I stare at my phone and consider tossing it in the toilet. Flushing my problems away, and all that. “You’d deserve it,” I mutter. Rubbing my temples, I consider my options. I can either continue this game or I can come clean. If I continue, there’s a chance the team will lose the game if I’m forced to play. If I come clean, there’s a chance they’ll still lose, plus Kellan getting probation or kicked off the team, plus Max hating me. A better person would come clean, clear their conscience. But sometimes I’m not a good person. I’ve become greedy. What it comes down to is this: I’m not ready to let Max go.
Chapter 18
Max
Kellan is acting dodgy. It’s happened a few times over the past few weeks, but I just chalked it up to outside factors. The newness of whatever is developing between us. As he returns from taking a call with someone from his group project however, I have to wonder if it’s something more, something I’m not seeing. I don’t bother asking what’s wrong, because I have a feeling he won’t tell me the truth. I’m fine with someone being unwilling to air out their dirty laundry. We all have things we want to keep private. But I hate lying. I would rather have the truth, even if it was hard to swallow.
Instead, I steer the topic of conversation to family, which seems like a safe topic. Kellan talks about the trips he’s taken with his family over the years. The places they’ve gone to kind of blows my mind. Greece one year for Sebastian’s birthday. Paris for his parents’ anniversary. They spent a few Christmases in quintessential snowy places. Colorado. Quebec City. Germany—twice. With each story, my eyebrows creep further up my head. I guess I had forgotten how wealthy of an upbringing he came from. Sebastian is the one who likes to voice such things, but Kellan’s been quieter on the topic recently. It’s not a bad thing, in my opinion. Wherever this modesty is coming from, I like it.
When it’s time to pay, I take care of it. Kellan seems shocked more than anything as I pluck the check from the table, insert my card, and hand it back to the server before he has a chance to see the bill.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he murmurs, looking uncomfortable.
“I said it was my treat.”
“I’m sure it was expensive.”
I shrug. I’m not the wealthiest person, but I save all the money I make from working part-time valeting during the week, and I hardly ever spend it on anything except rent and groceries. “I want to do it.”
For a second, it looks like he might say something. Kellan bites his lip. “No one, that is, I’ve never—” He waves his hands in the general direction of our table, the cleared dishes.
And suddenly, I understand. “Hasn’t anyone ever taken you on a date before?” That can’t be what he’s implying. A guy like Kellan can have anyone he wants.
“A few times, but it was always under the impression that I pay for it. No one’s taken me out like this to treat me. So thank you.” His eyes meet mine.
The thought of anyone taking advantage of Kellan makes my heart hurt. He’s too good for that. Too good forme. “Hey.” Resting my fingers against his cheek, I turn his face toward me and press a kiss to his mouth. It’s a brief thing, sweet. When I pull away, Kellan’s eyes are wide. “I’m glad to do it. And I hope to do it again, if you’ll let me.”
He nods, a shy smile overtaking his features. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
Following dinner, we head downtown to wander a bit. Since I paid for dinner, Kellan insists he drive. So after dropping my car at Kellan’s place, I catch a ride with him. It’s as we’re pulling onto Main Street, however, that we find the roads blocked.
“Looks like there’s something going on,” he murmurs, inching along behind the other cars.
The streets are all lit up. Downtown is older, but not decrepit. It’s expanded since my freshman year, but in a good way. More variety. As someone from Seattle, I’m used to choice. So when I first moved here, the options were painfully abysmal. One Japanese restaurant, an Indian place, a few cafes, and a hipster dive. Now, in addition to those, there are two Chinese restaurants, a gourmet ramen restaurant, a number of bakeries, another breakfast joint that opened up last month, and a theater that shows independent films. There are frequent festivals as well. Art, food, harvest, Christmas, Halloween, music, you name it.
Kellan and I manage to find a parking space in one of the quieter neighboring communities, and we walk from there. The sidewalks are lit. A few people are out walking dogs. With the brisk air, the night feels alive.
Our shoulders accidentally brush. I’m wondering how Kellan would feel if I take his hand, but then he grabs mine first. A surprise. When I look over, he smiles nervously. I give his hand a squeeze.
Turning the corner, we reach the blocked off area where a huge crowd has formed in the middle of an intersection.
“It’s a race,” Kellan says in surprise. “At... eleven at night?”
I spot a banner hanging over the road. “Midnight run.” Again, I look to the crowd. My mouth drops. “Scratch that. Make thatnakedmidnight run.”
Kellan startles and focuses on our surroundings. We stand in the middle of the street, surrounded by people wearing absolutely nothing. Actually, most people wear underwear, and the women bras. But some runners are legitimately naked. I see dicks. Asses. Loin clothes, in some cases. Paint over breasts. Capes. Socks. Running shoes, of course. Lord.
“That’s—” He stares at some guy’s ass. Blinks. “Interesting.”
I lower a hand in front of his eyes, chuckling. “See anything you like?”
Kellan looks at me. A blush colors his cheeks. “You.”
Okay, how can you not kiss someone after they say something like that?
“Brother!”
We turn, see Sebastian with his arm around Aidan’s waist. They saunter over. Well, Sebastian saunters. Aidan kind of shuffles forward, his attention flitting to the horde of people and back to us. Thankfully, they’re fully dressed.
