28. Fletcher

School starts tomorrow. I'm all enrolled. Set for my first class at noon tomorrow. But we haven't talked about it. We haven't had the dreaded talk at all. He hasn't brought it up, and neither have I.

I've felt sick to my stomach, just thinking about it. But I can't believe he hasn't brought it up. Instead, we're hanging out at my place, watching a murder doc while eating takeout, and it feels like the most normal damn thing in the entire world.

I don't want to lose this.

My heart pangs with that feeling, but thankfully, before I can blurt that out and get my heart smashed into a million pieces, there's a knock on my door. Ronan turns to look at me, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Your mom?" But then he frowns so deep there's a crease in his forehead, and it's really damn cute. "Or Josh?"

I bark out a laugh. "You jealous?"

His frown only deepens, and oh my God, he couldn't get cuter if he tried. Fuck, I'm so far gone for this man. "Relax." I stand up just as there's another knock on my door a little louder than the first time.

I have a feeling I know who it is even before I hear Rhett's voice. "Open up! You've been ignoring us all damn summer."

"Yeah, you can't get away from us," comes Bree's voice next.

"And we brought food!" That's Grayson.

My smile is far too big, and when I look at Ronan, I see a similar one on his face. "Are you going to let them in?" He places his takeout container on the coffee table, looking awfully smug and happy.

That's really not the face of someone who's going to end things tonight, right? Or maybe he's just happy because they'll be here to pick up the pieces when he lets me down gently. Urgh. He'll probably do it in a way that's smart and calm.

I won't even know he's breaking up with me until he's leaving. Not that there's anything really to break up. I mean, we aren't in a relationship. I knew what this was from the very beginning, and I told myself I was totally fine with it.

Lies. So many damn lies went into letting myself have this.

"Yeah. I suppose. As long as you're okay with it." I ask him, but he only gently nods at me.

His voice is soft, but firm. "I'd like to meet them."

Before this is over. I add in for him because I can hear the words he didn't say. This is so not good. I walk over to the door on shaky legs and do my best to plaster that big, happy smile on my face before I pull open the door.

"Bout time," Bree complains, but she's smiling. "You know I'm leaving tomorrow."

Shit. I forgot about Bree flying to New York tomorrow. Jesus Christ, could I be any more selfish?"I know," I lie because yeah, I really did forget.

"Liar," she says, totally calling me on my shit as she breezes past me. Rhett and Grayson follow her with grins on their faces, and they all stop when they see Ronan on my couch.

"Oh, uh..." Rhett mumbles awkwardly. "Sorry. Didn't know you had company."

Grayson is grinning far too big as he takes in the man on my couch. "Holy shit. Are you the professor who hates him—but fucked him in front of Blair and Rhys?"

I cringe at that, as does Ronan. "We did not fuck in front of Blair and Rhys." I nudge Grayson's shoulder.

"We were just kissing," Ronan says, a boyish glint in his eyes that I can't stop myself from being infatuated with.

Grayson beams as he walks further into the living room, holding his hand out for Ronan. "Nice to meet you. I'm Grayson."

Ronan stands and shakes his hand. "Ronan. Thanks for letting us stay at your house for that weekend."

Grayson grins. "That place is magic, am I right? I mean, I know what Blair and Rhys were getting up to. They didn't fool me. Rhys wouldn't even look at me."

"Nah. That's just Rhys," Bree says as she approaches Ronan. "I'm Bree. You better not still hate my brother since you're at his place, and I doubt you were all that innocent at the lake house."

"Bree," I groan. She's as bad as Blair.

Ronan, however, just smiles widely at her. "Never claimed to be innocent. It's nice to meet you." He leans in a little closer to her, his eyes full of sincerity. "And I never hated him."

Fuck.I hate the way my stupid heart flutters in my chest. The man just said he didn't hate me. That's all he said. There was no declaration of love, but to my brain, there might as well have been.

Way to guard your heart there, Fletcher.

"I'm Rhett," Rhett introduces himself. Ronan shakes his hand.

"Nice to meet you." Rhett actually smiles at Ronan, which is pretty rare with people he doesn't know, so I'll take that as a win.

"Sorry we busted in," Rhett apologizes, but Bree and Grayson have already made themselves comfortable on the couch. Bree's opening up what looks like tacos from one of my favorite places on the coffee table.

"We brought food though," she says with a waggle of her eyebrows.

"It smells delicious," Ronan says as she hands him one. "Thank you."

She studies him closely, and I don't like it because I know she's analyzing him. Deciding whether he passes the test to be with her brother. Joke's on her—we aren't together. She seems satisfied, though, and grabs a taco for herself. "So what are we watching?"

I shake my head at her, wanting to be annoyed, but I can't seem to bring myself to actually be irritated with any of them. Bree moves to New York tomorrow. I can't believe she's actually going.

But man, am I happy for her. She's been dreaming about this for so damn long. We all had those dreams that kept us going when everything felt so damn bleak, and this was hers.

I sit down between Ronan and her, silently apologizing for the interruption, but I see no irritation on Ronan's face either. He seems totally content to hang out with my family.

Again—why does it have to end?

It's too damn perfect.

And I guess, after all my experiences in life, that's my answer.