Page 35 of The Very First Night

“What do you want to watch?” I ask.

Tanner inspects the screen as I display potential options, most of which are comedy shows. “Community.” He points as I scroll past the unfamiliar TV show.

“I’ve never seen it.”

Tanner looks at me, pure shock mixed with what appears to be horror invading his face. “You’ve never seen Community? Has Childish Gambino in it? Only the funniest show on the face of the planet?” As I stare at him with a blank expression, his shock only grows in intensity. “Damn.”

We settle into a comfortable silence as we watch Community, Tanner pausing it every so often to offer me more context.

With eager ears, I listen to every word he spills about his favorite show. How Jeff relentlessly pursues Brita, how he eventually has a period where he pursues Annie, Annie’s crush on Troy in the earlier seasons. All of it. He breaks each scene down as if he’s memorized the plot of the entire show.

“So, Jeff used to be a lawyer…but now he’s not?” I ask, confused.

“Well…” Tanner grabs the remote and pauses the show once more, no doubt prepared to give me a full summary of Jeff’s demise. “He was never technically qualified. He was practicing law, but his law degree was fake. So, he had to go back to school to get the required education before actually going to law school.”

“So, he’s a fraud.”

“Basically.”

“And we’re supposed to root for this guy?” The shock that seeps into my words makes him laugh.

“Not necessarily. He’s supposed to suck—it’s part of his appeal. Like Dennis from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Except…slightly less of a bad person.”

I stare at him blankly.

He reels with shock again. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia…”

“I…have never seen It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

“Remind me when we’re back on campus, I need to get you on a stern regimen of comedy TV education.”

I grab the nearest throw pillow and launch it at his face. Tanner’s loud laughter fills the room as he dodges the pillow with ease. His amusement is infectious and I let out a chuckle.

“Thank you for coming over tonight,” I say, my tone far more serious than moments before.

For a moment, I think he isn’t going to respond. Then, when his eyes meet my own, a faint smile paints his lips, though it doesn’t quite meet his eyes.

“Of course…I’ll always show up for you.” Tanner looks down, wringing his hands with such force that I wonder if it hurts. “Was Elijah not able to?”

A lump forms in my throat at the question. “I…hadn’t even thought to call Elijah. He’s…busy.”

“Too busy for you?” Tanner asks, but there is no jest or judgment in his voice.

“His family has high expectations. He warned me that he wouldn’t be particularly reachable this weekend. I guess they do this big party at his parents’ house in the city.”

“And he didn’t invite you?”

“We’ve only been seeing each other for a few months.”

“Still,” he says, “he should have at least asked. I would have invited you.”

Silence lingers, the weight of his words not lost on either of us. He doesn’t backtrack, doesn’t back off; he just looks at me, his eyes fixed resolutely on my own. It should be uncomfortable—the implication should have me jumping out of my seat—yet as he looks at me, I feel nothing but comfort at his honesty.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

“For what?”

“For coming.” The moment the words leave my mouth, he quirks a brow. I throw the other accent pillow at him, and this time it smacks against his cheek.

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