Ryan gave him a sheepish look, like he was instantly going to regret what he was about to say. “And not all relationships wind up like your parents.”
Spencer rolled his eyes. “Did I tell you I caught them making out in the produce section of the grocery store the last time I was home?” After nearly thirty years together, his parents were still a pair of mushy teenagers, declaring their love for each other every freaking day, like they never evolved from their high school sweethearts origin. “It’s embarrassing.”
“It’s adorable.”
“What’s wrong with keeping things light?” Spencer asked.
“Nothing.”
“I have apps. I have fun. That’s all I’m looking for. I’m young and in this amazing city on this beautiful night. The last thing I want is to be tied down with couple shit.”
Ryan nodded, and kept on nodding. He slipped his free hand in his pocket. “In that case, would you mind if I texted Justin?”
Spencer snorted. “Go for it.”
He hoped that they fell in love and lived happily ever after. Spencer chugged down some of his beer, but made sure to nurse the rest. He wasn’t letting anyone up here get anything close to drunk, himself included. A breeze that was just a degree too cold for July swept across the roof. Spencer slipped his free hand in his pocket for a moment.
“That was a little too cold for comfort,” Ryan said.
“It’s the wind off the lake.” Spencer gave ayou don’t scare meshrug to the sky.
“Summer’s on its way out.”
“Don’t say that. My new neighbor might hear you.” Spencer laughed to himself. He thought about those boxes full of fall crap.
“He seems cool. What’s his deal?”
“He hates sunshine and wearing shorts.”
Ryan teepeed his eyebrows in confusion, so Spencer explained his conversation with Patrick earlier and the way he talked about fall like it was the messiah and how he huffed scented candles like they were an asthma inhaler. Ryan had an unmistakable high-pitched cackle, like air seeping out of a balloon. It had the same effect as yawning, and Spencer’s deep rumbling laugh couldn’t be contained.
“I have never seen someone so obsessed with fall. He is missing a few marbles.”
Ryan dabbed at the tears prickling his eyes. “Sounds like it.”
“He’s so weird.” Spencer nodded. “If I wind up murdered in my sleep with a pumpkin shoved in my mouth…”
Ryan let out his piercing cackle again, the kind that only came out when it couldn’t be contained.
His laughter stopped when he heard someone clearing a throat behind them. Without even turning around, Spencer knew who it was. He crushed his eyes shut.
Fuuuuuuck.
“Thanks for inviting me up,” Patrick said, his voice blankly polite.
Spencer turned around, a bolt of guilt hitting him when those translucent green eyes peered at him.
“I’m tired from unpacking, so I’m going to head back down.”
“Cool,” Spencer said, like an idiot, hoping for the one percent chance that Patrick really was tired and didn’t hear what they’d said about him so he could stop feeling like an asshole.
“It was nice meeting you,” Ryan said, half waving. Also, like an idiot.
Spencer tried to get Patrick to meet his eyes, but he turned and was gone as fast as he showed up.
“Fuck, do you think he heard us?” Ryan asked. But they both knew the answer.
A few minutes later came the part of the night Spencer had been looking forward to all day. Hell, all summer. Fireworks were summer’s way of formally announcing itself, that the time was now and you all better get onboard because it wasn’t going to hang around for long.
