Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Chapter Forty-Three

Jasper

August

“Your prince is here,” Kellan announced loudly as he joined us on the patio, plunking down a six-pack of good beer and a tray of cookies. He was looking tan and shaggy after his stint at a summer stock production, and Jasmine was hanging on his arm in a way that showed off the engagement rock she’d gotten graduation weekend.

“Ha. Very funny. My prince and I came together.” I gestured at Milo who was across the table from me in the professors’ backyard, which was rapidly filling up with all our friends.

“We do that now.” Leaning back in his lawn chair, Milo nodded archly.

“Dude. We were on the same train.” Conrad rolled his eyes at both of us, an impressive feat. “If you say the words ‘our place’ or ‘together’ one more time, I’m going to die of sugar overload.”

“Was that not you last fall doing the exact same thing?” I asked pointedly because I still remembered how much it had sucked when he’d been all in love with Alden on their visits and I’d been oh-so-very single.

“It was,” Conrad agreed, exchanging some sort of private message with Alden.

“It maybe still is.” Alden gave a rare smile. He seemed a little more relaxed than usual, enjoying the last weekend before school started for him—his first year teaching at a junior high near where he and Conrad lived.

“I’m just saying that the unbearable cuteness that is you two hipster wannabes—”

“He called me a hipster.” Milo faked indignation.

“You’re an art student in Brooklyn who does cosplay on weekends. Were you thinking you still passed as a jock?” Kellan laughed and everyone joined in, including Milo, but then he got quiet.

“No. I guess not,” he said softly. And it was true that he didn’t look nearly as sporty these days. His hair was bushier and he’d forgotten to shave again. We’d been late getting ready to leave our tiny student housing near the art college campus for reasons, so he was in an Odyssey shirt someone had thrust at him last time he visited me at work and old shorts. His leg scars were more faded now, and he could comfortably wear chunky leather sandals for more than short cosplay stints.

“You’ll always be my jock,” I said fondly to him. And that was also true—he still smelled deliciously of sporty aftershave and I still got to hear way too much about what European soccer players got paid and which teams had the best chance at a World Cup. And sometimes he’d lift weights and get all sweaty and… Yeah. Still my jock. Swoon.

“If you want to kick the soccer ball around later, we can do that,” Conrad offered. Between his asthma and Milo’s leg, it would likely be a low-key thing, but they’d done that a couple of times in the park when we’d met halfway between our neighborhoods. “Let Alden play Jasper for the game episode.”

Milo stretched, flexing his leg out in front of him. “I’ve got a couple of kicks in me.”

“I might join you guys, work off this beer.” Kellan rubbed his stomach. Milo hadn’t had a drink since winter. We didn’t really talk about it that often, but I added it to the list of things I was super proud about for him.

“I can feel it. Today I’m going to win against Alden.” I pumped both fists like a boxer promising victory.

“Not likely.” Alden spoke factually, not the sort of trash talk that Conrad and I excelled at. And probably also literally because he usually did win, whether we were playing casually at their apartment or with Professor Tuttle for the show.

“I believe in you.” Milo saluted me with his water glass.

“Thanks.”

“Who needs more food?” Professor Herrera brought over a big platter of sausages and grilled vegetables, and Milo was first to leap up to help him arrange the food, as always. Thanks to Milo, I already knew the location of every specialty grocery store near us as well as exactly what size chicken our tiny oven would hold.

“I’m stuffed. But I’ll help with dishes,” Milo said, moving so Professor Herrera could pull up a chair. “And what’s the deal with the flyer on the fridge? You looking to replace me so soon?”

“You? You’re irreplaceable.” Professor Herrera gave him a fond smile.

“I agree.” My loyalty got a round of groans from everyone else at the table who was tired of us being so adorable. They could just deal with us being so in love. I’d waited forever for something like this, and I wasn’t wasting it.

“Actually, we enjoyed having Milo so much that we’ve decided to add a renter or two this fall.” Professor Tuttle tapped his cane against the patio.

“The Gamer Grandpa expansion pack. I dig it.” Kellan sat back in his chair with one of the sausages in a roll we’d brought with us from the city.

“They don’t have to game.” Professor Herrera laughed. His continual bid to get Professor Tuttle interested in different hobbies had been the source of great stories when Milo had been living with them in the spring.

“They don’t?” Conrad faked horror.

“They will learn,” I said all ominously to big laughs.

“Goof.” Coming around the table with his empty cup, Milo dropped a kiss on my head.

“You love me.” Tipping back in my chair, I gazed up at him.

“I do.” His eyes were as serious as ever about that. He could joke a lot more easily now, but never about that. And I never got tired of hearing it, either. “Now go win your game for me.”

“Yes, dear.” I pretended an obedience we all knew I’d never reach.

“Are you staying here or at Jasper’s parents’ place?” Jasmine asked as she grabbed one of the cookies.

“Jasper’s mom may not let him out of her clutches the rest of the weekend,” Milo groaned as he rested against a planter near me. He could pretend irritation all he wanted, but personally, I couldn’t wait to be alone in my old room together. I’d waited almost a decade to kiss Milo Lionetti in there, and I was going to enjoy the opportunity. Quietly. Very, very quietly because April still delighted in teasing us. Mom, however, had adapted to us being together quite well, making it her life’s mission to keep Milo supplied with recipes and food storage ideas.

“And Milo’s mom?” Jasmine’s ring caught the sunlight again. I wanted one. Not the cookie. The ring. Maybe with less glitz. Someday. Timing wasn’t there yet. But someday.

“Brunch on Sunday,” Milo answered. Between our two moms, we were going to be so stuffed when we rolled back into Brooklyn Monday. But happy. We’d be happy. “We’ll see her again in two weeks when Bruno’s in town as well.”

“And I’m going to win against him too,” I announced. Bruno was a damn good player. Ruthless. But I’d snuck in a few wins against him on his visits. He said that when we went to Virginia to see his base that he might let me play against some actual SEALs. I couldn’t wait.

“You could start by winning against me,” Alden reminded me.

“Oh. My. God. Make Bruno play Alden.” Kellan gestured like his head just exploded at the idea.

“Or Conrad. I can play, too, you know. Just a bit.” Conrad gave him a look, then laughed.

“Just a bit.” Alden arched an eyebrow.

“Do you guys play all day at work?” Kellan asked as he took more food. “Like, what does a hard day at the office look like for you guys? ‘Oh, I lost to Conrad all day again, someone feel sorry for me and rub my feet’. Because I might need a career change.”

“Says the guy with three interviews next week for Broadway shows.” I flicked a piece of ice at him. Actually, I’d never in my life worked harder than I had that summer for Odyssey. I loved it. But it was still work. Meetings. Forms. Reports. Boring stuff. But I also got to see one of my best friends most days, so it was still winning.

“True. Okay. I’m not quitting my daydream yet. I’m just saying you guys have the coolest jobs ever.”

“Hey, it’s hard work!” Conrad protested.

“I’m gonna find out. Someday.” Milo gave a little smile. We’d been to a few more regional tournaments together. Official Odyssey business. And I always found Milo in the artist alley section, looking at the lines. Someday. He was going to get there. I knew it.

“Noooo,” Conrad moaned. “Then I’m gonna have to be that boss who has to lecture Jasper about not kissing next summer’s interns in the conference room.”

“The boss?” I stared him up and down. “Never.”

“You never know. Maybe I’m gonna run the place someday.” Conrad grinned at me. I grinned back.

“Play you for it.” I leaned forward.

“You’re on.”

“You’ll win,” Milo said sometime later when we were alone in the professors’ kitchen, washing dishes together. “Against Alden in a few minutes. But also against Conrad. You’re going to be the one to beat at Odyssey.”

“How do you know?” Heedless of the running water, I wrapped myself around him from the back, resting my head against his neck. I inhaled deeply. Yup. Still my jock.

“Because you’re my hero.” He turned so he could give me a soft kiss. “And I believe in you.”

When he said stuff like that, I believed him. Believed in myself a little more. I was a hero, exactly like I’d always wanted to be. And not only was I a hero, but I also got the guy in the end. “Love you.”

“Always.” He gave me another kiss. And I believed that, too, believed in the love I saw in his eyes. It got easier and easier to trust that this was indeed my actual life. I really did get to wake up and kiss Milo Lionetti every morning. I’d gotten my prince, exactly the one I’d needed, and now I wasn’t ever going to let him go.