“Party?” Isaak repeated, like he’d never heard the concept before.
“You know,” Cyprian went on. “The, uh, GSA club one? The proceeds are going back into the club and all that?” He said, glancing over at me for help, like I would have something to add. I supposed he assumed Isaak would know about anything involving the club that centered around queer culture and identity, but being that he was a TA in his graduate’s program, I doubted he was as locked into the social scene as Cyprian seemed to think.
“Anyone can come,” I tacked on, only because I didn’t want to leave my friend hanging.
“You should come,” Cyprian added. “We’re all going.”
“Oh,” Isaak answered, looking vaguely embarrassed and just a bit dazed, like he wasn’t used to being shown niceties. “What, um, what kind of party?”
“It’s, like, rave-themed or something,” I said, recalling Arie’s comments from the night before. “Just music and dancing and drinks and stuff.”
“It’ll be fun,” Cyprian added. Maddox was quiet, but I figured that was mostly because he was still recovering from the horror-addled ordeal of discussing his feelings, even in a past tense format. Poor little emotionally-constipated jock.
“Well, um… Yeah, that does sound fun,” Isaak admitted. “I guess maybe I could…”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a text from Caelyx.
Don’t forget about me, Cupcake.
Biting down gently on the inside of my cheek, my thumb twitched over my screen as I debated whether to answer him or not.
“I’ll give you the address and time in class on Monday,” I said, realizing I didn’t have those details yet from Arie. “I have work, so I’m going to split.”
After exchanging brief goodbyes and tossing Maddox back the bottle I’d emptied of the wretched protein shake, I snatched up my duffel bag and exited the gym, headed back up to my dorm.
I’ll be there.I sent a reply to Caelyx as I made my way down the hall.
What are you doing?He always replied immediately when I messaged him, no matter the time of day or night.
I was working out with Maddox and Cyprian. I’m taking a shower before coming over to get you.
Shower over here, his next message suggested.
I snorted, glancing up at the ceiling.You’d probably steal my underwear or something, creep.
Now what would I want with your boxer briefs?He wondered, and I could see him in my mind, smirking at his phone with that perfect, pearly fuckboy grin. How did he even know what kind of underwear I wore? Pervert instincts.
I’m afraid to imagine, I sent back.
Pushing open the door to my dorm room, I found Ren sitting at his desk, the screen of his laptop covered in mathematical equations.
“Oh, hey,” he greeted me. “Don’t you have work?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed, putting my stuff down on my bed before digging around in a drawer for clean clothes. “Taking a shower and then heading out.”
What color are the ones you’re wearing right now?Caelyx’s next text came through.
I paused, staring at the screen as I considered. It would be smarter not to encourage his behavior. If I engaged, then it was like I was telling him to keep going. Like I was telling him I secretly liked it or something. Which, of course, I definitely didn’t. Using me as a source of entertainment when he was bored, or because he knew we’d be stuck together at work in a handful of minutes, wasn’t any kind of compliment or anything. He was probably texting five other people the same question.
Guess, I ordered, against my better judgment.
What do I get if I guess right?He asked.
What do you want?A dangerous question, considering who I was talking to.
“Wow, you must be in a really good mood,” Ren commented, and I snapped my gaze up to him.
“Huh? Why?”
