Fallon: I like you. You’re good for him.
Ian: He’s good for me, too.
Fallon: Break his heart and they’ll never find your body.
Ian:You don’t mess around.
Fallon: If you think I’m scary, just wait until you meet Emersyn.
* * *
An hour later,Fallon’s playing video games with Knox and Whit, and Booker and I are headed back to my place. As I back out of the driveway and turn onto the main road, my phone dings with a text. “Will you check that for me?” I ask my boyfriend.
He picks up my phone and huffs out a laugh. “You know how we’re headed to your place for more privacy?”
“Yeah. You have a million roommates.”
“True. And you have a houseguest.”
“Wait, what?” I question. “Who?”
“Luke,” he replies. “Here, I’ll read you the message. It says,‘Get home, a-hole. It’s effing cold out here. This is why you should give me a key to your place.’”
“What the hell is he doing at my place?” I wonder aloud, turning onto the main road in front of the university.
Booker shrugs. “Maybe he needed a vacation?”
I shake my head. “Farmers don’t take vacations.”
“Maybe that’s why he needs one?”
“I guess we’re about to find out,” I say, pulling into the lot to find that Luke took my spot. No surprise there. I park two rows over and take Booker’s hand as we walk the path toward my apartment.
“Finally!” my brother crows. “I’ve been out here for an hour,” he complains.
I check my phone and roll my eyes. “According to this, you’ve been here for seventeen minutes.”
“Felt like an hour,” he grumbles. “So this is the boyfriend, huh? I’m Luke, the best the McBride family has to offer. Nice to meet you.”
Booker laughs and shakes my brother’s hand. “We need to introduce him to Whit. They’d be braiding each other’s hair by the end of the night. On second thought, maybe not. Because they’d start with hair braiding and end with world domination.”
“You’re not wrong,” I agree as we ascend the steps and I key into my place. “Make yourself at home,” I call as Luke charges past me and dumps his stuff on the spare bed that used to be Willa’s.
I feel like calling it a night and telling my brother I hope to hell he brought earplugs because Booker and I have no intention of keeping quiet.But the fact that he’s here at all is worrisome. Like I told Booker, there are no days off on a farm. And any time away is scheduled far in advance.
So while Booker showers, I throw on some flannel pants and go in search of Luke. My apartment is pretty small, so he’s either in bed or snacking in the kitchen. I opt for the latter and I’m not wrong.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
He peeks his head out from the fridge. “Skim milk, Ian? Who even are you? I’m not telling Mom; it would break her heart.”
“That’s Booker’s,” I tell him, taking the offending jug and returning it to the bottom shelf.
“That’s one strike against him. You’re aware of that, right? Seems like a good dude, and he’s handsome as fuck, but low-fat dairy products? Where’s this relationship even going, Ian?”
“Thank you, Love Doctor Luke. Your vast relationship knowledge is much appreciated,” I mock. But judging by the look on his face, I’ve hit a nerve.
“Oh, shit. Is there trouble in hookup paradise?” I tease.
