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"I'll make you an extra large helping," he promised, making me grin.
"You're the best. Where's the troublemaker?" I asked, and Nico squinted thoughtfully.
"In the backyard, I think. Breakfast will be ready in ten," he said, and I gave him a salute before making my way to the backdoor.
I found Ryk, Star, and Moon in the backyard. Star was lying in the grass as usual, with Moon curled up on his stomach, while Ryk sat on the porch step, his sketchbook in his lap.
"Morning, guys," I said, then asked Ryk. "Can I join you?"
"Of course!" he agreed, sliding to one side and making space for me. Smiling, I sat down and glanced at his sketchbook.
"Wow, that's really good," I said, and Ryk smiled widely.
"Thanks! I have some good models, though," he said, glancing at the sleepy duo. "They don't move at all."
"Wait," Star said, leaning up on his elbows to squint at Ryk. If the sun wasn't shining straight into his face, he'd have been glaring. "Are you drawing me again?"
"Yep. Now go back to playing dead," he ordered, and Star huffed in annoyance but did it anyway.
"You're a really great artist," I said, fascinated as I watched him draw.
"Thanks," he murmured, his eyes laser-focused on the sketch, though his cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
I'd had this thought before, but my roommates were really good-looking. Star had the air of a runway model—but the temperament of a sloth—while Ryk was more classically handsome—and closer to a puppy in his actions. Nico was on the sweeter, boy-next-door side, and acted like the mother hen of everyone in this house.
All three of them were unique, and one of a kind. I wondered if that was how they'd become friends in the first place.
When I'd rented the rooms out to them, I'd only met Nico. He'd done all the paperwork for them—I could see why now—and I'd wondered what his friends would be like. I'd been surprised in the best of ways when they'd shown up at my doorstep on moving day.
None of them had had many things with them, and while they'd said it was because they'd moved here from another state and hadn't brought much with them, I got the feeling there was more to the story than that. I hadn't pried, but I was curious.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I pulled it out, checking the message from Divya that popped up.
Divya: Drinks @ 6. Ducky's. Be there. Bring the 3!
Divya texting this early meant she was just going to bed. The woman had no sleep schedule to speak of, but she was the closest friend I had. I'd told her a little about my roommates recently, and she'd been itching to meet them ever since.
"Hey, you guys? Would you like to go out for drinks tonight? One of my friends wants to meet you," I said, and Ryk turned to me, eyes wide.
"Where are we going?" he asked, which I supposed answered my question, at least for him.
"A bar called Ducky's," I said, and he grinned widely.
"That sounds fun! I've never been to a bar before!"
"You...haven't?" I asked, confused. His ID had said he was twenty-seven, so it was strange to think he'd never been to a bar before.
"His parents were really strict," Star chipped in, and I glanced over at him. "It's one of the many reasons we moved here."
"Oh, okay. You're coming too, right?" I asked, and Star made a face.
"I will. But I won't promise to stay the whole time," he said hesitantly, and I smiled.
"That's completely okay. Thank you," I said, and he nodded.
"Tell me about your friend. What's their name?" Ryk said, and I told the two about Divya, how we'd met on my first day at work and hit it off almost instantly.
"I'm looking forward to meeting her," Ryk declared, and his enthusiasm was adorable. I'd never met a person as joyful as him, and I was glad he'd become my roommate and friend.
