“It’s weird going through the front door,” Matty said. “I don’t know why.”
“It doesn’t seem like us.” Coop clenched briefly at the word us. They weren’t an us. Coop wasn’t sure what they were. One kiss and dry hump later, and his circuits were all screwed up.
Matty opened the door to the chic lobby. They passed leather chairs and a fireplace en route to the elevator, which was almost as big as Coop’s dorm room. It whooshed them up to the fourteenth floor.
“So whose place is this?” Coop asked.
“This rich kid in my robotics class is hosting the party.”
The doors dinged open. Coop’s stomach was still on the elevator, ready to plummet to the ground.
They walked down a hall, following the noise of the party. Kelvin waited at the front door, and his eyes registered the unexpected guest. He and Coop shared a flash of recognition, but kept it at that.
“Matty!” Kelvin stepped aside to let them enter. “Wow. I did not think you would come. I’m Kelvin.” He held out his hand to Coop. Coop kept up the charade.
“Nice to meet you.” Coop shook his hand hard and enjoyed the wince of pain Kelvin let out.
Kelvin’s apartment had an open layout filled with furniture and décor that no eighteen-year-old would ever choose to own. The living room led to the balcony, which overlooked the pool. Kelvin could sell everything in this place and probably pay Coop’s tuition.
“Do you live here?” Matty asked him.
“Technically, I’m in the dorms like all freshmen. My parents bought this for when they come visit, and as an investment property. But I pretty much live here full-time. No offense to Gibbons Hall, but this place has it beat.” Kelvin slid behind the bar, which was an actual bar with top shelf liquor. “Can I get you gentlemen a drink?”
“I’ll just have an orange juice.”
“And I’ll have a sunshine bomb,” Coop said. Matty’s face was priceless, like a balloon about to pop.
“I’ve never heard of that.” Kelvin passed Matty his orange juice.
“On second thought, I’ll just have a screwdriver.”
Coop raised his eyebrows at Matty, pleased with himself for the joke. Matty pretended to be embarrassed, but he loved it.
With drinks in hand, they made their way through the crowd to a corner of the living room. If this were one of his normal clients, Coop would act like the life of the party, but that didn’t seem appropriate for Matty. Matty didn’t want fake attention. He wanted people to earn it.
It was a moot point anyway. They already were the life of the party. Coop counted at least half a dozen people who looked their way.
A Vietnamese girl examined them like zoo exhibits. “Matty?”
“Yes, Linh. It’s me.”
“You’re out?” she asked.
“Yes,” Coop said for him, then placed an arm around his shoulder. “And yes.”
He hugged Matty tight against him to let him know that nobody would give them a hard time.
“That’s so awesome that you came to the party!” She was practically giddy about Matty’s presence, which seemed to surprise both guys equally. “It’s good to see you outside of class.”
“I’m glad I’m here.” Matty smiled into orange juice.
Linh leaned in. Her hair fell in her face. “Kelvin may be a total jack-ass, but this is a great party space, and at least he isn’t stingy with the top-shelf liquor.”
“And name-brand orange juice!” Matty raised his glass. Linh raised her empty one and went to get a refill.
“Matty!” Another classmate shouted from across the room and gave him a “rock on” sign.
Matty blushed from the attention. Coop nudged him to let him know he could enjoy it.
