“They're so good!” Sabrina yells from the dining room.
“Yeah, that’s Sabrina and Laura.” I point both of them out. “Come and?—”
“Oh, I didn’t know you had people over,” Callum says. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
He flees like he’s absconding from a murder scene before I can stop him.
“I didn’t even get to dap him goodbye,” I say, sullen, as I return to the table.
“That’s your takeaway?” Sabrina snickers. “You’re really bro-ing it up with him, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah,” I reply. “As I said, we’re friends, and he pretty much confirmed he’s straight.”
That little nod after I saidgirlswould get lost in his eyes? Devastating.
“Yeah, that’s a shame for you,” Laura says. “He seems sweet.”
“He is,” I reply. “Kinda quiet, but I dig the vibe.”
Sabrina raises her eyebrows. “Yeah. Maybe he’ll be good for you. Balance your energy out a little.”
I scoff. “Oh, excuse me. Are you saying I’m not sweet?” I bat my eyelashes at Sabrina, and she flips me off.
“You know what I mean, you shit.” Sabrina rolls her eyes as I return the middle finger she gave me, but we settle down. “He’s quiet and you aren’t, so that’s a good match.”
“You sure?” I ask. “He keeps declining things, so I should tone myself down a little.”
“Don’t tone yourself down,” Laura says quickly. “Be tactful, sure, but don’t be fake.”
Sabrina jumps in. “Yeah, don’t change yourself for aman,Ian. We’ve been over this. The jacket was generous, but not weird.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Good. The last thing I want is to creep myfriendsout, too.”
Sabrina brandishes her fork at me. “Ian, stop. You’re letting emotionally stunted hookups get to your head again.”
“Right,” I mutter. “I won’t dwell on it?—”
My phone buzzes with a text.
Callum Cross
Thanks again for the coat
No problem man
Callum’s typing indicator pops up, and my fingers itch as I fight the urge to invite him to hang out later, maybe for dinner. The way he attacked the chicken parm last night makes me think that his dining hall is ass. It probably is.
Jesus Christ, Ian. Leave the poor guy alone.
Do you want to study for movement class tomorrow?
I break into a grin.
Yes ofc anytime
Sabrina snatches the phone out of my hands and locks it. “Hey, it’s hangover brunch. Not ‘crushing on straight guys’ brunch.”
“I’m not crushing on him, oh my god.”
