is.”
“Fuck… then I was wrong to ask you for this.” Marcus looked back toward the coffeehouse. “I’m not gonna lie, it really sucks to have to leave the house, but… it’d suck more having you miserable.”
Jack grabbed his brother by the shoulder. “Please don’t move out with me. I know how much it means to you.” He swallowed twice to get the lump to go down. “I know I let you down, and I’m sorry, but you don’t have to go. There are other guys you can room with.”
Marcus’s pockets turned inside out as he yanked his hands free and threw them on Jack’s shoulders. “Do you really think I’m that easy to get rid of?”
A tight knot formed in Jack’s throat and all his words got stuck behind it. He settled on hugging Marcus instead.
“Know what?” Marcus said, pulling back with a cheeky grin. “I bet we could find a decent place with two rooms and privacy.”
Jack laughed. “I’ve had my fill of bets.”
Chapter Nineteen
Jack checked his phone. “Fuck!” He closed his eyes and tried to calm his racing heart.
“What?” Marcus stopped and turned around. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s after four. I was supposed to meet Ed at the house already.” He scanned the texts from Ed.
Ed: I’m on my way. Text me when you get out of class.
Ed: I’m here. Call me.
The last message came five minutes ago. Jack quickly typed that he was getting coffee with Marcus and a friend and he was on his way back. He stared at the screen for a second and shoved the phone in his pocket.
“See you back at the house,” Jack threw at Marcus and took off. Adrenaline fueled his run, and he didn’t slow until his lungs burned. Even then, he only barely dialed back his pace.
Rounding the corner, he scanned the parking lot and immediately spotted Ed’s distinctive red truck heading for the exit. Waving his hand, he raced to cut him off. Ed turned to the right when he reached the end of the driveway and looked in Jack’s direction.
Jack slowed to a quick jog when their eyes met. They stared at each other for a second before Ed’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head slowly. The wave of sadness coming from him slammed Jack to a halt. After a last, lingering look, Ed tore his gaze away and drove off.
It took a second for Jack’s legs to respond, but by the time he could move, Ed had moved into traffic and was out of reach. He dug out his phone and punched Ed’s name.
“C’mon, answer. Please answer.” Voicemail kicked in, and Jack immediately hit redial. Same thing. The blithe words of Ed’s message, the ones that twisted Jack’s face in a smile every time, left him impatient and anxious. Finally the beep ended and the words rushed out.
“Ed, it’s Jack. What happened? I’m sorry I was late. Marcus and I were out getting coffee with Billy and his friend. I lost track of time. I know I said four and I’m really sorry I’m late, but please come back.”
He stared at the phone until he realized it was foolish. Even if Ed listened to the message right away—and that didn’t seem likely—he’d need some time to call back. Still confused and unsteady, he shuffled back to the porch in front of their house. Peering over the lawn and down the road, he caught a flash of red—
Not Ed, just a Honda sedan. Damn.
He plopped into a creaky old wicker chair and covered his face with his hands.
“Something wrong, Jack?” Harper’s sickeningly sweet tone had Jack gritting his teeth.
“Go away.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to get back.” Harper gave Jack his best smug-ass smirk. “I hear you had a ‘date’ today.” He made quotes with his fingers.
Jack’s already twisted insides squeezed a bit more. “You heard wrong.”
“You didn’t go with Marcus to meet that fucktard Dorgan and his friend Brant?”
Jack tensed, stomach a whirlwind of angst. How the fuck did he know? Oh. His minion Greg. Fucker. “Mini-Harper didn’t get his facts straight.”
“Whatever you say.” Harper leaned against a post.
Jack closed his eyes and waved Harper away. “Fuck off. I’m not in the mood for you.”
“Just wanted you to know that bringing a friend doesn’t count as a date.”
“Sorry, douche canoe, but you don’t get to rewrite the bet now. As long as I bring a guy, I win.”
“That’s funny.” His faux laugh would have been ridiculous if it didn’t irk the shit out of Jack. “Since you didn’t just come from trying to find a date to replace the boyfriend who isn’t coming, I’m left to wonder what guy are you bringing.”