He liked Charlie. It was hard not to. Scott got the impression thateveryoneliked Charlie.
“Good, because I get weirder the more you get to know me.” Charlie smiled wryly.
Suddenly, Scott really liked the idea of getting to know Charlie.
“I guess I’ll find all that out,” Scott said. He picked up his phone to check the time, his eyes widening when he realized it was nearly eleven o’clock.
“Shit,” he stood, grabbing his laptop to stuff it in his bag. “I’m sorry to run off on you like this, but I gotta get to campus before midnight. I didn’t realize it was so late.”
He wished he didn’t have to leave. He’d been having a good time just talking to Charlie, hanging out with him like they were already friends and didn’t have to do the awkward initial part where they got to know each other.
Charlie was so easy to be with. Easier than anyone else Scott had ever known.
“It’s okay,” Charlie said. “Thank you for helping me with the pizza.”
“I will totally see you tomorrow night and buy you drinks to make up for leaving like this,” Scott said, throwing his bag over his shoulder. “But I’m only just gonna make it as it is.”
“Scott, I understand,” Charlie said, his tone kind and patient. “It’s okay. I’m not mad, I’m not upset. I could’ve hung out with you for hours, but you need to hand in your assignment. I’ll get to see you tomorrow.”
“Absolutely,” Scott agreed, his stomach fluttering with excitement at the thought. He liked the idea of getting to meet Charlie’s friends. “Tomorrow. Promise.”
“Have a good night,” Charlie called after him as he walked off.
Scott smiled to himself. Charlie was his friend. He’d made a friend and it hadn’t been weird or scary at all.
Now all he had to do was make a few more.
Chapter Nine
The moment the clock above the bar hit eight-thirty, Charlie’s heart sank. He’d been telling himself that Scott was just late, or nervous, or had gotten a little lost on the way for over an hour now.
He didn’t think that was it anymore. Scott hadn’t come because he didn’t want to, and there’d be a polite excuse next time Charlie saw him, and they’d drift apart. Because Scott wasn’t interested. Not at all.
It had been stupid to think otherwise.
Beside him, Amber sighed, throwing an arm over his shoulders. “He might still come.”
Obviously, Charlie wasn’t hiding his disappointment all that well.
“I’m gonna die alone,” he said.
“No you’re not.” Amber tightened her grip on Charlie’s shoulders, squeezing him tight.
“You okay?” Owen asked from across the table. Of course this had to happen in front of his happily-married brother, who had everything Charlie wanted and then some.
He didn’t begrudge Owen any of what he had, but sometimes, he was jealous.
“Some asshole stood him up,” Amber explained.
Owen’s face softened. “Oh. That sucks, man. How drowned do your sorrows need to be?”
Charlie opened his mouth to answer, but then the door to the bar opened again and he looked up automatically, like he had every time the door opened for the last hour and a half.
This time, though, itwasScott.
Charlie swallowed. He had come. He really was just late.
Scott scanned the room, then waved at Charlie before striding over.
