Page 53 of Overtime
I shake my head. I saw Aran with one girl near the cafeteria once, like a year ago. They were tangled in a very public display of affection where I saw a whole game of tonsil hockey. I remember being stunned at first that they didn’t care who may be watching. But then I figured two super-hot people probably wanted to pounce on each other all the time. Because the girl was leggy, with a tiny waist and a huge behind—which one of his hands had been dangerously close to. The other one was lost in the confines of her black hair. And she had the whole air of a girl who had her pick of guys.
I couldn’t even get a kiss like that from the one guy who showed some interest in me in the past. And he was a normal-looking guy in the creative writing program too, not some Roman statue come to life.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Ryan continues, “In fact, my concern is quite the opposite.”
“Huh?”
She observes me in silence for a moment, so I finish up fastening my fanny pack around my waist and grab my scarf. This one’s white, like my Doc Martens. I’m wearing faded blue jeans from Torrid that don’t stab into my gut, and I’ll wrap myself and the look up with a thick down coat in a cream color and a white knit beanie with bunny ears. Nothing about this outfit screams date.
“I’ve never seen that stubborn ass open up to a girl the way he’s done with you.”
I wind the scarf around my neck as I say, “That’s because I give him no choice but to talk. Because he’s obviously not going to use his mouth for anything else with a girl who is not his type.”
“Puh-lease.” She unfolds her legs from under her and gets up, passing me my coat before I can reach it from the chair. “You have the smile of an angel. I’ve already seen it getting him to do things he’s never done for anyone else.”
“Ryan, we arefriends. That’s all.”
“No, you’re friends with Archie and the others, but it’s different with Aran. He’s not like this with anyone else.”
I’m fully dressed to brave the February cold, and it’s warm in the apartment, but I stand in my room observing my roommate. Aside from the few jokes in the conversation, she’s been pretty serious throughout. And even though Aran is waiting in his car, I need to ask.
“Um, don’t get me wrong, but… why are you so worried about this?” I bite my lip and play with the zipper of my coat. “Do you still have feelings for him or something?”
“Ha!” Ryan shakes her head. “Okay, I’ll answer the second question first. Do you wanna know why Aran and I didn’t work out?”
“If you want to share, sure.”
I am low-keydyingto know. But I’m trying to act chill and not freak her out.
“Because we weren’t interested in each other that way. Him, because he’s been incapable of forming a deep connection with a single one of the many girls he’s dated. And me because I realized while being with him that I’m ace and aro.”
My eyes go wide. “Oh.”
“So I’m asking because I’m worried he will break your heart like he’s done with almost every girl, and then I’ll have to murder him.”
My chest fills up with something warm that rushes up my face and to my eyes. I rush forward and give her a big hug. “Thank you for being my friend, Ryan.”
She pats my back. “We can still make this a party of three, you know.”
“I know.” I pull away, wrinkling my nose as I mull over that scenario. “But if I change the plan at the last minute, he’ll suspect something’s up. The last thing I want is for him to think I may have feelings for him.”
“Do you?”
“No, it was hypothetical. Besides,” I add with a shrug. “This is so not a date that we’re not going to the big outdoor ice rink, but to his former elementary school. We’ll be surrounded by little kids and families, and not by smoochy couples. It’s the least romantic skating date ever.”
“So you admit it’s a date, huh?” She elbows me.
I huff. “It’s not!”
“I’m just teasing.” With shocking strength, she turns me around by my shoulders and pushes me to the front door of the apartment. “Go enjoy your private humiliation with your friend who you definitely have no feelings for.”
“Ryan…”
“And also, protect your head if you fall. Unless you want him to stay awake the whole night with you like last weekend. Which I’m sure he did out of the goodness of his heart.”
I open the front door and turn over my shoulder with a grumpy expression. “Stop teasing me.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
