Page 12 of Devilry

“I don’t make a habit of getting drunk, or coming home like that,” he continues. “Just some last minute fun before school starts, you know?”

I didn’t actually know what he meant, because I was purposely reserved. I kept to myself, stayed out of trouble, and constantly chose to blend into the background.

Drinking.

Getting drunk.

Being out of control.

Not. My. Thing.

“Are you going to say anything?” Exasperated, he drops to the couch beside me.

Not sure what to say, I ask him an easy question, even if I did hear his friend from earlier say it in passing. “What’s your name?”

“My name?”

“I think people that live together should know each other's names.”

“Yeah. Of course. Yeah.” He buries his head in his hands, his shoulders sagging in unexpected relief. He turns his head to face me. “It’s Aiden.”

“I’m Eli,” I offer. “I already told you that this morning, but I’m not sure if you remember.”

He gives me a sheepish smile. “So, Eli.” He glances down to my foot on the coffee table. “What happened to your foot?”

I simultaneously laugh and groan at the memory. “I’d rather not relive the embarrassing moment.”

“Worse than me passed out on the couch?”

Focusing on the incident itself, and not the eye fucking I was reliving only minutes ago, I keep my answer to a minimum. “It was pretty bad.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“I think so. I might be hobbling my way around campus for the next few days, but I’ll make do. Missing today was bad enough.” Putting the laptop down on the table, I raise my leg and bend it toward me before placing it cautiously on the ground. “Did you make it to class today?”

“Don’t start till tomorrow.”

“And your girlfriend?”

“Who?” He looks perplexed.

“The girl from this morning?”

“Oh. That’s Callie,” he says despondently. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Noted.”

Silent again, the usual getting to know you awkwardness ensues. While I appreciate Aiden’s need to apologize, I’m not someone who expects it. I only set rules for myself, everybody else’s business is theirs and I do my best to respect those boundaries.

If people want to spill their secrets, I’ll listen. But I don’t ever ask. All I do is observe, and it’s obvious to see Aiden’s apology is more his way of justifying this morning’s actions to himself, not me.

Feeling like an imposition as he wages a war with himself, I shakily try and stand. Reaching for my laptop, I point to the open door behind me. “I’m going to head into my room and finish listening to this.”

“Oh yeah, sorry, man. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” His face falls and I feel like I’ve kicked a puppy.

“It’s not like that at all. I’m just pissed I missed my first day.” It’s a partial lie, but he buys it. “Maybe we can order pizza tonight?”

“Yes.” He claps his hands together and jumps off the chair. “My treat. An apology.”

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