Page 77 of Lessons in Chemistry

Casey ruffles his hair and then pulls him into a hug. “I find it hard to say no to you.”

They’re beautiful together. Emory’s cheeks are glowing, and there’s so much love in Casey’s eyes. I envy their relationship. How close they are. How well they know each other. I’ve never had that with anyone. I didn’t even think I wanted it until I met them.

Them.

Surely I should have only thought of Emory. Hi brain, meet Freudian slip.

“Friday?” Emory asks.

“Um.” I look at my phone and scroll through my last few messages.

“It’s fine if you’re busy.”

I hadn’t said yes to anyone. Was I hoping Emory and I would make plans to see each other? “I don’t have any plans on Friday. So I’m all yours.” I put my phone away. I lean forward and squeeze Casey’s knee. Why the fuck did I do that? “Don’t worry if you fall asleep. We’ll make sure you don’t fall off the sofa.”

Casey raises his eyebrows. Our stares lock. I’m mesmerised by the depth of colour in his eyes. I hadn’t realised they weren’t solid brown. He has a circle of green right next to the—what the fuck did Emory call that dark ring the first time I spoke to him? I’m sure it began with L. Anyway. That dark ring between the iris and the white of the eye. The one that’s so pronounced in Emory’s.

Casey clears his throat and looks away. “Movie night on Friday. If you don’t mind me tagging along.”

“Hey, I’m playing tag along right now. It’s only fair you get to do the same another time.” I wink at him.

“I can’t wait,” Em says.

Casey checks his watch. “I’ve got to go, sorry.”

“Can I convince you to play hooky?” I give them both a winning smile. “We could do something fun.”

“I can’t.” Emory’s voice is strangled, his expression panicked.

“I can’t either. I made a deal with my parents that I’d have good attendance and keep my grade average up. If I don’t, they’ll blame swimming and insist I quit.”

I wince. It’s all too easy for me to relate to that ultimatum.

“They’re supportive. They know how much swimming means to me. But long-term, it’ll be my qualifications that get me further in life than swimming ever will.” He presses his palms against his thighs.

“Do you enjoy your course?” I ask.

“Oh, yeah, it’s great.”

He’s one up on me, then.

“But if I could spend the rest of my life doing nothing but swimming, I would.”

Emory nudges Casey’s knee with his own. “Yet more proof you’re part dolphin.”

Casey laughs. “I’ve got to go. This has been fun.”

“It has.” For some reason, I stand when he does. I want to hug him, but I settle for an awkward handshake instead. I watch him leave. Once he’s gone and I sit again, I realise Emory is staring at me. “What?”

“You two seemed to be getting along.” He’s grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Yeah, I think we were.”

Emory claps his hands. “We can make this arrangement work, can’t we?”

I move to sit beside him, pull him into my arms, and kiss his forehead. “I’d like to think so. But let’s take it day by day, okay?”

He snuggles against me. “Okay.”