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I pause, unsure if I can finish that text, unsure if I can let him in this way. It’s not something any of my other friends know. Not something Whitney knows, or my parents, but sometimes it feels like it’s eating a hole through me—like I’m a leaf and it’s a bug that’s turning me into Swiss cheese.
Me: I get stressed and overwhelmed when it comes to school. I think about my parents and all the things they want for me, how hard they had to fight to help me be able to afford school, which is already a little harder on me than it is for most people, and then I just…clam up. It killed me to pass all my classes last year, and I don’t know if I have it in me to do it again.
My heart starts trying to break through my chest while I stare at my phone screen, waiting for a response. I jump when it rings instead, which just makes my pulse speed up even more. What is he doing? No one our age calls anyone.
“Hello?”
Perry chuckles. “Why did you sound so unsure when you said that?”
“Because I was worried you’d been kidnapped and the bad guys were calling me with ransom demands. Why else would someone call? Then I’d have to tell them I have no money and would they accept payment in Sour Patch Kids? I couldn’t save your life the way you did mine. I was expecting a disaster. I might have had to sell my body to earn the money or something.”
“Eh, well, you’d get a lot for it.”
“I mean, I’m a nine and all.” Probably not to anyone except him, but still.
“You’re fixated on that.”
“Am not.” Yes, yes I am.
“I’m honored you would sell your body for me, but then I’d be all jealous that they got to see you naked and I don’t.”
My face heats. I’m…oh my God, I’m totally blushing. What is this guy doing to me? “Shut up.”
“Come over.”
“Excuse me?”
“Not for naked times, pervy-perv. So we can study. I’m off, and I have the house to myself. Friends don’t let friends have anxiety over school.”
The thing is, I know my other friends will help too if I tell them. I can’t figure out why it’s so much easier to share things with Perry than it is with anyone else. It also makes me a little mushy inside that he wants to spend his evening studying with me when he can literally be doing anything else.
“Okay…should I bring anything?”
“Your school shit would be helpful.”
“I meant other than that, jerkface.”
He chuckles. “Did you just call me a jerkface? Jesus, you’re cute. I’ll text you my address.”
Before I can think of a reply to him calling me cute, Perry hangs up. A moment later, the message comes through with his address, and I smile. A big smile. A stupid smile. The kind of stupid smile that wouldn’t be on my face right now if I wasn’t into guys…into Perry.
Well, not like I-wanna-marry-him into him, but I definitely do want to kiss him…want him to kiss me…
This is a very interesting development.
CHAPTER TEN
Perry
Offering to help someone study is a new one for me. It’s just never been on my radar before. I’m not the guy anyone else has gone to for that, and I can’t say it’s been something I missed out on.
But I know Theo, and he’s clearly stressed. The guy is a people pleaser, and I hate that he’s putting so much pressure on himself when it comes to school.
I tidy up the house a little. It’s never bad. Brax is picky about that shit. Apparently, he and his brother have a complicated relationship, but Ty said when the brother lived here, he hardly ever did his part. Brax took it all on himself, which is fucked up. I try hard to make sure it doesn’t ever look like I’m taking advantage of living here.
I’m just finishing brushing my teeth when I hear the knock at the door. I make my way back down the hallway, into the living room, and open it to see Theo standing there in a pair of gray sweatpants. Fuck my life. It’s not even cold. Why is he wearing those? Is he trying to torture me? He’s also got pink cheeks, his backpack slung over his shoulder, and what looks like a bashful smile curving his lips.
“What?” I ask.
