“Rude.” I take a beat or two longer than I’d hope to get the rest out, Sam’s big green orbs never leaving mine, but eventually I manage to add, “I’m so sorry. I’m autistic, and embarrassed and … broke.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I had a cousin who was on the spectrum. I kind of figured what was happening.” My mind catches on ‘was on the spectrum’. Dear God don’t let him be a ’we cured him with Vitamin A and protein-person’. “He passed away a few years ago.”
“Shit. I’m really sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah. It was hard, but he had been really sick for a long time, so at least he’s not in pain anymore.” He gives the car one more tap, then snatches his hand away. “Sorry. Ah, do you need a hand with anything else before I go?”
“No. No I don’t.”
“Okay then. Well, see you at practice.” With a wave he strolls away like he didn’t just step in and save my day. I watch him go, noticing he passes all the cars parked before the store.
“Did you walk here? Do you want a ride?” I yell as he waits to cross the street.
“Yeah. Cool, thanks.” Face lighting up, he jogs back to the car, waiting at the passenger side door while I return the cart.
“Great. So you’re heading back to your dorm? You share with Lucas, right?” I ask when I pull from the curb. “How’s that? Playing together, living together.”
“Most of our classes are together, too. And it’s fine. He’s cool. Pretty quiet, and obsessed with his girl, Hannah. A lot of people expect things from me, but he’s not one of them.”
“Why?”
“Why do people expect things from me?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, my family is loaded. Those that know love to take advantage of it. It’s kind of my fault though,” he shrugs, knuckles tapping against the window, “I was kind of shy as a kid. Money helped me buy things. Buy friends, I guess. So yeah, that’s why I like Lucas. He was my friend before he knew I was Samuel Bailey. Son of media magnates Eloise and Bronson Bailey. Cory, too.” He raises his brows as he says Cory’s name. I notice and he notices me noticing. “You shouldn’t be mad at him. He never told us about you, we guessed and to be fair, you make it pretty obvious that you like him. So, in a way it’s kinda your fault.”
“Oh really? I’m not quite sure what you think you saw, but I do not likeCory.”
“He likes you. A lot. He’s been miserable since—” Enraged that Cory has again spoken to Sam about our non-existent relationship, I go to jump in. Sam’s not having a bar of it, though. Neither is the stop gesturing hand he’s shoved into my field of vision.
“He never said anything, but again, it’s obvious something changed, and since whatever happened between you happened, he’s been miserable. If you want to be with Cory just be with him, Lucas and I won’t say anything. And what, you have a few months left with the Bears before you’re qualified? Just control those hungry eyes of yours and you keep it on the DL. Easy. ”
“I’m not having this discussion with you.”
“Maybe it doesn’t have to be a discussion. Maybe you just need to listen.”
“Well, maybe you need to tell me your address so I can get you the hell out of my car.” My tone is gruff, and I’m not sure if I meant it to be. Either way Sam doesn’t seem to mind. That same easy smile is back.
“You know, on second thoughts, I don’t feel like going home. I might go see my cousin. It’s on the way. Could you drop me off there?”
“As long as you say nothing else about you know what, then fine. Lead the way.”
“Are you dicking with me?”I pull up to the curb and slam the car into park. “I mean seriously, this isn’t funny. How did you get this address?”
“This address.” Sam taps the damn window again and I’m a second from losing it.
“No, the address you haven’t guided me too, and that we’re not sitting in front of. Yes this address. This is my apartment building.”Or it was.
“No way! My cousin lives here… well she has a place here. I’m probably here, hiding from the world, more than she is. Bit of a globetrotter. Small world, hey.”
“Frighteningly.”
“She’s on 3A. What about you?”
“3C.”
“No way. You’re freaking neighbors. How awesome is Mrs.T? Great cookies.”
