Sweet Little Birds (BxB Romance, Completed)

Chapter 35: Sugary Jitters

"Let's sit down." Tyler took Robin's hand and pulled him down on one of the benches in the auditorium. As the organizer on the stage concluded the presentations, Tyler leaned against Robin's shoulder, making unkempt curls spill over Robin's blazer.

"We want to thank all students for their well-researched presentations," Professor Royce announced from the stage. "We will announce the winner during the coming weeks."

People started to shuffle around him as they exited the auditorium. Muffled conversations and rapid steps echoed around them. "I'll go make sure that Liza actually left," Des stage-whispered into Robin's ear, rising from her seat beside him. A wink from his friend told Robin that perhaps her real reason for leaving was to give Tyler and him some alone-time.

So this was it. Now Robin just had to wallow in anxiety until that announcement. Easy peasy.

A squeeze of his hand reminded Robin that he wasn't alone in his worries. "I'm sure you'll win, Robby," Tyler encouraged him. " You did so well up there, cutie. You were awesome, smart, and super hot."

Robin was doubtful that his hotness would matter for the result concerning the scholarship.

"Maybe not well enough," he mumbled.

"You're always good enough for me," Tyler replied, showering Robin's cheeks and forehead with kisses. It was like sitting next to a happy golden retriever.

When Tyler said those words, Robin believed them. The words ingrained themselves into his soul and made him a little bit more confident each time. That was one of many reasons he needed Tyler by his side. Together, they were stronger.

"You should have told me about this, Robby." There was no blame in Tyler's voice, only concern. "About everything, I mean."

"I just..." Robin sighed, turning his gaze toward his boyfriend. "I didn't want to worry you or be a burden for you."

"Silly Robby." Tyler flicked his hand through Robin's hair. "I want to worry when you worry. Because if we both worry, the burden is less on you. So please let me worry about you, okay?"

Robin nodded, hot tears of relief trickling down his cheeks. He buried his face in Tyler's shirt, which smelled wondrously of powdered sugar and vanilla. Perhaps his boyfriend had eaten donuts earlier that day.

"What if I don't get the scholarship?" Robin mumbled into the pastry-smelling fabric.

"Then we'll figure something else out. We'll figure it out together," Tyler replied. "Because I'm not leaving you hanging like this. You won't have to go back to staying with your mom, alright? I'm not letting it happen."

Hearing Tyler be so protective of him made Robin's heart pound faster. It was quite a turn-on. But this probably was neither the time nor the place for such things.

"How did you even get here?" Robin asked, realizing that his boyfriend should be elsewhere. "You need to be at the hospital for the prosthetic fitting. You can't miss that for my sake."

"The fitting isn't until tomorrow. So my cousin Lance drove me here this morning. He's promised to drive me back afterward." Tyler turned and pointed toward a handsome guy with blond short hair and a military uniform. "He's back there, talking to Miss Horn."

"You shouldn't let him wait too long. It's quite a drive back."

"Nah, he's fine," Tyler assured Robin. "He needs to get out more anyway. And he seems to be enjoying the conversation."

It did indeed seem like Tyler's cousin was enjoying talking to Miss Horn, who smiled widely and fiddled with the bobby pins in her hair as Lance laughed at something funny she must have said.