Page 30 of Zero Confusion

JOEL: I’m gonna forgive you for saying things you don’t mean because you’re clearly going through something.

ZACH: Yep, the truth is that I’m just super jealous I didn’t buy that monstrosity first.

The string of angry emojis Joel sent in response made him laugh. Trading insults about each other’s fashion style was practically their love language. He still remembered his first and only attempt at wearing a Hawaiian shirt—Joel had giggled so much that he got the hiccups and had to leave during class.

“What’s that smile for?” Miles placed an omelet and buttery toast in front of Zach.

“Nothing. Texting Joel to see if I have a tell,” Zach replied and put away his phone.

“I’m glad you have him. I wish I had someone like that at school.”

“There’s no one in your program who’s in the same classes as you?”

Miles sat down and took a bite of the fluffy eggs. Zach was curious to hear the answer, but the slight movements of Miles’s throat as he chewed and swallowed were entrancing, distracting him until he forgot what they’d been talking about. His gaze traveled from Miles’s throat to his jaw, appreciating the light stubble on the verge of becoming a beard, then further up to catch a quick peek of Miles’s tongue as it darted out to lick his lips. A flash of heat shot into Zach’s groin, and he quickly averted his gaze.

“There are, but I haven’t gotten close to anyone,” Miles said after swallowing. “My roommate’s cool, but he’s an Engineering major, so we don’t have the same classes. I’ve hung out with some guys from class, but no one I really vibed with. And honestly, going home every weekend hasn’t helped.”

“Can’t you tell your parents you’d rather stay on campus? It’s kind of a waste for you to constantly drive back and forth.”

Miles shrugged and shoved another bite in his mouth. “Maybe.”

Zach checked the time, wishing he could stay and push for more answers. He’d been so wrapped up in himself—his secrets, his internal struggles—that he didn’t notice how much Miles needed him.

What sort of friend would do that?

Going back in time to fix it wasn’t an option, but he could start making up for it right now. After wolfing down his breakfast and dropping the plate in the sink, he grabbed his bag. “I gotta go, but I have an idea. Wear something comfortable and be ready to go when I get back.”

Miles perked up and grinned, eyes twinkling with anticipation. So sweet and innocent. So easily excited. How could anyone meet him and not want to be his friend?

Zach would give him the world—the stars and the moon—just to keep that smile on his face.

* * *

He rushed home after class, barely stopping to chat with Joel before making an excuse to flee. Joel gave him a knowing look and asked if his hurry had anything to do with a certain someone, and Zach couldn’t even be annoyed at the implication.

Miles was on the couch and ready to go, wearing a plain white T-shirt and gym shorts—a delicious combination that showed off his impressive physique. Zach sighed in resignation. He would definitely embarrass himself by drooling over Miles’s flexing quads at some point tonight. Miles was hot even when he was covered up by flannel and baggy jeans. With his muscles on display—bulging biceps and sculpted calves, each vein begging to be traced with his tongue—he was impossible to resist.

Miles either didn’t notice or gracefully ignored Zach’s reaction, waiting patiently for him to dash into the bathroom and change his clothes. They walked down to the bus stop, sprinting the last block as they spotted the bus overtaking them. It was a short trip, and twenty minutes later, they were standing outside their destination.

“Rock climbing? This is awesome,” Miles said with awe in his voice. “I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“I feel bad about keeping you cooped up in my tiny apartment all day. It’s about time I took you somewhere fun.”

Zach stepped toward the entrance, reaching for the large handle in the shape of a mountain, when Miles grabbed his wrist and whirled him around.

“You’re not keeping me cooped up. I love hanging out with you, even if we’re doing our own thing.”

Zach grinned at Miles’s sweetness. “So you’ve told me. But I still wanna show you some of my favorite places that are not my couch.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

Miles’s hand settled at the small of Zach’s back as he steered them forward.

The contact made Zach stumble before he caught himself and kept moving, doing his best to act normal while his thoughts scrambled to catch up. Miles was always touching him—that had long stopped being strange—but this was different. Lower. Closer. More intimate. Miles, apparently, saw nothing unusual about it, his palm firmly planted two inches above Zach’s ass like it had every right to be there.

He warned himself not to read into it and yanked the heavy door open.

A soft gasp escaped Miles as he whirled around in awe. The gym was an impressive sight to anyone seeing it for the first time—a huge open space with tall ceilings, colorful walls, and an electrifying energy in the air.