“What?”
“Nothing.” She sits back against the headboard with a smirk. “I’ve just never seen you do that, is all.”
Never seen me do what, eat a sandwich? I try to remember if I’ve ever wiped down the desk before using it to eat off of, or ensured there is a defined line between two different foods so they’re not touching. I suppose I haven’t, at least not in front of Ronnie, but this is something the guys do—either because none of them like their foods touching or because they know that it bothers Elliot and they want to make his life easier—and I guessI’ve picked it up after two weekends in a row of sharing meals with them.
Shrugging my shoulder, I pop a chip in my mouth and sit down. It’s not worth making a big deal out of it.
“So, how did your definitely-not-romantic getaway go?” Ronnie asks, fidgeting with the pages of the magazine beside her, but keeping all her attention focused on me.
“It was good,” I say between bites. “The guys did well in their events. They didn’t win first in the team relay, which was unfortunate, but they podiumed.”
“They must be ecstatic.”
“Mmmm.” I tilt my head back and forth while I finish chewing to convey my meaning. “They’re not unhappy, but they’re disappointed to have come in second. They had some good solves, but some of the scrambles had a lot more layers or algorithms to memorize and they were pushing themselves to shorten their inspection times.”
“Is it important to this conversation that I understand anything you just said?”
“No.” I chuckle because I wouldn’t have fully understood what I just said a couple of weeks ago.
“Okay, good, because I didn’t,” says Ronnie, checking her nails. “But it’s cool that they did so well.”
“I’m proud of them,” I admit. I’ve told the guys that, but it’s different admitting it out loud to someone else. Saying it to them feels a little like I’m doing it because I’m supposed to, even if it’s the truth. Saying it to Ronnie feels more important, somehow. “They’ve worked hard for this.”
“So, because they did so well, are they like the cool kids of that crowd?”
I’ve never stopped to think about if they’re cool or not in their cubing circles. I would think so, being both talented and also sweet and kind and caring. But I don’t really know.
I also don’t really care. They’re good friends to each other and respectful to everyone, even that asshole Stephen. It doesn’t matter to me if they’re the life of the party or not. I don’t even like parties.
“The guys definitely knew a lot of the other competitors, but I only really saw them talk to two of them,” I say. “Most of their social time with the others probably happened backstage, so I didn’t get to see how they interact with the other competitors.”
I also don’t really care. They’re good friends to each other and respectful to everyone, even that asshole Stephen. It doesn’t matter to me if they’re the life of the party or not. I don’t even like parties.
“And how did they interact with you when there was nobody around to see? Did your cube get solved, by chance?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
The comment startles a laugh out of me, causing me to nearly spit out my most recent bite. I throw a chip at her in retaliation.
The chip lands right down her shirt between her boobs. Unphased, she reaches right in there, pulls it out, and pops it in her mouth.
“You’re incorrigible.” I shake my head, not surprised that Ronnie would just casually eat a boob chip like that.
“You mispronounced ‘fun.’” Ronnie grins and scoots closer to the edge of the bed and me.
There’s no way I’m going to win with a comeback to that comment, so I simply take another bite of my sandwich. It’s not as good at the ones the guys make, but I’m hungry.
“Oh, come on, that was funny.” Ronnie pouts. “What’s not funny is the way you won’t give me any details.”
“You don’t like the satisfaction being drawn out? Being teased?” I say with mock seriousness as I eat another chip.
A laugh bursts out of her. “Look at you! Making a sexual joke! I rather like this side of you. These guys are really good for you.”
“They’ve certainly been helpful and inspirational for my column series for class,” I agree.
“And your list,” she adds.
If Ronnie knew just how helpful and inspirational they were being in that department, she’d never shut up about it. Just thinking about the things we’ve enjoyed together has me blushing, which does not go unnoticed.
“Speaking of the list. How far down it are you?” she pushes, a teasing note still in her voice, but it’s obvious she wants this girl talk so badly.
