Page 54 of Tongue-Tied

“No! It’s just…” I blow out a frustrated breath that I can’t seem to make my meaning apparent. “We used to do more things together, and you like pizza, so I thought…”

“I do like pizza.” He frowns. “Socializing, not so much.”

“You already know everyone there.” I squeeze my eyes shut, regretting having the idea in the first place. “Never mind. I’ll text you later.”

As I turn to go, he grips my arm, stopping me in my tracks. “Wait, sorry. Thanks for inviting me. I’ll meet you at Molly House.”

“Make sure to show up in only your undies.” When he looks confused, I quirk a grin. “You know, the Molly House attire. Your joke, not mine.”

“Oh, thank God.” He grips his chest. “For a second there, I thought it was like a version of strip poker.”

I huff out a laugh. “Hey, not a bad idea. I’ll take it up with Ian.”

He sticks out his tongue like we’re still ten, and I feel lighter all the way back to my place.

22

AUSTIN

I grab my keys and wallet. “I’m heading to Poli House to have pizza with Dex and his housemates.”

“Nice.” Kael looks up from his computer. “Have fun.”

I laugh to myself about the whole Molly House underwear thing. Maybe I wouldn’t want to participate, but I sure as heck would be up for watching. Maybe Dex is right, and I’m starting to learn more about my preferences. Maybe it’s time to get the nerve up to watch gay porn. If I can buy a dildo, I can punch a bottoming scene into one of those sites and figure out how much of it turns me on—or at least what about it.

My stomach rumbles with the usual unease when it comes to socializing. It’s one thing to have to do it for your job, quite another if it’s on purpose. Probably why I suck at it. It was easier when Dex and I lived together because he’d convince me to go somewhere, and before I knew what was good for me, we were out the door. Sort of like it was a team effort.

And while I’m glad Dex thought of me, I still wonder if he made the effort only to help dissipate the tense weirdness between us since the night at the club. Or maybe not weirdness, exactly, but rather an awkwardness that we touched each other’s junk. Though I must admit, it’s gone a step further for me. Every time I spot him around campus, it takes my breath away. Not only because he’s so handsome, but because someone that handsome was turned on by me—even if it was all pretend and out of some sense of obligation on his part. He’s just that kind of friend, and I wish I could return the favor.

And maybe I am in a way because, for someone who never dates, he sure knows how to be attentive and romantic. So for the future guy he inevitably falls for, I did him a solid. My stomach sours at the thought, maybe because I’m afraid that Dex being that focused on someone else would take away from our friendship.

I knock on the door, and Ian pulls it open. “Hey, Austin. Dex is up in his room.”

“Thanks.” I step inside, notice the large table with utensils and paper plates in the center, and then take the stairs to his room.

The door is ajar, but I lift my hand to knock anyway. I stop when I hear Milo’s voice. “So your boyfriend’s joining us?”

I can hear the smirk in Dex’s voice when he replies, “He’s not my boyfriend, but you know that.”

“Like I said, you totally should be dating. You’ve been distracted just waiting for him to show.”

“Lies. I’m just excited to hang with my best friend.”

I clutch my chest because fuck, that’s sweet. But now I feel self-conscious walking in after overhearing that. Instead of stressing, I decide to make light of it.

“Hey there, boyfriend,” I announce, stepping into the room.

Dex’s eyes widen, and he appears speechless. I’m not sure what Milo’s expression is because I’m so focused on not laughing.

“Look at his face.” I huff out a laugh. I can’t help it. “Just the word boyfriend freaks him out!”

Dex lobs a pillow at me. “That’s not fair. Well, maybe it is, but I didn’t expect you to play into Milo’s BS.”

“Your comedic timing was perfect,” Milo says, and I give a little bow. Maybe I’m not as awkward as I seem. Maybe I need to get out of my own head more often.

Right then, Ian shouts up the stairs, “Pizza’s here.”

We head downstairs with the others and take our seats, but then Dex stands and heads to the kitchen. He returns with a couple of sodas and hands me one. “Thanks.”

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