28. Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Shane

Twenty Years of Age

" I got a C, Jarman! A C! Do you know how much dad is going to flip when he finds out? Oh em gee, he’s totally going to find out, isn’t he?” Eli stormed into my room, waving his paper in the air like a white flag.

"It's just one assignment, Mouse. You'll do better on the next one. Your GPA is still great," I reassured him, trying to calm the storm brewing.

“No, this will bring it down. I don’t know where I went wrong. I've aced this class all semester. He won’t want me to work for him anymore. This is bad, bad, bad, bad,” he lamented, voice muffled as he buried his face into my pillow.

I sighed, flopping onto my bed and enveloping him in a tight embrace. “He’ll understand, and you’ll make up for this.”

“He has access to my portal, Jar,” Eli reminded me, his tone tinged with desperation. I couldn't relate; my parents didn't hover over my grades like his did.

“Okay, well, have you asked for extra credit?” I suggested.

Eli jumped out of my arms, eyes lighting up. “Great idea! Okay, come with me to the professor's office?”

I sighed, glancing at the assignment I'd been working on before Eli barged in. “Fine, but then I need to do my own work.”

“Thankyou! I can help you if you would like,” Eli offered eagerly.

I quirked a lip. “No, you'll be finishing your extra credit assignment.”

“Right…yes, you're right. What would I do without you?” He was practically shivering.

“Freeze to death,” I replied, tossing him my hoodie, then opening my door as an invitation to get going.

As we walked to the professor's office, I couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be a day when I didn't drop everything just to make Eli happy. I’d do anything to see that little dimple appear. I shook my head, I realized the high from his happiness was something I doubted would ever fade.

Present

Going back to work and leaving Eli at home was no easy task, though I seemed to be alone in that struggle. Eli practically pushed me out the door, his playful smirk doing little to ease my reluctance. “Go! I 'm not a puppy that’s going to pee everywhere and eat your furniture. I'm an adult, and I can handle myself,” he insisted, his tone a mix of amusement and exasperation.

I knew he could handle himself. Of course, he could. But it wasn't just about that. It was about being gone during our upcoming away games, leaving him alone when most of our friends were off doing their own thing. Tyler and Hunter were both on away stints, and Cal was occupied with his competitions. It was Eli's first time alone in Canada, and he hadn't had the chance to make other friends yet. Given how he'd dealt with loneliness in the past, it felt only natural for me to worry.

“I have a phone, babe. I can always bombard you with messages if I get lonely. And if you think I won't be calling you to hear your voice just because, you have another thing coming,” Eli teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

I smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to his lips. “I would be mad if you didn’t.”

“Good, go. I love you,” he said, giving me a gentle push before I could steal another kiss.

“Okay! I'm going. Love you!” I called back, feeling the warmth of his smile linger even as I walked away.

As I made my way to the awaiting car, cheeks sore from smiling, I couldn't help but marvel at how far we’d come. A fog of happiness seemed to blanket me, much like it always did when I was with Eli. Only now, he was more than just my happiness—he was mine in every sense of the word. And as I climbed into the car, ready to face the day ahead, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the love that bound us together, even when we were apart.