“You make it sound so easy,” I say, taking a sip of my coffee. I’ll never admit this out loud, but it really is better than the stuff I make at home. Maybe it’s the whip cream or the thousand pumps of sweet syrup, I don’t know. But this magical coffee crack makes me understand why this place is so popular..
Blue shrugs, and the movement causes his long-sleeved tee to crease around those muscular arms that had a starring role in last night’s fantasies. “It’s not really that complicated. Look, I know I agreed that our arrangement is a little batshit, but that’s only because you and I aren’t exactly besties. That’s really the only crazy part.”
I must look skeptical, but Blue keeps talking. “I’m serious. Hear me out. We’re on a college campus, Liza. How many people are giving or receiving orgasms right now?”
I blink. “How should I know?”
“The number isn’t zero. I can tell you that much. And do you think all those people are in long-term relationships?”
“Probably not,” I answer.
Blue nods. “Do you think that some of those people don’t even know the last name of the person they’re with right now? And I’m not judging, honest. I’m just asking.”
I sigh, because I hate it when he’s right. “Okay, you’ve made your point. We’re in college. There are no strings. And we know each other’s first and last names, so we get bonus points for that, I guess?”
“Exactly. Five bonus points to you, Liza Jane DeWalt,” he says, tearing into the last muffin. When he catches me staring open-mouthed at him, he mutters a curse. “Shit. Did you want some of this?” he offers, tearing the muffin in two.
“No. How do you know my middle name?”
Blue looks at me like I’m the crazy one in this scenario. “It’s in the hockey program. Stop looking at me like I’m a creeper. I swear I’m not trying to steal your identity. Mine’s Leonard, by the way. You know, if you want to even the playing field.”
I can’t help but crack a smile. “Grover Leonard Halliday, huh?”
“It’s one of the many reasons I go by Blue.”
“Does anybody actually call you by your first name?” I ask, because I’m curious. This might be the first normal conversation Blue and I have ever had, and while that’s wild, It’s also kind of nice.
“Everyone everywhere calls me Blue, and they have since I was about four years old. It’s even under my picture in my high school yearbook. There is one exception to that rule though, and that’s my dad. I’m named after his grandfather, so that’s probably why he insists on calling me Grover, but I always wondered if it has more to do with the fact that I prefer being called Blue. And that he prefers to do things his way, regardless of what anyone else thinks.”
I take another sip of coffee, digesting his words. He says them playfully, but there’s an edge behind them. It doesn’t bother me, but it must bother him, because he shakes his head and changes the subject.
“So…about this list…” He starts, the corners of his mouth bending upward in a smile. “Is it like a menu? Or a map? Maybe an all-you-can-eat buffet? And yes, that pun is intended.”
I blush as laughter bubbles out of me. “It’s more of a word bank, I think. It’s like a list of choices. I don’t have to check off every item. But if the answer is, you know, orgasm,” I say, lowering my voice on that last word so I’m not shouting in the middle of Drip, “then the items on the list are potential questions.”
“That makes sense. Do you have any favorite items? Ones you’re dying to answer?”
I know he’s being flirty, but I consider his question and answer it truthfully. “There are some things I’ve never even heard of. I can’t pronounce them and I definitely don’t want to do them. But yeah, there are a few I find intriguing. I made notes in the margin.”
“Can I borrow your notes?” he asks, wagging his eyebrows. The effect is goofy, not sexy, but it works for him.
“You can’t keep them, but you can look at them when we meet up this week,” I say, unable to find exactly the right words to describe what we’re doing. Before I start rambling and listing off a bunch of euphemisms, I’m saved by the bell. My phone alarm chimes, letting me know it’s time to head to my job at The Gatehouse. “I’ve got to go,” I say, pointing at the time. “But we’ll be in touch, right?”
“Damn right we will,” he teases playfully, giving me an exaggerated wink. It’s a good thing he finished off the muffins, or I’d be tempted to throw one of them at him. Honestly, though, his ridiculousness doesn’t bother me quite as much as it used to. I’ll deny this to my very last breath, but I’m starting to like how relaxed and unserious he can be. I know, I know. I used to hate that about him, but it makes what we’re doing a lot less awkward. For that I’m grateful.
15
Liza
Liza:I’m in the kitchen, and I think the coast is clear.
Blue: Roger that. I’m on my way down.
Blue: You know what we need? Walkie-talkies. How cool would that be?
Liza: So cool…if we want to broadcast to all our housemates that we’re messing around.
Blue: Shit. You’re right. Hmmm…What about Morse code? We could learn that. Do you think there are classes? Or just youtube videos?
