As soon as the door opens, I grab Ian’s hand. He tilts his head to face me, smiling wide and pinching his lips together, and he gives me a squeeze.
Oh, it’s Nick. For once, he’s on time.
I squeeze tighter.
“Hey, am I the first to show up?” Nick says, kicking his boots off. “I never thought—” He stops in his tracks once he sees us, flicking his eyes between our hands and our faces.
Then he nods. “Fuck yeah.” Nick deposits his backpack on the floor, causing the bottles inside to jangle loudly, before rushing over to give us a group hug. “Scotty’s finally found someone who isn’t an asshole.”
“I’ll, uh, try not to be one,” I offer, not knowing what else to say in response.
Nick pulls back and slaps my shoulder. “Nah, you’re a good guy. Celebration shots, anyone?”
Ian and I both nod in approval, and our night gets started. Wedon’t go too wild, since Laura and Sabrina aren’t even here yet, but before long, the front door opens again, and they stride in.
Right as Ian and I are mid-kiss.
Chuckling, I pull back and straighten up. “I didn’t time this, I swear.”
“Are you two…” Laura breaks into a wide grin, pointing at me and Ian.
I nod. “Yup, Ian is my boyfriend.”
Woah. It’s my first time saying that out loud, and it couldn't feel any better.
Sabrina makes a whooping sound. “That’s so fucking cute, oh my god.”
“Finally.” Laura procures a bottle of prosecco from her bag. “I thought you guys would keep dancing around each other, but when you both went to Ian’s lake house?” She pops the cork and thrusts the cold bottle into Ian’s hands. “That’s when I knew something good was going on.”
Sabrina smiles. “This is too cute. I’m so happy for you two.”
Ian hands me a glass, and I take a sip.
“Yeah, I think Ian’s happy to have his living room back, too,” I joke. “Hopefully I won’t roast him alive once the weather warms up.”
“You aren’t going back once your dorm’s fixed?” Nick asks, crossing his arms and flopping onto the couch.
“I hope not,” Ian mumbles after he sees me tentatively shaking my head.
Wait, is that… Okay, we just agreed to move in with each other permanently. That’s so fast, and alsoamazingfor my budget. I’m gonna have to start paying rent. I’ll have to insist.
Sabrina narrows her eyes, cutting her sip of wine short. “Wait, so you guys are all moved in with each other, like, for real.”
Ian and I both nod.
“And you did thatbeforegetting together. You beat me and Laura,” she continues.
Laura snickers. “Yeah, you guys stole our stereotype.”
Staying silent, Ian simply smirks back as he takes a sip of prosecco.
Hoo boy, I’msloshed. As is Ian. And Nick. And Laura and Sabrina. The room is spinning a little—I’m okay, and I still have my wits about me. This is fun.
“Guys,” Ian says, “let’s head out. I just have to take a leak first, and then we can go.”
“We called dibs first!” Sabrina yells, dragging Laura to the bathroom.
Ian shrugs and sits cross-legged at the dining table, waiting for the two of them to finish up.
