16. Austin

16

AUSTIN

"So there's gonna be a second date?" Kael asks as he microwaves his mac-and-cheese. He gets hungry after dinner sometimes, and he thinks it's because of the testosterone.

I'm not much better with my snack selection of mostly Twizzlers, peanut M&Ms, and Sour Patch gummies. I used to keep a stash of Milk Duds when Dex lived with me. He would pour them into his popcorn for movie night like an animal.

I smile at the memory, but thankfully, Kael is too busy opening the microwave to see my expression. "Yeah, Dex thinks the last one went well."

I stuff a bunch of M&Ms in my mouth. It's my way of not copping to wanting it too.

"Well, you did look on a high afterward." He stirs the cheese packet into the noodles. "And I'm pretty sure it wasn't from edibles, not after that last time."

I laugh hollowly because after Kael offered me one, and I finally accepted, I got loopy and talked his ear off. Or so he says. All I remember is sleeping soundly.

"Only because I was having fun with my best friend." I try to temper my tone. "But the very next day, I practically spilled coffee on Brandon at work."

"Eh, maybe he deserved it."

I hitch a shoulder. "He can't help that he's not attracted to me."

That much is true. Maybe if I had more confidence, I'd rank as a seven out of ten instead of a five or a six—and that's probably being generous. I might be taller and have a striking hair color, but I fade into the background as soon as my lack of self-assurance comes into play. And the rest of me, for that matter.

"I suppose you have a point." Kael frowns. "Guess I'm taking Dex's lead and being protective of my friend."

I smile. "Well, thanks."

It certainly doesn't hurt to have a new friend.

"So where's this next date?" he asks around a forkful of macaroni.

"The color-coded mixer at Love Shack."

His eyes light up. "I might go with Angelica."

"Yeah?" The idea that they might attend helps me relax a little. "You want to head out together?"

"Like a double date? Nah, we'll meet you there, though." He smirks. "Wouldn't want to distract you from your lesson."

I pass a hand down my face. "Oh my God, that makes it sound worse."

"Sorry. I was only teasing." He winces. "The dates will be good for you."

I nod. "Hey, do you know what the color codes are about?"

He reaches for a paper towel. "No idea, but it should be fun."

I swallow. "Okay."

His eyes spring to mine. "Why do you seem unsure?"

"I'm not ready to—I don't even know."

He waves that away. "So don't participate."

"That's what Dex said."

"See? He has your best interests at heart."

"Yeah, I know." I have no doubt about that. But I'm still not sure why I'm so nervous.

"That theater major guy from Mundell—Chase, I think—is showing a movie on the lawn in Liberty Court tonight."

"Is it like the one they had on the beach last month?"

"God no," Kael says. "That one was fun, though. They showed Jaws , but Angelica was freaked out by the end of it, and we had to move farther away from the water."

I laugh because it's cute. And it reminds me of an anecdote my stepdad shared about scaring his younger siblings about sharks showing up in toilets.

"Wanna go?" he asks. "Angelica didn't mention it, probably because she's in the library, finishing a huge assignment. So I thought it would be fun for us to head out with a blanket and find a spot on the lawn."

"Sure. Which movie are they showing?"

" Love in the City ." He grins. "Figured it would be right up your alley."

I read the romance a couple of years ago. "I hear it's a decent adaptation."

As we dig out a blanket and snacks, I vaguely wonder what Dex is up to, but Kael isn't meeting Angelica, so I don't want him to think he and I can't just hang out alone.

We head out the door and toward Liberty Court. It's a quad with plenty of grass for outdoor activities and one of the shared housing locations students seem drawn to on weekends. Each building is named after a former dean, and they've all taken on a life of their own.

I can see the projector set up and a guy with blond hair fiddling with it. Must be Chase, who did the beach movie and the livestreams in the dining hall. I also recognize the guy standing near him because he works at Bean Necessities, though he's always at the shop location. Amos, I think his name is, and the way they're making eyes at each other, I'm guessing they're together. Sweet.

Chase's movie events are obviously popular because it's hard to find an empty place on the crowded lawn. We're just about to lay our blanket down in a free spot when I hear Dex calling my name. He and Milo already have a blanket set up beside his other housemates, and I feel a stab of disappointment that he didn't include me.

But I also didn't include him . We're allowed to have other friends , I remind myself.

"Get your butts over here with that blanket," he calls out.

I look at Kael. "We don't have to."

"Why not? It's all cool."

"Okay, sure." As we head over, they shuffle to make room for our blanket. I hunker down beside Dex, and Kael sits on the other side of me. One of Angelica's friends, who's sitting with a guy behind us, motions to Kael, and they strike up a conversation.

I study Dex for the first time and notice his worn, holey jeans along with something familiar. "Nice hoodie."

"Thanks." He smirks. "It belongs to a guy who uses some sort of apricot shampoo."

My eyes spring to his because he's never mentioned my toiletry scents before.

"Is that a good or bad thing?"

He gives the lapel a quick sniff. "Obviously good because I haven't washed this thing yet."

"Ew," I reply and move away an inch.

He laughs as he scoots close enough that our thighs touch.

"I didn't know you were coming to the movie," I say because I can't help myself.

"Neither did I until the last minute." Dex hitches a shoulder. "Ian mentioned how fun last month's movie event was on the beach, so I tagged along to see what all the fuss is about."

"Kael said the same thing about watching Jaws , except Angelica freaked about being so close to the water."

"Uh-oh, I heard my name," Kael says, tuning in to our conversation.

"I was just telling him about the last movie."

"Hey." Dex leans over to get his attention. "Would you be interested in coming to a student government meeting regarding the need for more gender-neutral restrooms?"

Kael's eyes light up. "I would absolutely be willing to do that."

"Thanks. Have there been any issues in your dorm?"

We live in one of the newer buildings, which already provides one, but Kael has confided he sometimes walks across campus to avoid the gendered restrooms for fear of someone complaining or making a fuss. The idea that you have to constantly consider where to take a piss is not a concern I'd ever thought about before. Kael has definitely opened my eyes, and I'm so glad Dex thought to invite him and also get to know him better.

"Not that I know of," Kael replies, then looks at me. "Unless someone has complained to you?"

"Nope, not one person." Everyone in our dorm seems super cool, no matter which restroom Kael decides to use, especially if one or the other is occupied.

Dex blows out a breath. "Okay, glad to hear it."

The movie credits begin rolling, and everyone quiets down.

Dex thumps my knee. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to this thing?"

"Honestly?" I ask, and he nods. "I didn't want you to think we can't have other friends. But also, Kael didn't invite Angelica, so I thought it was just going to be the two of us."

"Damn, sorry. I shouldn't have called you over?—"

"Nah, it's all good. Not like it was a date."

"True," Dex mutters, but there's something in his eyes I can't read.

When the main characters appear on the screen, I make sure not to miss the opening dialogue and try to remember if it's the same as in the book.

Kael opens a bag of trail mix and offers me some.

As the scene changes, I whisper to Dex, "If I knew you were coming, I would've brought you some Milk Duds."

"But there's no popcorn to mix them with." He mock-frowns. "Maybe this should've been our second date."

I shake my head, the idea not sitting right with me. "Let's just be me and you tonight."

His grin reaches his eyes. "I like that."

Soon enough, we're lost in the movie, even though it's not very good. Sort of campy and with thin character development compared to the book. Maybe I missed my calling as a movie critic.

After a while, I decide to lie back, bracing my hands behind my head to act as a cushion, but it makes my neck hurt. Kael has the same complaint when he follows suit. "We should've thought this through better."

"Here." Dex removes my hoodie, rolls it up, then urges me to prop my head on his knee. "All better."

"Thanks." I sneakily sniff at the material to catch a whiff of the so-called apricot scent, but I don't smell anything.

"Sorry, Kael," Dex says. "I only have one hoodie."

Kael smiles as he adjusts to a more comfortable position on his side. "No worries."

I end up being so comfortable that I nearly nod off. Especially when Dex starts running his fingers through my hair. But my stomach is all fluttery too, which only confuses the issue. This is nothing new for us, but after our date night, things seem to be blending together.

"Are you asleep?" Dex lightly shakes me. "Isn't this supposed to be your perfect kind of movie?"

"The book was better." I clear my froggy throat. "They cut out the quirky coworker who was a funny side character."

Dex shares a look with Kael, and they burst out laughing.

I huff out a breath. "Now you're just making fun of me."

Dex trails his fingers across my back. "No, we think you're adorable."

I roll my eyes. "There's that word again."

"You sure you two shouldn't date?" Milo asks. "You've already got a built-in back-scratcher."

I don't know who says no more loudly—Dex or me.

I sit up and stretch as the credits start rolling.

"Well, that was a pleasant surprise," Dex says as he ties my hoodie around his waist.

I glance toward the projector and the blond guy. "What, the movie?"

"No, watching it with you." He presses our shoulders together. "Almost like old times."

"To be fair, I didn't see a lot of it," I reply through a yawn.

"You always fall asleep during movies."

"Right?" Kael says, and they high-five. Nothing like your best friend and roomie double-teaming you.

I pout. "Well, this time, it's because the book was better."

Kael's eyebrows knit together. "Isn't that normally the case? More time for character development and all that."

We stand along with the others. "You do realize that movies have writers too."

"No use arguing this topic with Austin," Dex says, and Kael chuckles as I help him fold our blanket.

I jump when my cell rings. Not that I don't get many calls, but okay, maybe I don't.

I quickly punch the button when I see it's a video call from my mom. My pulse throbs as I rush out, "Is everything okay?"

Dex grows still beside me, likely knowing I'm worried because of the late hour. Calls with my mom normally take place in the mornings before classes and work.

"Yes, of course." She sweeps her auburn hair behind her ear. "We just haven't heard from you in a few days. It's good to see your face."

"You know how your mother gets," my stepdad pipes in as he comes into view over her shoulder. "If she doesn't hear from you, she worries."

"Sorry." I realize right then that we haven't texted much this week. "But when you call me at odd hours, I get worried."

Dex's voice rings out. "Guess you're even."

"Is that Dex I hear in the background?" Mom asks with a smile.

"Yep, and Kael." They both wave when I flip the camera in their direction.

"We just finished watching a movie. I tried to see it without him, but Dex won't leave me alone, even though he's not my roommate anymore."

"It's true." Dex steps up behind me, and I can feel his warm breath on my neck. "I'm forcing him to keep being my friend."

I roll my eyes and laugh.

"Oh, please." Mom's eyes crinkle in amusement. "You two were meant to be in each other's lives."

"She always says that." My stepdad smiles. "But I agree. Keep being good to each other."

When I end the call, Dex throws his arm around me and messes my hair.

"See?" Milo says. "Built-in ‘rents too."

Dex cracks up, but I don't look at him or respond because, for some reason, my skin feels all prickly. It's true that we get along great with each other's parents, but it doesn't mean we should date each other. That might ruin everything.

Kael and I wave our goodbyes and head in the opposite direction.