I’m buzzing from head to toe as I bounce down the stairs. I grab my jacket off the hook by the door, and when I turn aroundto slip my arm into the sleeve, I catch sight of the guys sitting in the living room, their eyes trained on me.
“Where areyougoing?” Carter asks, like there’s something very conspicuous about me.
“Out,” I answer, evasive.
But there’s no evading the keen eye of Sebastian. He leans toward me, assessing. “No way. You have a date?”
What the fuck? Is it that obvious?
I mean, I guess a sweater over a collared shirt could kind of give it away.
“Holy shit, he does!” Felix exclaims, taking my momentary silence as an answer.
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “Maybe I do.”
“You’ve given up on Carmen, then?” Veikko asks.
There’s another beat of silence as my lips stay shut—and then realization dawns on them.
Sebastian’s eyes pop in surprise behind his glasses. “Dude, no way. Don’t tell me.”
“You have a datewithCarmen?” Felix asks, astonished.
“Well, technically, it’s not a date …”
But my roommates disregard my denial, the room filling with their noisy reactions and exclamations. They hop up from their seats and crowd me by the door, like they’re a pack of paparazzi and I’m a hot new celebrity who’s just stepped out of a trendy club.
“Fuck, man,” Sebastian says with a grin, patting me on the shoulder. “I wish I could say I always believed in you, but I wasn’t sure she would come around.”
“Be careful,” Veikko says.
“Right,” Felix seconds. “Make sure you wrap it up. We don’t need you causing an unexpected pregnancy on your first time.”
“No,” Veikko says. “I mean be careful to not do something to get on her bad side. She can be frightening.”
My smile almost reaches my ears. “I know.”
“Where are you guys going?” Carter asks.
“Just to an art class. To try something new. Like I said, it’s not a real date.” Despite what I’ve been telling myself, I feel like I should maintain what Carmen said in front of other people.
Carter wiggles his eyebrows. “When you two keep us up all night after you bring her back here, will it be a date then?”
My cheeks burn. “That’s not going to happen.”
Veikko grunts. “If she comes back here, I’m locking my door.”
Sebastian laughs. “Don’t screw this up, Jamie. You have to date her now. I can’t get enough of Veikko being afraid of someone.”
Felix grins wryly, nudging the Finn. “Don’t worry, bro. If she stays over, you can sleep in my room. I’ll protect you.’
Veikko’s face flushes. He looks momentarily flustered. Now that’s something I’ve never seen before.
I grab my beanie and tug it over my head. “Alright, guys, I have to get going.”
“Damn right,” Sebastian says. “Don’t keep her waiting.”
Wouldn’t fucking dream of it.
