Page 4 of Oblivious Roommate

With a groan, I pull on a fresh T-shirt that still smells of Mom’s fabric softener. I don’t know her secret, but the laundry she does always smells so good. I’ve noticed Cassian prefers dark, earthy tones like brown, green, gray, and black. It’s pretty fitting with his love of nature actually, but I like a more sporty look with a splash of color here and there. So for going out, I pull on a white T-shirt to go with my blue jeans, and a blue zip-up hoodie with the logo of my favorite national park on the back. It’s pretty cool since it has a bear on it.

There really is no reason to be jealous, especially that girls have different preferences, as I’ve been informed by my female friends many times.

And yet, a part of me is annoyed that Cassian looks like an underwear model now and is likely the king of this fucking apartment building.

A knock on the door.

I jog over to open and raise my eyebrows. “You don’t have to knock. What did you think was happening? It’s not like I have time to jerk off in five minutes.” I laugh, but to be fair, it does take me less to get off sometimes.

Cass shrugs. He's wearing a dark blue T-shirt made of thin merino wool, which helps sweat evaporate instead of just getting damp. I wouldn't have even known that fabric factoid if it wasn't for Cass extensively explaining its properties to me during one of our many video calls.

“Well, I am gay, so I don’t want to make you feel weird.”

“What? You might be gay, but I can see you’re still a dumbass! Like we didn’t go skinny-dipping years ago. You’ve seen it all. If you keep making it weird, I’m gonna make you smell my armpit.” A punishment we used to inflict on each other back in the day.

He raises his hands with a smile. “Maybe another time.”

I shake my head in disbelief. Since when is he this polite? Oh well, a little teasing never hurt anyone, so I grab his arm and pull him before he knows what hit him.

“That’s it! You’re being weird. You’re smelling it!” I laugh and try to grab the back of his head with one hand, while pulling my T-shirt up with the other.

I see a flash of shock in his green eyes, but he’s not resisting with all the power those arms must hold. Air tickles my armpit hair, and as I look at the outline of his face under my top, I’m not sure if this is still as funny as it used to be or... gay. But it’s not like I can just withdraw now without seeming bothered, so I double down and trap his face under my arm.

His next inhale makes my skin feel odd, but before I decide what to do about it, his fingers find my ribs, and I try to twist away from the vicious tickling. This time, it’s him who won’t let me go.

“Revenge might be a dish best served cold, but I’m hungry for it now,” Cass roars, and his lips tickle the sensitive skin of my armpit.

Fuck. When did my nipples get hard?

“No! Not my kryptonite! So unfair!” I wrestle him, wheezing for breath, and all of a sudden we land on the bed, and it’s like the old times. My heart is so full it could burst.

Using his tickling superpower, he manages to slide his head out from under my T-shirt, all flushed, probably from being barely able to breathe under there.

“Do you surrender?” He asks and bites his lips, using his knees to trap my legs.

I raise my hand. “Truce! I give up!”

He’s… heavier than he used to be.

I look up to meet his gaze, green as pine needles when the sun shines through them. But before I get to say anything more, he crawls off and exits the room, leaving me on my bare mattress.

“Let’s get going!”

I’m at a point where I’d kinda rather stay in and binge movies with him all night, but I get my ass moving. I actually think this little wrestling match broke some barrier between us that needed breaching, and I feel so much less nervous now. Even if overheated from laughing.

“Ready when you are!”

But he’s already at the door, and I smile, excited to have him as my campus tour guide.

Chapter 3

The campus tour would be a snorefest if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m getting shown around by Cass. He makes everything more interesting. Between the jokes we make and him going on tangents about how some particular tree should have been planted next to some bush rather than another, the sun sets. I feel like I’ll fit in here without trouble, especially with Cass as my wingman. Only now I see that the two years without him felt hollow. We should have gone to the same university, and I shouldn’t have wasted two years on a girl who broke up with me anyway.

Even the University buildings are nicer here, and I’ve checked all the local maps for hiking trails, so I know I won’t be bored.

The town is small so we don’t have to drive far to get back to the area we live in, but Cass is excited to show me a few more places.

I still can’t believe he’s with me in the flesh, and each time I look over to the driver’s seat, I’m reminded that this move was the best decision I could make. Once we settle back into our routine, things will be back to normal⸺him and me against the world.