Holden:awww you’re so thoughtful!!!
Holden:this weekend is good but today is better. hang out with me in the library while i work ;)
Kit:i don’t want to distract you….
Okay, that was a total lie. Kit really, really wanted to distract Holden. But he would do his best to restrain his selfish impulses.
Holden:pretty please? :D :D i’m very good at multitasking
Holden:don’t think too hard about it. just come over. lmk when you’re outside, and i’ll let you in
Holden’s next message was the campus library address. Then a map of the USC campus with a heart drawn around the specific library.
There wasn’t actually a question in Holden’s last message. Kit didn’t have to agree or disagree with anything. All he had to do was accept what each of them actually wanted. Kit’s self-restraint only went so far, and his need for company outweighed his guilt over Holden’s academic progress.
Kit:kk
Holden:;D ;D ;D
And Kit couldn’t help the stupid grin on his face as he switched text conversations to tell James:heads up, i’m borrowing carla :)
27
securing his prize after a careful chase
“Am I supposed to be in here?” Kit asked as Holden swiped them through the library entrance.
“If you’re not, I’m the one who will get in trouble.” Holden pocketed his student ID and grinned down at Kit. “I’m happy to take the heat for you, cutie.”
“I’d rather you didn’t,” Kit said. The library itself looked enough like a prison, clearly built during an oppressively drab architectural trend. Kit didn’t like the thought of Holden being locked away. He was so nice.
Holden only grinned wider. “Don’t worry, the authorities won’t catch me. I’m very fast.”
He looked Kit up and down. Kit was about to ask if there was something on his face when Holden reached out and took his hand.
The movement was slow enough that Kit could pull away if he wanted to. But he didn’t want to. Holden wasn’t as callused as Darius or James, but his long fingers surrounded Kit’s hand completely. For all the hesitation when Holden reached out, now that he held Kit, his grip was firm. Like he was securing his prize after a careful chase.
The warmth of Holden’s touch spread through Kit, and he bit his lip to hide his stupid smile.
Holden led Kit to the second floor of the library, then to a section of quiet study tables in between the stacks. Most of the tables were empty, and the few students had plenty of room to spread out with their books and laptops. Holden stopped at the far end of one table, where a backpack and pile of books sat unattended.
“Is this yours?” Kit asked. “Someone could have stolen it.”
“Then I’d have a sob story to get an extension on this essay,” Holden said cheerfully. “Besides, there’s nothing important there. I left my laptop in my apartment.”
Kit tried pulling away, intending to sit across the table from Holden. But Holden just tightened his grip, so Kit had no choice but to sit in the chair to Holden’s left instead. Holden only let go when they were both sitting—and scooted his own chair closer to Kit’s.
“I’m almost done here,” Holden said, sliding a spiral notebook closer.
“Take your time.” Kit didn’t want to distract Holden. Well, not enough to leave. But enough to feel a little bad about this.
Holden seemingly had no issues with the situation. He flipped open a book, grabbed a pen—and then dropped his left hand to Kit’s thigh.
“I’m just taking notes and organizing the evidence,” Holden explained. “I’ll type up the final version later.”
“Sure.” Kit hoped it wasn’t obvious he hadn’t written an essay since he dropped out of high school two years ago. “I promise I won’t look at what you’re writing.”
Holden’s thumb stroked the outside of Kit’s thigh, barely-there through his jeans but tingling all the way through Kit’s leg.A smug smile was audible in his voice. “Look as much as you like. I don’t mind.”
