“Because it’s too much pressure. I’d never forgive myself if I let you down.”
“You won’t.”
“I might,” he yells, pushing away from the cupboard. “I might.”
Casey wraps his arms around Auggie from behind and holds him fast. He presses his face against Auggie’s shoulder.
“Let me go,” Auggie shouts.
“No,” Casey whispers.
Auggie tries to pull away but gives up within seconds. Casey is taller and stronger than either of us. He sags in Casey’s arms. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have got angry with you.”
I step closer and rub his arm. “It’s okay. I’ll help you get a two-one by the end of the year. I promise. Believe in yourself. I know you hate the course, but you can do it.”
“Especially with Em to help,” Casey says.
“And what if I can’t?” Auggie asks miserably.
“We’ll worry about it if it happens,” I reply.
He shakes his head. “That’s not good enough, Emory. You could end up with nowhere to live. Stay here until the end of our third year. We can get jobs and move in together when we’re able to support ourselves.”
Disappointment weighs heavily in my gut. I look at Casey. His brows are pinched together in thought.
“How about a compromise?” he says a few moments later.
“Explain,” I say.
“We keep renting this flat, but we move in with Auggie. If you want us to. That way, if anything happens, we’d still have a roof over our heads, and you could crash here until we figure something else out. It’s basically what we’re doing now, only we’d have clothes at your house and would be sleeping there every night.”
I stare at Casey. “That’s brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You have book smarts. You can’t be expected to have practical smarts too,” he teases.
I stick my tongue out.
His smile warms my heart. “I thought of it. We can change everything without changing anything.”
I wrinkle my nose. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
Auggie stands tall in Casey’s arms. “Yes, it does. It makes perfect sense.”
Casey pecks his cheek. “Think about it. You don’t have to decide tonight. Decide in September if you want to.”
“I don’t need to think about it. I want to live with you. I was scared. I am scared. But your solution is fucking perfect, Casey. I’ll still do my best to improve my grade average, but at least I won’t have to worry about the two of you ending up on the streets if I can’t.”
I hold my thumb and forefinger up. “That’s a bit dramatic.”
He laughs. “Maybe a little.” His jaw sets into a determined line. “Bring some clothes over on Sunday. Stay over all the time.”
“Live together without living together?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Em will need to bring his books over too,” Casey says.
“So will you,” I say.
