I hope we were whispering. That’s the only way I’ll be able to explain what just happened.
Grant asks Locke about his phone again. Something about not having signal and needing to figure out what’s holding up thelast two people. My roommate throws a glance back at me before leaning over the table and talking to his brother.
My heart is still beating rapidly when a fist knocks the table in front of me.
“Rosalie…” Liliana’s voice trails off. She doesn’t use my full name unless she’s trying to emphasize something. I’m caught. It’s the easiest thing I’ve had to decode in days.
Her stare points to Locke, then back to me, then back to him. Silently askingWhat’s going on?
Truthfully, I haven’t fully figured that out either.
Locke—the cat dad who carefully listens to anything and everything I have to say—is different from anyone I’ve ever met. Even when a portion of my brain tells me to be careful with him and his kind eyes, the tight feeling in my chest makes me rethink.
I’m brainstorming different methods to get Liliana away from the group, so I can awkwardly explain to her there may or may not be something going on with her future brother-in-law, when Grant’s chair loudly scrapes against the wooden floor.
“There you are!” He calls to the guy walking up towards our table, and it’s the first new face.
“My man!” The two of them link hands and clap each other on the back like it’s second-nature, and I see Locke sink into himself.
“Grant’s best friend.” Lil answers my silent question in a hushed voice.
By the time Grant and his friend have done their catching up and fully make their way to us, Locke’s hands are hiding under the table, and blonde strands of hair cover his green eyes.
“Guys, this is my best friend, Derek.” Derek raises a hand when his name is called.
Grant’s best friend is a tiniest bit shorter than him, but with broader shoulders and an equally friendly presence. The brown,curly hair peeking out of his backwards blue cap shakes when he waves his hand and chuckles.
“Hey, everyone. Sorry I’m late. Phone died and then I got caught up looking at the snack bar over there.” He motions behind him, at the counter selling food and drinks near the entrance. “Liliana, good to see you again.”
“You too.” My best friend smiles before motioning over to the two of us, awkwardly sitting at the other side of the table and waiting for our part in the conversation. “This is Rosie, my best friend, and Locke, Grant’s brother.”
“And my roommate.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from cringing.
The first thing I say when meeting someone new is, “Locke is my roommate”?
It’s embarrassing at the very least, and the worst type of fuel for Liliana’s theories at the most, but it causes Locke’s posture to change. He glances over at me, smiles in a soft way I think only he can, and sits up straighter.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”
Handshakes are exchanged. Liliana points out that Grant and Derek are wearing a matching dark brown. A discussion of where to leave the empty space for the last guest starts right as Locke pushes his chair back.
“Be right back. Just gonna walk around.”
His voice is quieter than it needs to be if he’s trying to inform the whole group.
It takes a few seconds before I look up and realize it’s me he’s addressing. No one else.
“Okay. Do you want me to go with you?”
I ignore the burn of Liliana’s gaze and stay focused on Locke.
He shakes his head, slowly pushing in his chair. “No. I’ll be fine.” I’m yelling at myself to “just be fine” too when he leans over, close to my ear and whispers so we’re the only two thatcan hear, “I’m finding an excuse to avoid my sister as long as possible.”
It’s lighthearted, and humorous, and exactly aligned to the man I know behind the doors of our apartment. The Locke that seems to only be reserved for me in this moment.
We laugh together at a volume that feels solely for us before I knock his elbow and tell him I’ll save his seat.
