“You too, and without being drunk or super hungover. I was a bit too distracted by this one on his birthday to really talk to his friends.”
“Distracted? Yes, he can beverydistracting,” she agrees brightly, and I give her a death glare that she pays absolutely no attention to. She should be able to feel it. What kind of best friends can’t feel each other’s death glare in a situation like this?
“So. Movie night?” I need to get Will the hell away from this conversation.
“Yeah.” Will nods. “Sounds fun.”
“Totally fun.” Josie inserts herself again. “Except, P, I didn’t get to tell you, but I actually kind of need the living room tonight.”
I whip my head toward her because she had so much time totell me this, and she didn’t say a single word about the living room. “Oh? What for?”
“Yes,” she says, very seriously. “For my project.”
“And what project is that?” I ask, because I have a really good feeling this project doesn’t exist.
She waves a vague hand. “The project. You know, I’ve been talking about it a lot.”
I cross my arms because yep, she’s lying. “You told me you were done with all your projects.”
Will breaks our stare-off. “Well, we could go to my place if you want?”
“Actually,” Josie cuts in before I can open my mouth. “Porter, do you still have your TV in your room? You could just watch your movie in there.”
Do I still have my TV? What kind of question is that? Does Josie think I just got sick of my TV and threw it out the window or something? Of course she knows I have a TV. I bite my lip and glare at her and her scheming. “Mhm.”
“Cool,” Will interjects. “That’s fine with me. We can watch it in your room so we don’t bother Josie.”
I slowly drag my gaze from Josie to look at Will with more of a shocked expression. “You don’t mind watching in my room?”
“No.” He shrugs. “Honestly, it’s probably better than my place. My roommates are annoying even though I love them.”
“Oh, don’t I understand that,” I agree loudly, eyes locked on Josie who is just loving this setup.
She ignores me though, smiling right at Will. “Perfect! Problem solved. Have fun you two!”
“Thanks!” Will obliviously answers.
But I know better, and she knows I know better, which is proven by the smug look she finally gives me. She meddled, and she won. I shake my head, trying to be mad, but all I can do is laugh. I should’ve expected something like this.
“Of course, I’ll just be in here,” she continues, moving toward the couch. “Doing my very important project.”
When we get to my room, I shut the door and turn to Will, hoping he doesn’t think I had any part of that obvious scheme to get us in my room alone. Fuck, the last thing I need is him thinking I’m coming on to him. If I have to, I’ll make Josie admit this was all her doing, and I had no part of it.
“She seems fun.”
“That’s one word for it,” I mutter, then sigh. “Sorry that she’s like this. I?—”
“No, no need to apologize. I can totally see why you’re friends and live together,” he says as if he knows either of us well.
“Yeah.” I shrug. “She’s… a lot. But she’s my best friend, and I love her endlessly, even when she loves to involve herself in things that don’t have to do with her.”
“It’s all good. I’m just glad we get to hang out again.” He smiles at that, then looks around my room. “So, where do you want me?”
“Uh.” I falter because that question makes it sound like something far filthier than watching a movie together is about to go down in here. “You can have the bed. I can sit on the floor or the chair or?—”
“The floor?” he interrupts. “We’re not kids. The bed is fine. For both of us.”
He wastes no time, dropping onto my bed as he lets out a groan. A fucking groan. In my bed! He really has no idea the effect he has on people. On me. Despite me knowing I should not be thinking any of this.
