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I chuckle awkwardly, not really know what to say. Of course, I was hoping I could kiss Rachel at midnight. I hadn’t even thought of the other bros. “Well, what was the verdict?” I ask, feeling my insides twist with worry. Maybe I don’t want to know the answer.
Rachel narrows her eyes at Seth. “Do you want to tell him, Seth? Or should I be the one?”
Seth groans. “It’s so fucking stupid. You do it.”
“To avoid a huge and unneeded fight,” Rachel announces in a haughty tone, “there will be no kisses.”
Seth groans, his gaze going to the ceiling. Sometimes, I really wonder what Rachel sees in him. He always acts like such an immature brat. A very handsome, sexy immature brat. “I guess that’s fair,” I say, although deep down, I’m already scheming to get her alone with me in one of the rooms upstairs. I’m sure I can find a way to be kissed before, around, and after midnight. I’ve definitely weaseled my way in and out of more complicated situations before.
“Ah! There you are!” I hear Mom say as we stop in front of her. She claps her hands excitedly as she looks between us, her gaze settling on Rachel. “You must be Rachel.” She takes my girlfriend’s hand, shaking it emphatically.
“Y-yes?” Rachel says nervously, glancing at me with a shy smile.
“It’s so wonderful to finally meet you,” says Mom.
“Yeah,” adds Dad. “Alex talks about you all the time.”
My face instantly flushes, and I’m sure it’s as red as a freaking tomato. Chuckling can be heard behind me, and I snap my head toward the sound, my gaze darkening into a frustrated scowl as I find Lucas, Seth, and Hunter covering their mouths and looking away.
“I hope it’s all good,” Rachel says with an awkward chuckle.
“And you must be the roommates,” says Dad. “I know Lucas, of course.” He takes Lucas’s hand and gives it a firm shake before turning to Hunter and Seth.
Hunter grabs Dad’s hand, shaking it firmly. His face, thankfully, has a bit more color and the dark shadows no longer haunt his eyes. “Hunter,” he says simply.
“And I’m Seth,” says Seth while stumbling forward, suddenly looking very shy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so shy before. Maybe it’s the fancy atmosphere, or the fact he has to be nice to me in front of my parents.
“I’ve seen you before,” says Dad while stroking his chin.
“Oh, yes,” says Mom while coming to Dad’s side. “You’re also a runner, aren’t you?”
Seth nods vigorously, his face flushing while his gaze slides to me. His jaw clenches. There’s something desperate calling out to me within his eyes, as if he wants me to rescue him from this conversation. I cross my arms while my lips lift into a cruel smirk. After all the bullshit he puts me through, day after day, I can let him sweat a bit.
“What’s your pace?” Dad asks, and I stifle the need to roll my eyes. He’s always trying to sound like he knows everything about running when in fact, he knows absolute shit.
“Uh,” Seth starts.
Is it just me, or can I see sweat dripping from his brow?
“Wait, I don’t think I saw you running at the final meet,” says Mom while tapping her chin with a finger. “Weren’t you sitting on the sidelines?”
Seth opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, I take pity on the little bastard and walk around my parents, resting my arm on his shoulder and pulling him close. “Seth cracked his heel last summer and has been in recovery for the past several months.”
“Oh, no,” Mom gasps, her hand lifting to her mouth as if she just said the F-bomb. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
I shrug. “This semester he’ll be making me suffer. He was always my rival in the previous meets. I look forward to training with him now that his injury is better.”
“You take it easy, too,” Mom says while wagging her finger at me. “If it can happen to him, it can happen to you.”
This time I roll my eyes.
Mom jabs her finger in my ribs, making me flinch. “I mean it.”
I bat her finger away as she goes to poke me again. “Fine, I promise. I will take it easy.”
“Well, grab a drink,” says Dad, “and don’t have too much fun.” Dad chuckles, and I grind my teeth. I don’t know why Dad thinks he’s the greatest comedian of all time. “This group tends to frown on fun.”
“Thanks, Dad. Noted.”
