“Nosy?” I ask. It’s a description I’d normally attribute to women, not men. “Really?”
He nods, rolling his eyes. “Oh yeah. Huge gossips, too. Always up in my business.”
“Does that annoy you?”
He laughs a little. “No, no. They mean well. We’re pretty close, is all. How about your roommates?”
I sigh and take another bite off my spoon. “Ava and Kinsley gossip alright, but I don’t think they mean well.”
“Why’s that?”
God, she is so fucking weird.
I don’t think she’s made a single friend at Stratus.
There’s something seriously wrong with her.
“I overheard them shit-talking me,” I admit to him. “They don’t like me much.”
"I bet they’re jealous.”
I snort. “Of what?”
“You’ve got your own DC supervillain named after you. Who wouldn’t be jealous of that? Which reminds me, are you good with plants? I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“My green thumb is nonexistent. Feel free to rethink the nickname.”
“No, no. No takebacks on nicknames.”
“You wouldn’t take back Doc if you could?”
He smirks. “The team gave me that name because of the med school thing. I don’t mind it, but sometimes it feels a little undeserved. The recognition, I mean. My season was weak overall, but I had a few crazy touchdowns toward the end. Did you go to any games first semester?”
My face warms at his question, which must be answer enough because he snickers. “Sorry,” I mumble.
“Being around you keeps me humble, that’s for sure.” I look down at my ice cream, a little embarrassed to be so out of the loop despite his teasing tone. “I’m just messing, Ives.”
“I know.” Glancing up, my eyes go wide when I realize he’s nearly finished with his cone. “Wow, you ate that fast.”
If I’m not mistaken, a little color tinges his cheeks. He clears his throat. “Sorry. That was rude. I tend to inhale my food when I’m not paying attention.”
“Oh, no. It’s fine. Just impressive.”
Feeling self-conscious now that I’m the only one left eating, I take a few bigger bites. “Don’t rush on my account,” Wes says, perceptive as always. “I have another nickname most people don’t know about. Human Garbage Disposal, courtesy of my mom.”
I laugh a little. “Are you close with her? Your mom?”
He nods. “I’m close with both my parents. And my sister, though I don’t see her as often as I’d like to. But yeah. We’re a pretty tight-knit group. How about you? Are you close with your parents?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “Um, not really.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I shrug a little. It’s not his fault, after all. I take another bite of ice cream and shiver, catching a chill. “Hey, you’re shaking again,” Wes notes, concern lacing his tone.
“I’m just cold,” I tell him, trying not to think about what happened in the library. “I’m eating ice cream in winter, and it’s freezing in here.” I eye his sweatshirt. “You’re not cold?”
“I have another nickname courtesy of my family. Human Furnace.”
I would smirk if I wasn’t busy clenching my teeth together to keep them from chattering. “Must be nice.”
