Page 9 of Cold Front
Get it together, Eli.
I stole another look, pretending to take a sip of my drink. He wasn’t just standing there awkwardly—he was watching. Taking everything in. His gaze skimmed over the room like he was looking for someone or deciding if this whole thing was worth his time.
A couple of girls near the drinks table noticed him too. One nudged the other, murmuring something before tilting her head toward him. A moment later, they made their move. One, a tall brunette in a cropped sweater, approached first, her smile coy. She tucked her hair behind her ear as she leaned in slightly, clearly saying something meant just for him.
I felt something sharp and unfamiliar in my chest.
I ignored it.
Niall didn’t exactly encourage the attention, but he didn’t shut it down either. He answered, brief but polite, and she laughed at whatever he said, her hand grazing his arm.
I looked away.Not my business.
Turning back to my own night, I let myself sink into the familiar rhythm of meeting new people. It had always been easy for me—smiling, slipping into conversations, laughing at ridiculous things. I moved through the party like I belonged, because I did.
At one point, I found myself in a circle of students trading horror stories about the worst professors on campus. Then it was a debate over the best late-night food spots near campus. I met a guy from my accounting class, a girl who invited me to a game night later in the week. It was fun. Effortless.
Still, no matter how at ease I was, I couldn’t help but be aware of my roommate. Of where he stood, who he was talking to. I never sought him out, not really, but every so often, my gaze landed on him like a reflex I couldn’t shake.
I was in the middle of a conversation when a flicker of movement near the drink station caught my eye. Niall was talking to a couple of guys now. He stood out, even in a crowd, like he didn’t quite belong yet couldn’t be ignored.
I forced myself to focus on the group around me, on the laughter, on the moment. Because this was what I’d wanted—a fresh start, new connections.
And yet…
For a split second, an old ache crept in. A reminder of what I’d left behind. Back home, I’d had friends. Good friends. People I’d known for years, long before my ex. They made me laugh, had my back. But one by one, I let them slip away. It was easier that way—less complicated, less drama. Anything to keep the guy I thought I loved happy.
Not that it had worked.
I took a sip of my drink, pushing the thought aside.
“You down for trivia?” Asher asked, pulling me back to the moment.
“Trivia?” I echoed, glad for the excuse to focus on something else.
“Yeah,” Gigi said. “They’ve got a game going in the side room. We’re going. Are you coming?”
I hesitated, stealing one more glance toward the door where Niall stood. He’d stepped inside now, blending into the edges of the crowd. No one approached him, and he didn’t seem to want them to.
“Eli?” Gigi prompted, raising a brow.
“Yeah, sure,” I said quickly. “I’m in.”
The trivia room was quieter but no less lively. Tables were scattered across the space, and small groups of students were already buzzing with anticipation. The host, a guy with a booming voice and an over-the-top energy, was hyping up the crowd with promises of university merch for the winners.
We grabbed a table near the middle. Gigi wasted no time declaring herself team captain, while Asher rolled his eyes and claimed he was only here for moral support.
The first few rounds passed in a blur of pop culture, geography, and random campus trivia. Gigi dominated, rattling off answers before anyone else could blink. I got a couple right, but mostly, I just enjoyed the back-and-forth, the easy camaraderie.
Still, in the moments between questions, my mind wandered.
I couldn’t see Niall from here, but I kept thinking about him. About the way people eventually gravitated toward him, drawn in even when he didn’t ask them to be. About the way that girl had touched his arm, effortless, like she belonged there.
The thought unsettled me for reasons I couldn’t quite name.
When the host called for a break, Asher and Gigi immediately launched into a debate about which actor played the most iconic Batman. I took the opportunity to slip away, pretending I needed a drink.
Back in the main hall, I spotted Niall again.
