Will smiles, waving me off. “Don’t worry about it. Even if I wasn’t trying to make up for being an ass, it’s just lunch.”
“Well, thank you. Really,” I say, accepting the sub he slides in front of me.
“Can I get you a drink? I wasn’t sure what you’d prefer, so I just got you a fountain cup.”
“You really don’t have to do all this, Will. I can get my own drink.” I smile and take the cup, walking toward the drink machine, mostly because I need a minute to shake off those stray date thoughts and remind myself that he’s apparently just a nice person who I completely misjudged. When my cup is full, I sit back down, and he starts again.
“I know you don’t have a lot of time, so maybe I can just tell you my thoughts while you eat? I mean, obviously, jump in at any time. I just don’t want you to rush. As you might remember, I hate being late.”
I blink at him a few times because he’s so… thoughtful. Seriously, who is this man? They say you shouldn’t judge people based off their worst moments, and I guess they’re right. I realize I haven’t responded and finally get out a “thank you” and start eating.
He talks about a few articles he’s read, along with some firsthand accounts from students who have had these requirements before, then he shows me his idea for the order we should approach our arguments for the speech. I’m able to finish mylunch with about ten minutes to spare before I need to leave for work, only cutting in occasionally to offer feedback and input.
Just when I think we’re done and ready to leave, Will offers me a more shy smile than his others have been. “Talking about being entitled the other day really stuck with me. I wanted to thank you for drawing my attention to the fact that not everyone is in the same financial situation that I am. I’ve been trying to be more aware of it with my other friends and teammates, and I just think it’s been good, so I wanted to thank you.”
I’m frozen in place for a moment, hand on the zipper of my bag without actually moving as I try to process what he just said. I was definitely not expecting it. It was so genuine and sweet, but a part of me wants to push back and ask him if he’s thanking me for being poor. I bite my tongue on the bratty response and decide on, “Oh, you don’t need to thank me. But that’s good to hear.”
“It sounded like you might’ve had some personal experiences with having too much responsibility in high school,” he continues, and that’s the understatement of the century. “I’m sorry if you had to deal with any of that. I'm sure I’m probably not the person you’d want to talk about that stuff with, but if you ever want to complain or anything, I’ve been told I’m an excellent listener.”
I can’t help it. I snort a laugh. “Oh yeah? By who? The girl who threw a drink in your face a few weeks ago?”
He laughs too, obviously not offended by my response. “Okay, no, not by her. But my mom and her friends say I can gossip with the best of them.”
“A momma’s boy? Will, you are full of surprises,” I tease like I would with my other friends. Not that we’re friends. At least, I don’t think we are.
He shrugs. “What about you? Are you and your mom close?”
My smile falls. “Not exactly.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s fine. She’s a good person, just works a lot,” I explain kind of dismissively. Will does not need my whole tragic backstory.
“Well, I really appreciate you still meeting today, but I know you have to get to work, so I’ll let ya go.”
I glance at the time and realize I should have probably already left. “Shit, yeah. I have to go. Thanks again for lunch.”
“Anytime. We should do it again sometime.”
I know that’s just a thing people say, but I wonder if Will really means that, if he’d buy me lunch whenever I asked to make up for the “bike debt” he thinks he owes me. He can’t actually be suggesting we casually get meals together for fun, though, right?
Fuck. I don’t have time to think about that right now. I rush to work, and I’m able to clock in on time. During my shift, my mind wanders back to Will far more often than I’d care to admit.
8
WILL
“First round’s on me, boys,” I announce on our walk to the bar. “Thank god we pulled off the win tonight. I would have been pissed if they beat us again this year.”
“You just want to flirt with the bartender,” Nathan accuses as we approach, and I shrug because that’s definitely a perk of being the one to buy the drinks, even if it’s not my only motivation.
“Have you hooked up with her yet?” Decker asks me. Thankfully, Delilah is serving someone on the other end of the bar and didn’t hear his comment.
“Nah, but I’m not afraid to put in the work. We’ll see. She’s always teasing me, and I like that,” I admit with a laugh, completely unashamed.
“Jesus,” Cam snorts.
“What?” I question. “Don’t knock it till you try it. A little back-and-forth ribbing can be really fun foreplay.”
