Page 34 of The Very First Night

Sinking into the couch, I remember with delight that I’m not the only person from school who lives in the Columbus area.

Kat

Any interest in coming to Dublin?

With a sigh, I switch the smart TV on and navigate to Netflix, where I scroll through potential shows to watch until my phone dings with a notification. I reach for the device.

Tanner

Text me the address

I type out the address before continuing to scroll through Netflix in search of something to watch.

Though I’m not sure where exactly Tanner is from, he shows up fifteen minutes later with a takeout bag in hand and a grin on his face.

“What the hell did you do, teleport here?” I laugh as I open the door, letting him in.

His confused expression makes me chuckle before he realizes what I mean. “Oh, ha. No, I’m from Worthington.”

Worthington is less than ten minutes down the road and now I find myself wondering how I never met him before.

“Wait, where did you go to school?” I ask as he steps across the threshold.

“Kilbourne. You?”

“Scioto.”

“Small world,” he says with a laugh as he sets the bag on the kitchen counter. “I believe we beat you guys in football senior year.”

“We were robbed!” I laugh.

“Whatever you gotta tell yourself, sweetheart.”

I roll my eyes, trying not to pay his taunts any mind.

“Do you have anything to drink?”

“Hard cider in the fridge, but we also have water.”

I expect it to be more awkward than it is, having Tanner in my space like this. We’re friends at school, but having him at my mom’s house feels…too real. However, he just reaches into the fridge to grab a hard cider before snatching the bag he brought off the counter.

“Did you want to eat in the living room?” he asks as he looks to the TV.

“Sure!” I turn on my heels with him behind me and walk over to the couch. Sinking into the plush red cushions, I sigh with relief.

Tanner begins pulling boxes from the bag and instantly my senses are overwhelmed by the delicious smell of orange chicken.

“How did you know I love Chinese food?” I gape as I reach for the box. He yanks it out of my grasp with a laugh, but quickly yields when I pout up at him.

He just shrugs at my question. “Lucky guess. Everyone likes Chinese food.”

I eagerly plunge my fork into the steaming orange chicken. The tangy scent and succulent pieces of meat explode on my taste buds, sending waves of pleasure through my body.

As I take another bite, I can feel Tanner’s gaze burning holes into me. When I turn to him, his lips are curved in an amused expression.

“What?” I mumble.

He just laughs as he sits down next to me, balancing a box filled with beef and broccoli on his lap. “Nothing.”

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