“Why?”
“Just a bit of healthy competition between us. Our dorm usually wins, which is why I won’t let Gavin cook.” He leans in closer, and I pull back slightly, but there’s not really anywhere to go with Nolan beside me; the guy's built like a brick wall.
“He could burn water,” Julez whispers, or fake whispers, I suppose.
If that was his actual attempt at a whisper, well, I’ll make sure I never tell him anything I want kept a secret.
“I do not,” Gavin says with a huff, and I feel my eyes go wide as a balled-up napkin hits Julez in the side of the face.
“You actually set off the smoke detectors last semester trying to boil water for ramen,” Nolan says as he chews, and I realize that everyone else is eating already.
“I fell asleep at the table studying, and all the water evaporated from the pot, so it was smoking. There was never a risk of a fire,” he tells me as if he needs to defend himself.
He doesn’t, but man, does it make the story funnier.
While they continue to bicker amongst themselves, I reach for the main dish that looks like some kind of chicken and mushroom with spinach.
It looks amazing and smells even better.
“I’m pretty sure they only made up the competition so that the dorm heads don’t have to cook,” Nolan mumbles around a huge bite.I’mpretty sure that’s the closest he’s come to talking directly to me. Though when I glance his way, he’s only got eyes for his plate; that’s fine, better than Titus.
I take a bite and have to bite the inside of my lip to keep from moaning as my tastebuds light up at the flavors.
“Good?” Julez whispers far too close, and I whip my head to the side to find us nearly nose to nose.
Nobody else seems to notice as they continue to eat and bicker, and all I can do is nod as I continue to chew, unwilling to answer him with a mouth full of food.
The smile that turns his lips is intense, nothing like his playboy, flirty smirks from earlier. No, this is all boyish charm and pride.
He’s adorable.
He pulls away, still holding my gaze as he goes back to eating his own food, and I look away first, unable to do anything else while trapped in his gaze.
Apparently, Titus and Julez cooking means Nolan and Gavin do the dishes, which is fine by me; I hate doing dishes.
With a full stomach, I grab some pajama pants and a hoodie, then change before I cuddle up on the couch and get comfortable.
The pillow still smells like the woods, fresh pine, and just a hint of citrus, as if someone ate an orange then wiped their hands on it, and I can’t help but breathe it in; the scent soothing and warm.
“Don’t think just because you're lying down that we’re going to be tiptoeing around everywhere. It’s still early, and we have stuff to do.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I tell Gavin as I get comfortable. I pull out my phone to set an alarm just in case, because sleeping through my first day of class seems like my kind of bad luck.
I set the alarm, and I’m just about to tuck my phone away under my pillow when the notification on my text message app catches my eye.
Strange. Who would be texting me?
Not many people have my number, and of those who do, most aren’t the texting type.
Unable to fight my curiosity, I click it and promptly slap a hand over my mouth to hide the very audible gasp of surprise that escapes when I read the sender’s name.
You never bothered me.
There’s no way I’m seeing this right… But no matter how long I look at the name, I only see one thing.
D.
Despite what Gavin seems to think, I had in fact tried to talk to my father about our new roommate. Unfortunately, I’d been told he was busy and that I would have to schedule a meeting with him.
