Finn ignored her, drew his leg up, and kicked the door open. It crumbled off the hinges. He was stronger than he looked.
As we stood there, watching Ryder curl into a ball, looking away from us, Finn turned to us and snarled. “Leave me!”
My stomach clenched in guilt, more worried than ever for my friend.
The three of us sat and waited for him to come out and tell us what was going on. When he did finally come out, he was only in his underwear and calling someone on the phone as he walked onto the balcony. Finn hung up and walked back inside, and headed straight to the kitchen to pour Ryder some water. He kept ignoring us and made his way back into Ryder’s room.
More time passed before they both came out dressed. Ryder didn’t just look unwell; he looked like he was grieving or something. His eyes were red-rimmed and swollen. Was that what happened? Did he lose someone?
Finn promised to pay to have the broken door fixed, and I handed him my phone number. “That’s my number. Please let us know what’s going on.”
He gave me a curt nod. “Will do.”
“I’m such a shitty friend,” I said. “We should’ve tried harder.”
“In hindsight, it seems we should have,” Emma agreed.
Luna nodded and walked into the kitchen. “Hopefully, he’ll talk to us and forgive us. Anyone want some tea? I have a special calming blend.”
“No, thanks. I need to get dressed. I’m supposed to meet up with my brothers tonight.”
I stepped into Horton’s Bar and Grill on M Street in Georgetown, which wasn’t too far from where Athan went to school.
Andreas and Athan were already sitting down at a booth. I slid in, and a server immediately stepped up to me to ask what I’d like to drink. They only served beer and wine, so I ordered a chilled glass of pinot grigio. Beer was not my thing.
Athan was too young to drink, but Andreas was sipping some lager on tap.
Through the years, people who knew the three of us often got our names confused—the curse of having parents who named us all with ‘A’ names.
We tried to meet up at least once a month to catch up without our parents. Mom would just meddle in everything we talked about, god love her.
“We ordered the usual,” Andreas said. “Large pizza with pepperoni, sausage, green olives, onions, and basil. Plus, twenty Buffalo wings with loads of ranch dressing.”
“Perfect,” I said.
I loved having sex and being on the bottom, but I always had to be careful with what I ate. But since there were no plans until next weekend, I ate whatever I wanted.
“You look stressed,” Andreas said. “Everything okay? You still have your job?”
“Yeah, things are fine. My roommate, Ryder, locked himself in his room all day. His boyfriend came over and took him home with him. He looked so bad and so sad, but I have no idea what’s going on. It’s stressing me out a little.”
“Like how? Is he sick or something?”
I shook my head. “I think depression or something.”
My brothers didn’t know Ryder. I didn’t expect them to be as concerned as I was, so I changed the subject. “So, how’s the new girlfriend?” I asked Athan.
He eyed me with disdain. “You’re as bad as Mama.”
I feigned horror. “As if! I never nag about when you’re going to be married and have kids.”
My brothers laughed as Athan unlocked his phone, scrolled through it, and showed me the most recent picture of his girlfriend. She was a stunning young woman with umber skin and a big poof of black hair.
“That’s Maya. Do you think…” He glanced at me and Andreas. “Do you think they’ll like her?”
Andreas took a sip of beer with a smirk before snorting a laugh. “If you tell Mama you’re in love and will marry her soon, she’ll completely dote on Maya.”
Athan slouched in his seat. “Ugh, I don’t want to scare my girlfriend. Jesus. Why did you say that? Anyway, I really like her.”
