Page 55 of Tongue-Tied

There’s that attentiveness again.

The nerves kick up in my stomach as the other five roommates eye me across the table during introductions. Craig’s girlfriend is in attendance too, and she looks way more comfortable than I feel as we grab our plates and dig in.

Thankfully, there are plenty of conversations going on to fill up the silence, so all I’m required to do is eat and listen to mostly political talk, which doesn’t surprise me. It just reinforces that Dex moving here was a good idea. He lives for this shit and adds his two cents here and there to the discussion. I notice how his responses always seem human-rights oriented, which is something I admire.

Soon enough, the table is cleared of dishes, Ian brings out the trivia board game, and Craig passes out beers. We divide into teams of three since Craig’s girlfriend and Bruce had to leave early. So it’s me, Dex, and Milo, and between the three of us, we rock it.

Carson seems miffed that we’re a couple of points ahead and gets overly serious about their answers, which I can tell is a downer for Ian and Craig. A few rounds in, I’m comfortable enough that I can tease Milo about his counting skills, and it almost feels like old times between Dex and me. Almost. Except for the couple of times his thigh accidentally brushes against mine, which makes my stomach feel funny. Fluttery. And that’s not good. But I remind myself I’m apparently that hard up, and it helps the feeling pass.

“For the win,” Ian says, holding up the card. “The Vampire Diaries is based on what book series?”

Dex smiles because he knows I got this. “Vampire Diaries! Duh! Easy-peasy.”

“What?” Carson whines. “That sounds like a trick question.”

“Please, you would’ve never guessed it anyway,” Milo says.

“Have you even heard of The Vampire Diaries?” I ask with a smirk.

Milo and Dex high-five.

Carson harrumphs. “You guys are never allowed to be teamed up again.”

“The gloating is a little much,” Ian adds with a wink.

Everyone laughs.

Milo announces he’s got a hot date to whoops and hollers, and then everyone is packing up and going their separate ways.

Dex stands and stretches. “Feel like heading up to my room and watching something?”

“The Vampire Diaries?” I tease. “The characters are total snacks for being the undead.”

Dex grins. “Bloodsucking is hot.”

“Have fun, kids,” Milo says as he heads out the door.

“Back at you,” Dex replies.

I follow him up, glad that his roommate isn’t there because I’m pretty peopled out. Just the way it is with us introverts.

“Does Milo date a lot?” I ask when I notice his disheveled bed, with clothing strewn about, like he’s been deciding what to wear.

“Actually, this is the first time I’m hearing about anyone.”

“Aw, hope it goes well.”

“Austin, the hopeless romantic,” Dex says as he climbs into bed.

When he holds open the comforter for me, it reminds me of our time at the dorm when I was always fiddling with the thermostat.

“Says you, who remembers how cold I get,” I reply, sliding in beside him.

“That doesn’t make me romantic, just a good friend.”

“Okay, whatever you say.” He fires up his laptop, and we decide to rewatch a comedy we’ve seen one too many times.

As we wait for a pop-up ad to end, I spot something on his desk chair. “Hey, there’s my hoodie.”

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