“How the fuck would you know?” Damn, I need a muzzle lately. “Sorry, that came out wrong, but you know what I mean. Who’s ever said it to you and not screwed you over?”

“Well, you’ve never said it, but you love me and you’ve never screwed me over.”

“That’s not the same.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Not unless you’re over there thinking about me naked.”

His lips part and pull into a smile. “Relax, you’re not nearly kinky enough for me.”

“But seriously, man. You think there’s someone out there that’s capable of speaking the words to you and really meaning it? No strings, no ulterior motives, two people who care deeply and want to support one another?”

“Isn’t that basically what you and Ginny had before you blew it up?” He sets an elbow on the table and waves his fork around. “I’m not much for trying to live up to other people’s expectations. I know what it means to me and yeah.” He shrugs. “At least I hope so. Otherwise, it’s going to be me and you heading to the Early Bird special together. The only question you need to ask yourself is, do you believe Ginny means it?”

“Yeah, I think she does. She’s never given me any reason to doubt her.” I toss my napkin on the table. “I’m not hungry.”

He takes my plate and I watch as he inhales my food and then sits back with a contented sigh.

“I don’t know what to do. I want to be with her, but I can’t tell her I… you know, when the words make me want to throw myself off a cliff.”

“But you do?”

“If I didn’t hate the word and everything in my past associated with it? Yeah, that’s probably how I’d define it.”

“Big gesture. Huge. I’m talking Kanye-antics.”

“I think I’ll just try to talk to her first.”

“Talking got you into this mess,” he points out.

When we get to campus, Maverick starts toward class. I’m going by the dorm first to see if I can find Ginny. Something tells me she didn’t show up at the dining hall this morning either.

“Good luck, buddy. Try not to use the word like.”

I flip him off. He turns and I call after him. “Hey, Mav.”

My buddy glances over his shoulder.

“You can always count me in for the Early Bird special. No matter what.”

I move at a clip across campus and jog up the stairs to the second floor.

I knock on the door and wait. No answer. Knock again.

“Ginny? Are you there? It’s Heath. Open up if you’re there. Please.” It’s quiet on the other side and I rest my head against the door. “I’m so sorry.”