“With bells on,” Em says.
“And banners to cheer you on.”
I laugh. “Thank you.” Thinking ahead to February should be scary, but it’s not, probably because I’m so cosy and comfortable in my boyfriends’ arms. But I can’t stay here. It’s late, and although swim practice is cancelled, I still have to be on campus by ten. “I should get some sleep if I’m going to make lectures tomorrow.”
“You could skip them,” Auggie says.
“I can’t.”
“You are a bad influence,” Em says.
Auggie shrugs. “I keep trying, but you two are impervious to it. And because you’re both so great at going to lectures, it makes me feel guilty for wanting to blow them off all the time. And then I end up going to them, mostly so I can sit next to my cute nerd. Who knows? I might pass this degree after all, by association with you.”
Em laughs. “It’s going to take more than hanging out with us, but you will pass.”
“You’ve got Em as a tutor.” I cover my mouth as I yawn. “I’m sorry. I’m fading. I need to sleep.”
“That’s my cue to leave,” Auggie says.
“Or you could stay.” Em sounds hopeful.
I nod in agreement.
“I’d love to, but we can’t all fit in a single bed.”
“We could hold on to each other,” Em says.
“All night?”
I smile and squeeze Auggie’s hand. “Yes. Please stay.”
Auggie rolls his eyes and grins. “Fine. You’ve twisted my arms. But I’m counting on you to make sure I don’t fall out of bed and hurt myself.”
“You won’t. I won’t let you,” I say.
“It’s a good thing I trust you.” He pecks my lips.
“And it helps that he’s a big, strong jock,” Em says.
I shake my head and groan. “I’m not a jock.”
“Yes, you are. You’re hot, muscly, and good at sports. You are a jock.”
“Hey, I’ve got a joke for you,” Auggie says as we walk towards Em’s bedroom.
“Is it a good joke?” Em asks.
“Probably not. Do you want to hear it anyway?”
“Go for it,” I say.
“What do a nerd, a jock, and a slacker have in common?”
“I don’t know,” Em says. “What?”
“Each other.”
* * *
