Page 44 of Out of Bounds

He took the compliment in stride. He managed to save himself from flaming out at Browerton, and that was good enough for him for now.

“Whoever he is, I’m glad he’s in your life.”

A warm rush of emotion swelled in his chest. “Me, too.”

* * *

Three days later,Brennan found himself in the student union trying to make an impossible decision. He stood in front of a cooler of premade sandwiches and salads, assessing his options for dinner, and wondering if he should chuck it all for a King Size Kit-Kit Bar.

His decision got put on hold when Cliff strolled in flanked by two guys from his basketball team. Brennan assumed they were teammates because they towered over the other students.

A flash of panic swept across Cliff’s face when they made eye contact. His two friends made a beeline for the chip shelf, while Cliff seemed torn about joining them or saying something to Brennan.

Brennan found it cute and had zero intention of making Cliff uncomfortable in front of his friends. It’d been nearly a week since they last saw each other, and Brennan was happy to simply see his face. The demands of the launch of the basketball season ate up Cliff’s time. He felt a spark of joy when Cliff ambled over to the cooler.

“Of all the campus stores…” Brennan said. “How’s practice going?”

“Grueling. We’re doing everything we can to get ready. The first game of the season is tomorrow.”

“Damn.” Brennan could feel the anticipation coming off Cliff. Cliff had told him that he wouldn’t play much since he was a freshman, but it was still a nervous time.

“It’s been crazy. Extra practices plus trying to stay on top of classwork.”

“Hopefully, you can get a break soon.”

Because I miss you.The words nearly made a prison break from Brennan’s lips, but he stopped them in time. He realized how much slower time moved without Cliff.

“Coach gave us the night off,” Cliff said, making Brennan’s ears perk up. “He wants us to rest up tonight in preparation for tomorrow’s opener.”

“Coach is a smart man.”

“Carpenter, how much Cool Ranch are you getting? No wonder your breath always smells like shit,” one of Cliff’s teammates said to the other. Brennan guessed it was this funny kid Dell that Cliff had mentioned before.

Cliff turned back to Brennan, eager to explain. “We’re getting snacks and are gonna watch movies. Enjoy our one night off.”

Brennan felt a twinge of pity for the basketball team. This was college. They shouldn’t have to work so hard.

“What are you up to tonight?”

“There’s an exhibition at a local gallery by one of the MFA students in the department. A few of us in the program are going.”

“Cool.”

“Did you want to come?”

Cliff looked back at his friends. He had already said he had plans, but Brennan couldn’t let this opening in Cliff’s schedule go unchallenged. He had the chance to spend a night with Cliff.

“Browerton has a free shuttle to the med school campus in downtown Harrisburg, and it’s a short walk from there.”

Was he rambling? Did Cliff need all of this information? Now Brennan was the nervous one.

“Is it okay if I tag along?”

“You’re not tagging along, Clifford. I’m inviting you. You’re technically a student in the department, too.”

Cliff’s friends joined their conversation, snacks in hand. Cliff froze up for a second, which made Brennan grin to himself.

“I’m Brennan. I’m an old childhood friend of Cliff’s.” He held back on uttering the Clifford nickname.