Not that I think Stone would do that. I just… I feel like I can see a future with him. It sounds so fucking dumb since he’s married and my professor, but the chemistry is too strong. Too good. I want him in absolutely every way I can have him.

I’m at my friend’s house—a bunch of us are heading to graduation together soon. Out of our big group, a handful of us are graduating, while the rest will be seniors this year. Branson, Knox, Weston, Katie, and I are the graduates. I’m still mind blown that the time is here.

“Hey, guys, are we ready?” Katie asks. She’s the mother hen of our group. How she puts up with all of us is beyond me. She and Knox met a few years ago—I think our sophomore year, maybe—and became fast best friends. Their friendship spread through everyone, and she’s slowly become all our friends.

I’m not as close to everyone as the others, but these are still my people. I’ve known all of them, besides Katie, since we were kids.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Knox responds, his arm around his boyfriend, Aston.

As we head out of the house, I pull out my phone, sending a quick text to Stone. We haven’t talked at all today, but I just want to let him know I’m thinking of him. He’s one of the faculty speakers tonight.

Me: Almost show time. See you soon, teach. ;)

I pocket my phone as we all cram into our cars. I’m riding with Knox, Aston, and Weston. Since Stone is driving us to dinner, I won’t need my car later.

“So, when do you guys leave for Georgia?” Everyone, except me, is going to Georgia for a few weeks. Katie is from there, and she heads home every summer. The gang is going to visit her. I can’t go because I have to move into my new place and get everything ready for the fall. This summer is also an opportunity to spend time with Stone, and there’s no way I’d give that up. And I couldn’t exactly bring him along.

Knox glances at me before replying. “Aston and I leave in a few days, and Weston leaves a day or two after that. Branson and Luca are renting an RV and roadtripping there. I don’t have a single fucking clue why.”

“You should just come, man,” Weston says, messing around on his phone.

“I fucking wish, bro. This summer is going to be busy as hell for me. When do you move?”