“I tried asking about what happened, but he refused to talk about it. Probably some bro code bullshit.”
Or he wanted to spare Ethan’s feelings. If Greg hated him and never wanted to speak to him again, he didn’t need to go through a messenger to get the point across.
They climbed three flights of rickety wooden steps to reach the party. Ethan passed through a nuclear mushroom cloud of cigarette smoke. A skull-and-pumpkin doorframe decoration welcomed them. Apartment parties were different than frat parties. The music wasn’t as loud and came from someone’s computer rather than a sound system. People seemed to have more genuine conversations, huddled in hallways and corners. The only thing the parties had in common was alcohol.
Lorna scooped a cup of Halloween punch for her and Ethan. He figured it was probably jungle juice tinted orange.
She raised her glass. “Chug on the count of three?”
“Actually, I’m going to nurse this one.”
“Suit yourself.” They clinked cups, and Ethan sipped his drink while Lorna’s disappeared.
Ethan didn’t feel like getting drunk. Tonight, he promised to pace himself. All the times he’d drank, he’d gotten drunk. Really drunk. He wanted to try just getting buzzed. He didn’t have to be a loud mess every time he consumed liquor.
They meandered into the dining room, where people talked around the table, yet nobody sat. June, whose ample cleavage was on display in a slutty Ragged Ann costume, chatted with a thin, kind of short guy who made up for his height with lush, wavy brown hair and thick eyebrows.
“Hey guys,” Lorna said.
“Hi Ethan! Twice in one week!” June said. “This is my friend Henry.”
He and Ethan shook hands.That explains why we made a beeline for the dining room.Had all that shit not gone down with Greg so recently, perhaps Ethan would have been interested in being set up. But right now, looking for love was at the bottom of his list. He still hoped that he and Greg could patch things up. He didn’t know if he was being a fool, but he would let himself have this time to remain optimistic.
The girls, of course, had to go to the bathroom, leaving him and Henry alone. Ethan wound up consuming drink one faster than he had hoped.
“So where’s your costume?” Ethan asked.
“I’m dressed up as a straight guy.”
“Where’d you find the costume?”
“My roommate’s closet.”
Ethan laughed as he took another sip. Henry had a beautiful face, with high cheekbones and delicate skin. He belonged in fashion magazines, not in a grungy college apartment. They had a brief conversation about majors and where they were from and if Ethan knew his camp friend who was from Seattle. He didn’t.
They both took another sip.
“We’re being set up, aren’t we?” Henry asked.
“I think so.” He glanced at the archway, and there were Lorna and June talking with their sisters, probably giving them a play by play.
“I need to be honest, Ethan. I kind of have a boyfriend.”
“Oh. Does June know?”
Henry waved at June and shifted himself so that his back was to the girls. “Actually, no. I haven’t told anyone. He’s not out.”
No need for small talk anymore. Ethan was all ears. “Oh. Is he in a frat?”
Please don’t say Greg. Please don’t say Greg.
“No. He’s an engineering student. His family is super-conservative.”
“How long have you guys been dating?”
“About six months.”
“Wow. And you’re okay keeping it a secret for so long?” This guy had made it six months, and Ethan couldn’t even last six days.
