Milo frowned as he waved back. “How else would I act?” he asked, grunting when she elbowed him.
“Try not to stare,” she ordered and took out her phone. “Pretend we’re watching something.”
“This doesn’t seem natural,” Milo noted but kept his eyes pointed in the direction of her phone.
“I knew it!” she hissed when Penn took out a joint and lit it, then passed it to Elio.
“I just assumed,” Milo murmured with a dismissive snort. “It’sPennand Elio likes anything ‘bad.’ He’s probably doing it to get on Leo’s nerves.”
“Milo! He’s staring at you!” She made a giddy sound and poked his thigh. “Maybe Elio has a crush onyou.”
“Stop it! That’s bonkers. Why would he have a crush on me?”
“You, stop it!” June replied. “You’re gorgeous too, Milo, and you’re the sweetest and the smartest boy in the whole world. He’d have to be blind, honestly.”
“You’re just saying that because we’re cousins and you love me.”
June gave him an offended swat. “I am not! You’re a hottie, Milo! And youarethe sweetest and the smartest boy I know. You should go for it!”
“Go for it?” He blinked at her.
“With Elio! If he has a crush on you and asks you out, go for it!” she urged but Milo flinched and shushed her.
“Areyouhigh? Elio isn’t interested in me like that. We’re friends and research partners, that’s it. And could you imagine me ‘going for it?’ I’ve never gone for anything in my life, outside of academics.” he said, making her grin.
“I can, actually. You’re brave when you want to learn something and you can be stubborn when you’re locked in.”
“Maybe… But I doubt he’d be interested inme.”
“Take my word for it,” she said with a heavy sigh. “And promise me you’llgo for it.”
“Nope, I’m not promising anything.” He shook his head. “Knowing me, I’d make a total fool of myself and then I’d have to find a new job and move to a new state andI can’t move.”
“Calm down! No one says you have to move or get a new job.”
“I do,” Milo said, shuddering as he imagined how awkward it would be if he had to face Elio after a disastrous first date. “I feel like an alien or a baby wheneverthatcomes up.” He widened his eyes so she knew that he meant sex and romantic relationships.
“That’s because you’re so sweet and it’s totally cool if you’re not ready for that or you don’t want to talk about it.”
“Thanks, I don’t.” Milo scraped the frosting and crumbs off his plate with the side of his fork. “Think you could score me another piece of cake?”
“On it!” she said and popped up.
Milo watched as she skipped across the back terrace and rolled his eyes when she accepted a hit off the joint before going inside. Penn and Elio went in after her, leaving Milo alone with some strange questions to ponder.
Did he have a crush on Elio? Should he “go for it” if he had the opportunity?
The idea made Milo dizzy and queasy because “it” always did, but what if this was the closest he was ever going to get? The scientist in Milo was intrigued by the possibility of finally exploring the unknown—for him—with a trusted peer.
Intrigued enough to actually act, though?
Milo scoffed at himself and dismissed the idea. When it came to sex, dating, and crushes, he was a clueless kid and Elio was in an entirely different league. The last thing Milo wanted was another reminder. Not when he was beginning to feel accepted and finally had a chance to shine at Starlight.
Nine
Elio’s sleep cycle was completely out of whack. Not that he was much of a sleeper or had a strict routine. But he couldn’t remember the last time he was awake and out of bed before noon on a Sunday on purpose. Leaving Muriel’s apartment at nine was obscene but Elio needed coffee and a brisk walk.
He’d woken up from an intensely sensual dream about Milo, aroused but deeply confused. How long had it been since his last wet dream? Elio had so few of them and had quickly dismissed them in the past, so it was disorienting to wake up sweating, with a racing heart and a raging hard-on.
