Page 12 of Fair Catch

“Look, we don’t have to do this,” I say, cutting him off.

He frowns, his brows crashing together. “Talk to each other?”

“Play this whole getting-to-know-you thing.” I explain and motion between us with my free hand. “We’re roommates, and that’s cool or whatever. But we don’t need to be friends. I have enough of those.”

Scoffing, he mutters, “I find that hard to believe,” just loud enough for me to hear it.

I’m fully aware he made the comment to piss me off, and I’m happy to let it hit the mark. After all, two can play at that game.

Stepping toward him, I paint a hostile smirk on my face. “Maybe you’ve heard of this thing called quality over quantity?”

“So that automatically means you’re a dick to everyone else?”

“In case you didn’t notice, I don’t fucking like people. You’re a human. That makes you people.” Frustrated and now a bit hangry, I make my way back to my room, calling over my shoulder, “And do us both a favor and only eat your own fucking food from now on.”

Four

Hayes

I’m mid-round in a game ofApex,doing my best not to die in a one versus three battle when a familiar voice fills my headset, startling the ever-loving shit outta me.

“Hayes! You got room for me?”

“Jesus Christ, Q,” I hiss, jumping a little in my chair.

The sudden movement causes my mouse to shift, and subsequently, gives my position away to the team I’m trying to battle. Trying andfailingnow,because one of them manages to sneak behind me and take me out from behind with a pistol to the head, execution style.

Cursing under my breath, I exit the game and load back in the lobby.

“Were you hoping to give me a heart attack or just fuck with my game by coming in here like that?” I ask my best friend, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

Q scoffs, the sound filling my headset. “It’s not like my name didn’t pop up on your Discord, so don’t give me that bullshit.”

“Yeah, well, I just died because of you.”

I can hear the smile in his voice when he says, “That just means I came in at the perfect time. Now answer the question.”

Quinton de Haas, everyone. Always a jackass.

“I guess,” I mutter while sending him a game invite from the lobby, which he quickly accepts. “Though, I’m surprised you even have a minute to get on here with me. You’ve been too busy with your boyfriend and your new friends in New York and—”

“Nuh, uh. I don’t wanna hear it from you, college boy,” he cuts in. “Some of us are working men. Now, are you gonna make me beg to be Lifeline?”

I silently switch to Bloodhound and roll my eyes at more than just his neediness to play as a certain character. Only Quinton would act as if getting to play the sport he loves can even be classified as work. And to do it with his boyfriend, no less.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure the life of a pro athlete is more work than I could ever imagine,” I mutter dryly, not bothering to hide my sarcasm. “I don’t know how you two do it.”

“If you wanna be like that, I can go spend time with Oak instead. I’m sure he’d have no objections to megetting off.”

I groan at his innuendo, and though I might prefer Quinton in comparison to Kason, I most certainly don’t missthatpart of being his roommate.“Pretty sure I heard you two fucking this morning from all the way in Chicago.”

My best friend gasps, and I can almost see him holding his hand against his chest mockingly. “Only in Chicago? Guess that means we weren’t loud enough.”

“You two are disgusting.”

“And you’re an insufferable smartass. We both make sacrifices in this friendship.” He goes silent for a beat, and when he speaks again, it’s drastically more sober. “But I am sorry for not being able to talk much lately. I know you’ve been going through the ringer since Kason moved in. Things have been kinda hectic around here, but that’s not an excuse.”

His tone change instantly has me on edge more than the match we just loaded into. “Everything okay? You and Oakley settling in?”

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