Page 6 of The Substitute (New York Gods #4)
SIX
TOBI
Mr. Pre-Med can’t even be out of the building when my phone pings. I don’t dare pick it up, not with Ambrose grilling me on what his brother was doing here.
“Why did you let him in?”
“I didn’t even want to answer the door. He kept banging and then invited himself in.” I cross my arms, getting more defensive by the minute.
“In the future, please ignore him.”
“What’s that all about, anyway?” I ask, unable to help myself. He knows so much about me, seeing me like he did in the spring, but I didn’t even know he had a brother. My fault I guess, since I’ve barely said a word to him since he moved in.
“I’m not speaking to my dad anymore.” Ambrose’s words are curt.
“Why?”
“It’s complicated.” Ambrose shoves his hand into his auburn hair like a fucking model.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me.” His walls are higher than mine, and I’m too tired to fight him on it.
We fall into silence, but he lingers in the living room, almost hovering.
“Sit down or something,” I snap.
“If you insist,” he says, then forces himself into the oversized chair with me, putting his arm on the back. “Much better.”
“Not what I meant.”
“Maybe you need to be more specific.” He shrugs. “Wait, didn’t you have class today?”
I avoid his gaze. “It’s just review—I don’t need to be there.”
“My classes did more than just review. Aren’t we the same year?”
I glance over at him. “I’m sure my classes are very different than yours.”
“Alright, if you know better.” He glances over at me. “Want to grab dinner?”
I avoid his eyes. “I’m not really hungry. I think I’m just going to go back to bed.”
I shuffle to our room, hating how pathetic I am. I should have just gone to dinner with Ambrose. I like him. He’s nice, but I’m just not over Rhys, and the idea of spending time with anyone else, makes my chest ache.
“I’m not giving up on you.” Ambrose stands in the doorway, eating a Power Bar.
“There’s nothing to not give up on.” I roll my eyes.
“Mmmhmm.” He leaves, so I finally open my text.
I don’t know what I’m expecting, but not this.
Mr. Pre-Med: I’m picking you up Monday at 7.
Do I agree if he’s not asking?
Maybe I should tell him fucking no, just to send a message.
But as my thumbs hover over the buttons, I don’t want to.
Tobi: What if I’m busy?
Mr. Pre-Med: you’re not anymore.
I fight a smile. Fuck, I’m being an idiot. Some guy telling me what to do shouldn’t be hot.
Tobi: I guess we’ll see.
Mr. Pre-Med:
“Why are you smiling at your phone?” Ambrose is back, this time with a protein shake.
“I thought you were going to dinner.”
“I decided to stay here.”
“Why?”
He shoves off the doorway, venturing further into our room, taking a seat on the floor to lean against my bed frame. “Because I’d rather be here. Want to watch a movie or something?”
Why does he have to be so nice?
“If you want to…” Maybe I should be nice.
“Great. Where’s your laptop?”
I shove off the bed, digging through the pile of stuff on my desk, finding it. I grab the plug too, because I’m sure it’s dead, before sliding down to sit next to Ambrose. “What do you want to watch?”
“What kind of movies do you like?”
“Anything but action movies.” I stick my tongue out.
“What? Because I’m a “jock”, you think I can’t have any other likes?” He eyes me and bumps his shoulder into mine.
“I never said that! I just don’t want to watch action.” I log into my streaming service and start flipping through movies aimlessly.
“How about The Golden Finch? It’s gay and no action in sight.”
I side-eye him but nod after reading the description. “Sure, that sounds good.” I hit play.
“Wait!” he says, and I hit pause. “Let me grab some snacks.” He gets up and goes to his closet, turning around a minute later with popcorn, Twizzlers, and gummy bears.
I go for the Twizzlers and look at him with suspicion. “How did you know what my favorite snacks were?”
“I pay attention.”
My chest gets all warm, and I put on the movie so he doesn’t notice.
Later I find more texts from Mr. Pre-Med:
Mr. Pre-Med: Don’t think not answering me will detour me.
Mr. Pre-Med: We can study. How can you turn that down?
They’re so different, why do I like them both?