Tony bobbed his head to the heavy beat and wandered around his tiny apartment. He needed to say the right thing to Kade. One wrong move and he’d screw everything up even more.

“Hi. We met during class today. I’ve been watching you for the last two months and hoped you’d notice me. You haven’t, so I acted like a jerk in order to grab your attention.” He shook his head. Yeah, that wouldn’t work. “Remember me? I still want to work with you on this project. I’m an ass, but I’ve got my heart in the right place.” No. He’d been thinking with his cock, not his heart.

Tony drummed his fingers on the table then picked up the telephone. Shit. He needed the class roster sheet the prof had passed out. That had everyone’s contact info on it. He found the paper. With shaky hands, he pressed the numbers for Kade and held his breath. Here goes nothing…

“Hello?” Kade’s voice came across the line. “Who is this?”

“Hi. It’s Tony. I’m in Scriptworks with you.” He balled his fist. “I wanted to talk to you about the project.”

“You do, eh?” Kade sighed. “I’m not interested.”

“Wait. Don’t hang up.” Christ. He hated the idea of being wimpy and begging. “I can do this project without you, but I’d like to talk to you.”

“You stole that book out of my hands.”

“Would you believe I did it to get you to talk to me?”

“What? No. I don’t believe you. I’m hanging up now.”

“Don’t.” He closed his eyes. “I’m really trying right now.” Something deep within him ripped in half. “Please?”

Kade said something Tony didn’t understand then growled. “If I decide to talk this over with you and think about doing this joint-project, will you give me the book back? I have to get the paper done by next Wednesday.”

“You drive a hard bargain.” As if he’d actually keep the book. He didn’t need a description of Hitchcock’s works. Tony gripped the phone tighter. “Deal. Meet me at Harvard Place in a half hour. I’m in apartment 5-C. I’ll wait in the foyer. Interested?”

Kade didn’t answer for a long time and with each passing moment, Tony’s heart sank. He opened his eyes and began to pace again. If he didn’t get an answer, he’d know the truth. He’d fucked up.

“Okay,” Kade said. “I’ll do this, but only because I want my book.”

“Sweet.” Tony loosened his grip. “See you in a half hour?”