Page 86 of Devilry

“Only two drinks. I have an early class tomorrow,” I lie.

“Bullshit,” Aiden calls out from his room before coming up behind Callie. “You think I don’t know your schedule by heart already?”

I roll my eyes. “You’re creepy.”

He winks at me. “Most people like it.”

“Let me have a quick shower, then I’ll come join you.” I grab my towels and toiletries off my bed and head to the bathroom. “You think the pizza could be here before I get out?”

“Already ordered.” Callie smiles.

In half an hour, I’ve scrubbed the long day off my skin and I’m stuffing my face with pepperoni pizza.

“So, you seem a little different lately,” Callie probes.

“Yeah, man,” Aiden agrees with a mouth full of food. “Ever since Callie mentioned it to me, I can definitely see it.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re lighter,” she exclaims. “Carefree. Dare I even say, happier?”

“I’ve always been happy,” I protest. Maybe not as happy as I am right now, but being around them and attending King, I definitely don’t think I’ve beenunhappy.

“Did you meet someone?” Aiden interrogates.

“No,” I blurt out a little too quickly.

They give one another a conspiratorial look. “You would tell us, wouldn’t you?”

“If there was anything to tell, of course.” I play cool for the whole exchange, even though inside I’m disappointed that I can’t tell them. What’s the point in finally having friends if you’re still hiding things from them?

“That’s enough about me, what’s new with you two?” I divert.

“Before we get to that uneventful part of the night,” Aiden says. “What are we doing for your birthday?”

“Do we have to do anything?” I groan. “I’d rather we didn’t bother.”

“It’s not an option, Eli,” he says nonchalantly. “Pick somewhere you like, or I’m choosing to host it at gay bar.”

“What is your obsession with taking me to a gay bar?”

“Dude, you’re recently out and you’ve never been in a room full of sweaty, hot, and horny guys. It’s some top-notch stuff.”

“I’m not recently out,” I scoff.

“Really? Out of the words hot and horny guys, you’re going to focus on the fact that I said you’re recently out?”

“Well, I’m not,” I pout petulantly. “I just like to keep it to myself.”

“Come and troll for dick with me.”

I want to wipe that smug, self-assured smirk off his face and tell him I am very content with the dick that I could be getting tonight, if I wasn’t sitting here and arguing with him.

“We can go out,” I concede. “To dinner and then come back home. Those are my conditions.”

Aiden’s mouth is just about to open and argue with me when Callie warns him. “Aiden. Let it go. Dinner is perfect.”

He glares at her and she rolls her eyes before giving me an unexpected kiss on the cheek. “As long as we get to celebrate with you, that’s all that matters.”

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