We sit in silence for a few moments. This escalated so quickly, and from what? The fact that Oliver and I are friends? That I don’t think Oliver is as bad as the monsters Nikki and I were victims of?
“Does this Oliver guy know about me?” Nikki asks softly.
I start to say yes, but I hesitate. Have I mentioned Nikki to Oliver? Surely, I have, but I can’t remember a specific instance. “I’m almost positive he does.”
Nikki’s bright blue eyes bore into mine. “I thought you said you wanted us to be serious.”
I nod vigorously. “I do! I really do. That’s why I’m sure I’ve mentioned you before, but I’ll definitely bring you up the next time we talk. I promise.”
Nikki doesn’t look satisfied, but she releases my gaze. “The sooner the better. Before he starts catching feelings.”
She’s right. It’s something I’ve known I needed to do, and I’m not sure why I haven’t. “I know. And I will.”
“Okay.”
An uncomfortable quiet drapes over us again. I shouldn’t try to push my luck, but I’m afraid this conversation is about to end on a horrible note, and I need a little bit of hope to get through the rest of the week.
Here goes nothing.
“You really should come hang out with us—all of us—sometime.”
Nikki doesn’t move or speak, so I continue.
“Like, maybe come to an EQA event with us this month. The Eidola Queer Alliance? They host a lot of different?—”
“Why would Straight Boy come to an EQA event?”
My shoulders slump. “Oh, well, he might not. He went to the first one with Max and their other roommate because he’s bi. The bi guy wanted Oliver there for moral support. They’re like childhood friends.”
“Hm.”
“Or maybe come to one of Max’s movie nights,” I press. “It would mean a lot to me, and to them.”
Nikki sighs. “Maybe. When is the next movie night?”
“I’ll ask him and text it to you,” I vow. “Max also offered to cook for you if you want. His sister is a vegetarian, so he knows a lot of good recipes.”
“Okay,” Nikki says, a bit more energy in her voice. “That sounds nice.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I hold my arms out for an embrace, and Nikki accepts. “I’m really sorry about the Oliver thing. We’re working on our project at the library tomorrow, so I’ll be direct and set things right tomorrow.”
“Okay. And I’ll try to be a little less misandrist for movie night,” Nikki says, her lips curling up into a half smile.
“I’ll make sure they’re on their best behavior.”
Nikki and I stand, and Nikki starts gathering her belongings. “Do I get a say in what movie we watch?” she asks.
“Sure! Do you have something in mind?”
“We should watchBarbie.”
I snicker. “That’s one of Max’s favorite films of all time.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. I just want to watch Straight Boy watch it.”
