“I wasn’t mocking you. I love game night. I’m a huge game nerd. I wished my friends played games. Well, aside from flip cup.”
“You? Play games?”
“Don’t we all?” Coop asked with a cheeky grin. “What do you guys play? Scrabble?”
“Catan.”
Coop tilted his head. “What’s that?”
Matty couldn’t tell where the charm ended and sarcasm began. “You’ve never heard of Settlers of Catan?”
“Oh! Settlers of Catan! I thought you said something else. You need to practice saying words better, because I didn’t understand you. I absolutely love Catan.”
Matty cocked an eyebrow. Yep, this was sarcasm. “Funny.”
“I’m being serious. I’ll play with you guys tonight.”
“You? Play Catan?”
“You? Play Catan?” Coop repeated back mockingly. “It’s my favorite game.”
“Really? You don’t seem like a Catan player.”
“Wow. Is there a birth control pill for all of your pre-conceived notions?” Coop crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow.
“What happens when you roll a seven?”
“It’s bad luck for everyone.” Coop’s gaze didn’t veer from Matty. They were in a staring contest, something that Matty did not mind. As long as he didn’t have to stand up soon.
“What does that mean?”
“I think you know what it means, Matty. I don’t need to pass your Catan quiz. I know how to play.”
“What two resources do you need to build a road?”
“Patience and self-confidence.”
“Incorrect.”
“Or is it?” Coop tried to sound like Confucius. “Catan isn’t just a board game for me. It’s a way of life.”
“Have a good day, Coop.” Matty tossed his utensils and napkins onto his tray.
“So I’ll see you tonight, for some good, old-fashioned Catan.”
“No, you won’t.” He stood up.
Coop handed him the olive oil. “Don’t forget this.”
Matty was polite and took the bottle. He squeezed it into his backpack’s side pouch normally reserved for water bottles. Matty took his tray over to the bussing station. He glanced over his shoulder, and Coop was still at his table, giving him a salute. Matty laughed to himself.
He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, least of all Coop, but this was one of the more enjoyable meals he’d had in a while.
* * *
After classes, studying, and another dinner of French fries, Matty traveled to mid-campus where an old pair of dorms faced out over the science quad. These dorms were some of the smallest on campus and looked like they hadn’t been updated in fifty years.
Matty entered the first floor lounge and waved hi to the other players Akash, Tim, and Tom, who all lived upstairs. In the fall, they had posted in an online forum that they were Browerton students looking for a fourth member for Settlers of Catan. The guys set up the game on a folding table. As the board had to be put together and the tiles arranged a different way each time, it was a group effort.
