Page 28 of The Roommate Subtext

“Not neatly, anyway.” Blake inhaled deeply, his chest rising. “It smells amazing over here.”

“Did you know you were going to be with a couple, or was it a surprise?” She folded back the edge of the foil to reveal more of the wrap, the soft pita flexing in her hand.

Blake looked off toward where his other friends had gone. “I was originally planning to go with Andrew, but he asked me last night how I felt about Zane joining us. I’ve been wanting to meet him anyway.”

“Did you get to talk much before they ran off for dumplings?” Maggie followed Blake’s gaze to where Zane and Andrew were still in line, still holding hands. Vanessa and Cora had moved to a picnic table under a large oak tree, talking and laughing together.

“We talked on the T, yeah. He seems nice.”

The vendor handed Blake a round aluminum dish filled with piles of yellow rice and lamb, covered with several different sauces, the plastic lid barely containing it all. “Wow. Can’t eat this standing up.” Blake pocketed the soda can for only a second before pulling it back out “Yikes! That’s cold.”

“I’ve got room.” Maggie tucked Blake’s soda next to her own in her purse. “I don’t want to interrupt the couples yet. Want to have a third-wheel lunch at that picnic table over there?”

“Perfect.” He followed her over. “It’s within sight of Andrew and Zane if they decide they want to join us.”

Maggie looked at the two giving moon eyes at each other. “They’re not gonna join us.”

Blake gave a wistful half smile. “No, probably not.” He peeled back the crimped foil edge of his container, steam curling out as he lifted the plastic lid. “Gosh, this looks amazing.”

“Yeah, it does. I’ve never had lamb.” Maggie distributed their sodas and returned to the last bites of her falafel.

Blake mixed the sauces into the rice and lamb, then took a bite, his eyes sliding closed as his lips wrapped around the fork.

Oh.

By the time Maggie realized she was staring, she’d been staring for a while. Had he noticed? Shit, was she sweating? Watching his lips do indecent things to that fork had her suddenly imagining what else those lips could do, and damn, that was dangerous.

She’d been having a lot of those dangerous thoughts lately.

“Good?” she made herself ask.

He nodded. “Delicious. Want to try?” He filled his fork and lifted it up toward her.

He probably intended for her to take the fork, but instead, she found herself leaning in to take the bite directly.

Oh, that was good. She sighed in pleasure and eyed the rest of Blake’s plate. He pulled it closer, eyes twinkling. “Get your own! This one’s mine.” He really was cute, with his nerdy glasses and that tousled dark hair.

“It’s tempting. But I’ve got a bunch more to try.” She pulled her folded map out of her pocket. “I have a map.”

“I’m glad I ran into you.” Blake glanced past her again and she turned. Andrew and Zane were sitting together on the grass in the shade, eating their dumplings, laughing, eyes only for each other.

“I’m sure you’d be welcome if you went over there.” She knew she could crash Cora and Vanessa’s conversation, too.

He shook his head. “I’m not going to interrupt. Look how happy they are.”

“Suckers,” she said automatically, then winced. “Sorry! Habit. Truthfully, I’m … not dating right now. On purpose.”

Blake tipped his head to the side. “A break?”

“Maybe a permanent one. I don’t know.” She sighed. “I stopped trying.”

“It does take a lot of energy.” Blake took another bite and looked off into the distance, off in the direction of their friends, gaze wistful. “I’m glad to see Andrew this happy. He deserves to be with someone nice.”

“How long have you two been friends?”

“Since college. We roomed together for a while, but then Andrew decided he would do anything to avoid living with another person again.” Blake took a few bites in the silence. “We’re better friends when we don’t live together.”

“You turned him off roommates altogether?” Maggie pressed a hand to her heart. “Should I be worried?”