Austin focused from Endgame to me and back again. “I thought you were allergic.”

“I am. This one has a pretty short coat, so it’s not choking me up too bad.” He gave Axel a final pat and he padded over to me.

“What are you doing today?” Endgame sipped from a steaming mug. Like we were all friends. As if he hadn’t needed to be bought like a souvenir to save his life at all.

“I have work.” I sat near my bag and took out my laptop. I had a five-page paper and a few discussion questions.

“Good for you. Can’t always rely on what’s between your legs to pay the bills. I mean, look at me? Now what the hell am I going to do? You guys need me to move out, right? Isn’t that the conversation we’re doomed to have?” He lit a cigarette. It smelled like weed.

“Yeah, man. You’re going to have to go. Where are you going to stay?” Austin lifted the edge of his shirt a little and I saw a peek of skin.

“Act like you care. That’s the best. I love to think you’ll be really worried if I’m out in the rain or not.” Endgame took a long pull and then exhaled his smoke.

“You’re not supposed to smoke inside. You know that.” Austin folded his arms over his chest.

“Like I do what you tell me. Shit. Have you been paying attention at all?” Endgame turned and left the room.

I looked to Austin, who in turn stared at the ceiling. “He’s a hard one to care about.”

It was confusing. This whole situation was a problem. No one in their right mind would get involved with a guy that still lived with his ex. I opened up my computer and tried to focus on the text. I read the same question three times and barely had an idea what my answer was going to be.

I loved Austin. Always had. But if Endgame came with this deal, that was going to be a very difficult situation to navigate.

Austin came over and kissed my cheek before returning to his computer. We would have to discuss this, but today, right now was not the moment.

19

TAYLOR

Our Sunday was low-key. When it was time for dinner, we ordered in. Endgame was out or very, very quiet in his room for the night.

By Monday I had finished all my work and was ready to start the week, even if it got going way too early.

When I got to my economics class, I saw a very unwelcome sight. Roberta. She cruised by my desk and seemed to relish in the fact that we would be seeing each other a few times a week.