Rhett elbows him. “Shut up. Not everyone is like you three. It took me a while to not hate myself enough to admit that I liked Benny.” He’s looking right at me. “Benny’s been out for as long as I can remember, and our school never cared, but just because it seems like the outside world is cool doesn’t actually mean that it is behind closed doors.”

“You know,” Benny adds. “There’s a reason why I didn’t come out to you two”—he looks to Xavier and me—“and Aaron on the group chat over the summer. Even though this is a queer liberal paradise of a college, you just never know.”

“Side note, I barely see Aaron,” I add.

“Same, and I live with the guy,” Xavier says. “Aaron’s always at his girlfriend’s. I think she’s a sophomore and lives off campus. He can stay there. I like the privacy.” X shrugs, and his phone goes off. “Ahh, that’s my ride.” He wraps his arms around me and squeezes.

“You need help with your bags?” Benny asks. When Xavier nods, Benny’s face falls. “Oh, I was only being polite. I didn’t mean—ugh, fine.”

Benny slings one of Xavier’s bags over his shoulders, and you would think he’s being forced to lift a car with his bare hands by the way he moans and grunts and whines as they trudge out the door, leaving Rhett and me alone.

Well, this is awkward. We’ve never been alone together. Ever.

And all I want to do is ask him about Jack. The thought pulls at me.

“So,” Rhett starts. “How are you?”

Oh. Small talk. Cute. “I’m, you know. Living. Two weeks ago, I don’t know what the answer would have been. But two sessions of Dr. Sweatervest and tossing myself into my schoolwork sure does keep the mind occupied.”

Rhett nods and dry swallows. Then his voice gets low. “He’s not doing so well.”

I don’t have to ask who he’s talking about.

“Sorry, Benny told me not to say anything, but …” Rhett looks around the room because, yeah, this feels uncomfortable. He’s giving off a weird energy, from his stance to his tone. “Jack doesn’t talk to me really, but I see it in his face. Doesn’t go to class much. Or even crew practice. And a couple days ago, I caught him crying. When I asked what was wrong, he just turned over in his bed.”