Page 64 of Darkness Defined

I relaxed and rested my head on his shoulder. It really was a shame I wasn’t attracted to Rubio as more than a friend. I soaked up the comfort for a few more seconds, then pushed away. “Thanks. I guess I needed that more than I realized.” I wiped at my nose with the back of my hand and hoped I hadn’t gotten snot on him.

He hiked a shoulder and smiled. “That’s what friends are for. But now you have to tell me what I really want to know.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“How was the kiss?” He wiggled his eyebrows, and I barked out a laugh.

“Sweet night, it was incredible. Beyond incredible. Straight or not, Matt can kiss.” I sighed a swoon and returned Rubio’s grin.

“What are the chances of getting him to do it again?”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Nil. I’ll count it as a miracle if we stay friends.”

A crease formed on Rubio’s brow. “But you do want it to happen again.”

“I want a lot of things with Matt. Doesn’t mean they’ll ever happen.”

“Doesn’t mean they won’t, either. Tell me how I can help.” He smirked. “Besides stealing a chance to feel you up.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re ridiculous.” I sobered and let out a sigh. “In all seriousness, I do appreciate the offer, though I’m not sure what you could do. Unless you have some pearls of wisdom about how I can help us move past all of this awkwardness.”

“I wish. Sadly, I think it will simply take time. Try to give him space. I hate to pitch the cliche, but it’s possible that you’ve turned his world upside down and he’s working through it. That being said, if he starts acting like a homophobic wang, don’t put up with that shit.”

I chuckled at Rubio’s colorful word choice.

“Go ahead and laugh, but I expect you to say something if he gets out of line. You’ve got the whole tutoring team at your back. None of us want to see you get hurt.”

“Damn it, you’re going to make me tear up again.” I sniffled and Rubio placed a hand on my shoulder. He gave it a good squeeze, then met my gaze.

“I know you’re really hung up on this guy, but don’t let that give him a free pass to be an asshole. No one deserves that.”

“Who says I’m really hung up on him?” I asked, even as his words warmed my heart.

Rubio scoffed. “Pretty sure the only one it’s not blatantly obvious to is your oblivious roommate.”

I opened my mouth to argue that Matt wasn’t oblivious, then I recalled his genuine shock at realizing I was gay, and promptly shut it.

“That’s what I thought. Now what do you say we skip our next classes and grab some coffee in town or something?” He immediately held up his hands. “Promise I’m not asking you out. Just think it’d be a good idea to get off campus for a bit.”

I smiled and felt myself truly relax for the first time in what felt like days. “Yeah, I’m not the skipping sort.” Rubio’s face fell into an exaggerated pout and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “You’re in luck. My next class isn’t for another couple of hours.” Normally, I’d meet up with Matt for lunch, but given how he’d conveniently already eaten or not been hungry the last couple of days, this seemed a better alternative than eating by myself.

“Sweet. Let’s sneak out of this closet like we’ve been up to no good and head for the main entrance of the campus.”

“Really? You had to go there?” I snickered as he pushed open the door and glanced around, looking sketchy as hell.

“And miss this beautiful opportunity? Never.” He held the door for me and I slipped into the hallway. “Besides, it could have been worse. I could have made a dozen different closeted jokes.”

I laughed loud enough to catch someone at the far end of hall’s attention and clamped a hand over my mouth. “You’re the worst,” I hissed as I let him take the lead.

“I think you mean the best.” He slung an arm around my shoulders and dragged me even with him. “You’re going to love the place I have in mind. Not only do they have amazing coffee, but rumor has it that’s where your notorious teacher met her mentor.”

I gasped and nearly gave myself whiplash turning to look at him. “No way.”

“Yep. Not that anyone in town realizes the significance of the quaint spot, everyone being human and all.”

“That’s true, then. The town really doesn’t know that it’s sitting next to an ancient university for supernaturals? How is that even possible?”

“One word, my friend.” Rubio waved his hand and wiggled his fingers. “Magic.” He pushed open a set of doors and we stepped out into a cloudy afternoon. “That, and people have a tendency to see only what they expect to see. Long as we don’t do anything extra supernaturally, then no one pays us any mind.”