Liam waved off the compliment. “If you knew all the things Pop does that make my life simpler . . .”
Add modesty to the list.
Liam fidgeted with the dish towel, straightening it, not meeting Coury’s eye. “Let me make sure he doesn’t need anything, and we can get studying.”
He dashed out of the room.
Coury lingered by the sink for an amused moment, then fetched his backpack from the foyer. Liam was . . . fun. Funny. Something he hadn’t known. Beckett’sbig personality always drowned Liam out.
He had to have words with Beckett. With a bit of encouragement, Liam would be the charm of the party.
“Hey,” Liam said softly, and Coury jumped.“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just thinking.” He quickly added, “About thetest.”
“Next time I’ll stomp.”
“That was the most sorry-not-sorry apology ever.” He started for the kitchen.
Liam pressed a long-fingered hand on Coury’s chest. “Mind if we use the basement? Pop’s trying to sleep. He won’t hear us down there.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Want coffee? I’m making some.”
“Hell yeah.” He slapped a hand over his lips and glanced sheepishly down the hall. “Sorry.”
“He’s not asleep yet.” Liam smiled. “Head down, I won’t be long.”
He nodded and nearly stepped on Slider dashing through the door. The terrier sat on the couch, looking over expectantly as Coury circled the pool table. He plunked down on a cushion and Slider crawled into his lap. “Beckett’s right, you are an attention whore. And he should know.”
It had never been an issue for Coury. He’d known Beckett since they were five and it was just who he was. Coury didn’t shrink away when his best friend started up; if anything, he competed with Becks for loudest goof in the room.
Liam had always been around, always on the edge, and always left out. “Damn.”
Beckett had this idea that living with his grandfather was bad for Liam, but from what Coury could see, it was the opposite. He needed more contact with other students, for sure, but Coury could help with that.
“Here we are.” Liam’s announcement preceded his arrival with two mugs of coffee. “I didn’t know how you like yours, so I brought sugar and can get you milk if you need it.”
“Sugar is great.” The first whiff reached him and he breathed deeply. “Damn Liam, I just might have a new best friend.”
“Right,” he smiled. “Like Beckett never made you coffee.”
He shook his head. “I can’t think of a single time. And he sure as hell never helped me pass a class. Thanks.”
He set the mug down and moved over so Liam had room to sit.
“It’s not a big deal.”
Coury twisted to face Liam. “It reallyisa big deal. I can’t thank you enough. It really might be the difference between graduating or needing to take summer school. I so totally owe you.”
“Like I said, I love this class so it’s hardly work for me.”
“Still.” He raised his hand and pointed between the two of them. “Tomorrow night, it’s Friday Night Fun at the frat. Our monthly party. I want you to come. I promise I’ll hang with you again like we did last weekend. Unless you find someone else you’d rather talk to, in which case I’ll get lost.”
He smiled, noting the blush in Liam’s cheeks.
“I don’t know. I made my once-a-year frat party appearance last weekend.”
