“Shit, I didn’t think of that.” Wes buried his face in his hands just as Tai and I left the room.
The kitchen was spacious for a condo and equipped with a huge coffee maker and a juice-pressing machine that took up a fair amount of space on the counter. The shopping bag I’d brought was in the corner, so I reached for the popcorn and tossed one packet into the microwave.
“You look good.” Tai’s lilty voice reached me over the popping sounds.
“What do you mean?” I arranged the bowls he handed me before I turned to him.
He gestured at my face. “Like you slept well for a week. Or you’re in love.”
I sputtered. “What? I definitely am not—”
Tai quirked an eyebrow. “Fine, keep your secrets.” He lifted his hands in surrender and sashayed out of the kitchen.
Was I in love? I scoffed. Definitely not. Wait… Nah. I was probably well fucked and happy about it. Yeah, that was it.
I microwaved the rest of the popcorn and poured it into the bowls, making sure to prep one of mixed caramel and salt ones for Tai.
I sat squished between Alex and Tai, with Wes on the floor and Sam on the armrest.
“Who else is coming?” I asked.
“Not Maisie.” Alex tugged her T-shirt down, grumping under her breath.
“Why?” I scooted to give her more space.
“She’s on a date.” Alex made the face of a toddler who’d been served broccoli for dinner. “With some accountant. He’s not good enough for her, the sleazy-ass motherfucker. He sent her a picture of his man boobs, pretending it was to show his face as he blew her a kiss.” She shuddered. “I don’t judge people by their looks, but you should have seen his haircut, all slicked back like he stepped off Grease but with a tan circa 2000s.”
“Right.” Tai clapped his hands and blew out a breath. “So we know who’s not coming. Now, what are we watching? I propose—”
“Lord of The Rings!” Alex said and perked up.
“Pirates of the Caribbean?” Wes raised his bowl, sending the popcorn flying.
“Indiana Jones!” That was Sam.
“Miss Congeniality!” Tai exclaimed over the ruckus.
The room grew quiet.
“That’s actually a good idea,” Wes said, picking up his mess.
Watching Sandra Bullock disappointing everyone for the first half of the movie hit too close to home for me. Even if everyone ended up liking her in the end. Maybe if I tried hard enough or molded myself to what people expected, it would be easier to fit in? I had bent myself backward for girlfriends before and still ended up tossed like a used rag. It was so much differentwith Beck, though. I could be myself without trying to pretend I wasn’t a geeky mess.
“Wait, how about the Witcher? We all played the games, right?” I had to save myself somehow. A chorus of approval eased the clutch on my chest.
“Witcher it is,” Tai said. “But—” He pointed at Alex and Wes. “We do not hate on PC gaming in this house, so you can keep your opinions about game one Geralt’s face to yourself.” He turned the TV on while the rest continued to bicker.
“But Triss’s hair!” someone said.
“She’s stunning in the show! Who the fuck cares about the hair color?” Sam yelled, clutching her biker jacket like a kid would their favorite toy.
The first episode passed as Alex, Sam, and Wes screamed out trivia, and I soaked up the fantastic energy, offering my opinions at the risk of having popcorn thrown at me.
Mid episode two, the door squeaked open, and I turned around to look.
“Hey, everyone, I’m sorry I’m late. I—” Beck’s mouth fell open as his gaze landed on me.
My heart jumped, and my body wanted to rush to him, but I forced myself to stay put, waiting for his reaction. When Beck’s lips turned into a smile, I grinned. If I were a puppy, I’d be waving my tail right now.
