“Alex Ford...” Miles processes this. “Environmental science Alex? Your old roommate?”
I nod.
Miles and Alex never really got on. He said he tried with her a few times, but her “environmental nonsense” was too hard for him to be around.
“Small world,” Ethan says. Then, like he’s just had a thought. “Hey, you guys should come.”
What??!
“Oh, we wouldn’t want to intrude—” Harper starts.
“No intrusion. Right, Pip?” Ethan squeezes my hand. “The more the merrier. Unless you’re too busy with, like, studying or robotics club.”
It’s a challenge, wrapped in casual invitation. Miles hears it too—his spine straightens the way it used to during hackathon competitions.
“We could probably swing by,” he says slowly. “If you’re sure it’s cool.”
“Totally cool. Twelve Hawthorn, eight o’clock.” Ethan’s grin is all teeth. “Costume required, though. Can’t just show up in your Banana Republic.”
“I can handle a costume. Remember that LED matrix vest I built, Pipes?”
Here we go. “Yeah, it was?—”
“Took first place at the Comp Sci Halloween party. Fully programmable, reactive to sound.” He looks at Ethan. “Pipes helped with some of the backend, but the design vision was mine.”
My stomach twists. The whole thing was my idea and I spent three straight days fixing his costume while he played with LED placement.
But sure, his vision.
“Cool,” Ethan says, somehow making it sound like an insult. “Very... technical. No actual creativity required.”
“Creativity?” Miles laughs. “I’m surprised you’re an expert on that—no offense.”
“None taken. Us jocks are too stupid to be offended.” Ethan’s voice is light, but I can feel the tension in his hand. “That’s why I need Piper to explain all the big words to me. Like ‘pretentious.’ Or ‘overcompensating.’”
They’re literally circling each other now, like territorial cats. Harper and I exchange a look—the universal female expression of ‘men are exhausting.’
“We should really go.” Harper tries again.
“Yeah, wouldn’t want to keep you,” Ethan agrees. “Lots of boring clothes to buy.”
“See you Saturday,” Miles says, and it sounds like a declaration of war. “Can’t wait to see what costumes you come up with.”
“Oh, we’ll be memorable.” Ethan pulls me closer. “Pip’s got some incredible ideas. Super creative.”
“We’ll see you there,” I say firmly, tugging Ethan away. “Bye, Harper. Miles.”
The moment they’re out of earshot, I whirl on Ethan. “What was that?”
“What was what?” He’s examining bubble wrap with suspicious intensity.
“The pissing contest! The invitation! The... flexing!”
“He started it.”
“You literally flexed your pecs at Harper!”
“I was stretching.” He grins. “Besides, did you see his face? Totally worth it. I think she is into me.”
