I slide my glasses on and look up at him. “You’re assuming I can do it.”
“Can you?”
“Yes.”
Last year, I was part of the team that redesigned the school intranet. It was outdated and needed upgrading to host the newest version of The Howl, so I ended up on a team tasked with giving it a whole new look. I wrote a lot of the code and getting access again would be child’s play.
Alex sighs. “What do you need? I can get you a job on the media team at Rainer Corp. after you graduate, if that would be of interest to you?”
My heart jumps in my chest. Rainer Corp. is a multi-billion-dollar property development company with offices all over the damn world. Getting a job there would open a hell of a lot of doors. It would also give me a reason to turn my dad down. It’s a struggle to keep my face neutral as my insides jolt with excitement.
“I’m going to need that in writing,” I say.
Alex blows out a breath. “Not a problem.”
As I watch the two of them share a look of relief, I wonder whether Alex is as big of an asshole as he seems. It makes sense he’s actually a decent guy underneath it all. He’s one of Sol’s best friends, and I can’t imagine that Sol would choose to spend time with someone who wasn’t worth it. I scoff internally. Like I know what Sol would do or like.
“There’s one other thing.” The words fall from my lips before I can stop them, and the hint of desperation lacing them seems to pique Alex’s interest.
“Sure,” he says. “What is it?”
What the hell am I doing? Seriously. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest, I swear they’d be able to see it through my shirt if they looked closely enough.
“It’s kind of personal,” I say, the words coming in a rush. “And I get if you don’t feel like you can tell me, but none of this is ethical and I swear I won’t say anything if you do.”
Alex looks beyond amused at my rambling. “Spit it out, Wes.”
Fuck it. “Your friend, Sol,” I say, my heart in my throat. “Is he . . .”
I can’t say the word. I know the answer. He’s completely straight. I’ve projected things that aren’t there onto Sol because I have a stupid crush. There’s no point denying it anymore. That’s what it is. A big fat crush. And crushed is what I’m going to be when Alex confirms what I already know.
Alex shakes his head, his brow furrowed. “An athlete? A nice guy? Single?”
I freeze at the last suggestion, and try to cover it, but I’m too late as Alex blinks.
“You want to know if Sol is single?”
“Fuck. This is so freakin’ awkward.” I close my eyes and lean my head back, wishing I’d never opened my stupid mouth. “Yes? No? I don’t know.”
Alex is going to run straight back to the Den and tell Sol that I asked about him and it’s going to be a thousand shades of awkward. Great. I’m going to have to spend the rest of my senior year avoiding Sol Brooker.
“He’s single,” Alex says slowly. “But he’s also straight.”
As soon as the words leave his lips my mind throws up the image that’s haunted me for the past week. Sol practically drooling over my abs at the gym. I thought I’d imagined it at the time, but I’ve replayed that conversation a hundred times since, and I don’t think I did.
“Are you sure about that?” I ask.
I expect Alex to laugh it off, but he doesn’t, instead his brow furrowing as he takes his time to think about it. Meanwhile, a bead of sweat runs down my spine and I suppress a shiver.
“I can ask,” he says eventually. “Without mentioning you, of course.”
Guilt crashes through me. I should never have said anything. There’s no way I can have Alex going and asking Sol something like that. It’s out of line.
I shake my head, wishing I could rewind the last five minutes. “No. It’s fine. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Your secret’s safe with me. I promise.”
Alex smirks at me, and I realize I’ve just laid myself bare in front of him. He’d have to be an idiot not to put the pieces together and figure out I’m crushing on his best friend. Damn it.