Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 37

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 37

Nick was already nodding. “You really are a poet.”
“Sarcasm is what we in the business call the bottom of the comedy barrel, you know.”
“Wow,” Nick said sarcastically. “I’m learning so much.”
Eli tipped his chin to his chest to laugh, giving Nick an opening to shift even closer. Then Eli
looked up, and he seemed to realize how close they had gotten. Their hips were flush, no room
at all between their bellies. Their chests met with every breath. And Nick was breathing fast.
Eli’s eyes shone under the green and pink lights. Nick swallowed. If they were going to kiss
again, this would be the right moment. But he had to let Eli be the one to make a move. All Nick
could do was be there, slowing their silly dance to a standstill and hoping that his eyes were
saying everything he couldn’t say aloud. Come on, Elijah. Please, just do it.
TLC stopped playing. Nick couldn’t even begin to care about whatever started playing next. The
only thing he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears.
Eli’s throat bobbed. “Nick….”
He willed it to happen. It seemed impossible for something he wanted so badly to not happen.
Perhaps it was wishful thinking, or a trick of the light, but Nick could swear he detected a slight
tilt to Eli’s head. Like he was preparing to line up their lips.
Then a loud voice cut through the music and the furious pounding of Nick’s heart. “Nick Wu? Is
that you?”
Nick’s stomach dropped. He watched as Eli’s gaze left his face and fastened on someone over his
shoulder. The light of recognition and an air of surprise passed over his features.
Well, he couldn’t ignore whoever it was and hope they’d go away. Nick turned, reluctantly
dropping his hands from Eli’s waist. He squinted at the man standing behind him with a wide,
familiar smile that showed perfect teeth.
“Jamar?” Nick almost swallowed his tongue. “What are you doing here?”
It was undoubtedly Jamar Winstead, the most popular guy from high school. He was less trim
these days—who wasn’t?—and his hair was worn shorn to the scalp instead of the signature hi-

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top fade of their youth, but the friendly twinkle in his eyes and the one dimple in his cheek
hadn’t changed. Normally, a kid like Nick wouldn’t have gotten within three feet of Jamar’s orbit
back in the day; Jamar had been a year ahead, Nick was not nearly as cool, and besides, the
school had discouraged Black students from taking the accelerated classes that Nick was in,
because of course they did. But through a quirk of electives and alphabetical order, Nick and
Jamar had ended up sharing a music stand in jazz band, and so became, if not close friends, at
least nodding acquaintances.
Jamar had been one of those popular kids that everyone could agree was genuinely great. He
wasn’t snobby or a bully. He was sometimes a class clown, but all his pranks were at the
teachers’ expense. He’d been the student body president, yearbook editor, and prom king. The
day after his sixteenth birthday, he’d pulled into the student parking lot in a souped-up Ford
Focus with neon lights installed on the undercarriage—the pinnacle of cool. Every girl at PSP
could claim to have had at least a passing crush on him. He dated the most beautiful ones and
wore Air Jordans. In short, he’d been perfect.
“I’m gay now!” Jamar shouted, spreading his arms wide. “That’s what I’m doing here, man.
Well, I was gay before, too, but now I get to be really gay, you feel me?” He play-boxed at Nick’s
shoulder with a hearty laugh. “Looks like I’m not the only one! Good ol’ Port Stephen Prep was
churning ’em out, huh?”
“You can say that again,” Eli said. He’d reclaimed his cup of club soda and maneuvered to Nick’s
side. “Good to see you, Jamar. You look fantastic.”
“Awwww, too kind, too kind. Hey, did you go to PSP too?” Jamar snapped his fingers a few
times. “Sorry, man, the name’s on the tip of my tongue.”
Nick made a strangled sound in the back of his throat.
Eli stuck out his hand. “It’s Eli.”
“Right! Eli. My bad.” Jamar pumped his hand up and down. “Yeah, it’s all coming back to me
now. Eli.”