That’s when Niko arrived.
I took her in, not sure what I’d been expecting. She was a little taller than me. Slender. Long, sleek black hair that fell just beyond the middle of her back. Asian. Niko moved into the living room with a quiet confidence. Her eyes flicked to me, taking me in as I was taking her in. I couldn’t read her, but suddenly I felt nervous.
“Hi.” I started to hold my hand out, but she moved back a step, so I put it at my side again. “I’m Blake. Uh, one of your housemates.”
She was wearing some sort of black dress where the top looked like an apron with thick straps and a choppy looking block that went over her chest. Underneath she wore a white lacy shirt that covered her arms. For her legs, she wore thick crocheted leggings. It didn’t seem she was wearing any makeup, but she looked good. Comfortable too.
“I know who you are.” Her lips pressed together.
She continued to stare at me.
“You two weirdos going to stand there and stare at each other or get some food?”
Niko scowled at Marshall but moved to get in line for the food. “Don’t call me that. I’m more intelligent than you are.”
Heath laughed. “Burned by our roommate.”
Marshall rolled his eyes, but his top lip curved up. “I more meant that both of you are being odd. Just standing and staring. What? Hoping to become one with the wall or something? Get some food.”
Palma came back in the room, gave both gaming chairs a perusal. “Good idea, whoever thought of bringing these down. Anyone else need another drink?”
Marshall and Heath had come around behind me, and as I moved forward, both settled on that end of the sectional. There was a little table on the end where two drinks were already sitting. Marshall picked up one and handed it to Heath. The other was for Marshall.
Niko eyed the food with a certain amount of disdain, but her plate was full when she was done. She took the other side of the sectional. Pulling out a bottle from a pocket in the front of her dress, she set it on the little table beside her. The liquid itself was green and looked rich in texture.
“Blake? You going to eat?” Palma started to fill her own plate.
“Yes.” I put my drink aside and took a plate.
“Want to help me?” Palma asked me, indicating the other end of the table.
“Sure.”
We picked up the table and moved it so it was directly behind the couch.
Palma was eyeing the sectional as I came around behind her. She gestured at the loveseat with her chin. “I’ll let you and your guys figure out that seating.” She claimed one of the gaming chairs, pulling it over so it was in front of the empty space on the sectional. She arranged one of the heavier blankets over her lap. When she was situated, she held a hand behind her. “Drink.”
Heath smothered a laugh as he handed her the glass.
I followed suit, using the little stand that Niko was already using. She moved her drink aside to make room.
“So.” Marshall raised his voice, holding the remote in his hand. “We had a debate earlier on what movie to watch, and we nailed it down to three. Everyone gets a vote betweenPretty Woman,How to Train Your Dragon, andGoonies. Who wants to watchPretty Woman?Dragon?Goonies?” He sighed as Palma raised her hand for all three. “Who doesn’t have an opinion about what we watch?”
Heath, Niko, and I all raised our hands.
“Okay. Not helpful.” He pretended to scowl, pointing the remote at the three of us who didn’t care. “You chose not to have a vote, so you ended up voting by not voting. Don’t complain to me later. Since Palma voted for all the options, that means I get to pick the movie.Gooniesit is.”
I hadn’t dug into my food because I was enjoying this.
Marshall was in a good mood. That meant Heath was as well.
Palma was giddy because we were all here.
Niko was quiet. She kept glancing my way.
The movie started.
That’s when the back door opened and Levi’s voice thundered, “Honey! We’re home.”
