Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Though, there’s a difference between being confident and arrogant. Take, for example, my housemate Carson, who scrutinizes me as I grab a paper plate. I recognize him from my Gender Politics class because his hand was always raised and he liked to argue with the professor. I don’t mention we shared that class, nor does he, likely because he was too self-absorbed to notice. Or maybe I’m not giving him a fair enough shake and he’s different once you get to know him. Like it is with Austin. He’s pretty quiet until he’s comfortable with someone.
As soon as we’re all seated and eating around the table, I relax. Even more so when Craig introduces himself and Milo throws me a smirk like it’s our inside joke. Everyone is nice and welcoming, even Carson, so maybe the decision to move in with these guys will end up being exactly what I’ve hoped for. Even if I do miss Austin.
2
AUSTIN
By the end of the week, I have to admit it’s lonely without Dex. He’s such a big part of my life that my thoughts are consumed with what he’s up to every minute—outside of our frequent texts.
Though I have a sneaking suspicion I know exactly what he’s up to. Dex has always been a social person, and I can picture him kissing babies and running for office someday. He has this charismatic personality everyone gravitates toward, so he’s likely hanging out with all his new housemates. I briefly met Milo and Ian when I helped carry the first batch of boxes over, and they seemed nice.
I can’t help wondering if any of the guys are gay and might eventually hook up with Dex. It could prove awkward living in the same house after something like that. Not that Dex will mind. He’s left plenty of enchanted men in his wake. He makes himself clear with hookups upfront. But while he’s good at the art of flirting and seduction, he’s woefully bad at relationships and connections, at least in the romance department.
I, on the other hand, am sort of obsessed with romance books and romantic comedies. I know what I want, but I’m way too shy and self-conscious to follow through. And don’t even get me started on dating apps and those uncomfortable encounters.
I close my laptop and slide off my bed. There are some perks to having the room all to myself, and apparently, the poli sci gods graced me with this one. I use the extra space to stack my books and odds and ends.
I can also jerk off more with Dex gone—which he thinks I never do.
Plus, the room has remained tidy. Dex is like a human tornado, collecting things as he goes. He even snatched one of my hoodies by mistake, but something about him having it comforts me. Like a reminder that I’m still with him.
Guess I’m feeling a bit sappy about this whole arrangement.
Dex and I’ve always had mostly different interests, but they intersect where it matters, like gaming and snacking. We grew up in the same suburb outside of San Diego, and though we were friendly in grade school, we didn’t really connect until we were both members of the same after-school group in middle school. There, we realized we had something else in common besides being gay and the aforementioned gaming and snacking. Our parents were divorced, and we both lived with our moms though at the time I was being shuffled back and forth between my parents.
There were lots of feelings that came with all that baggage, and we turned to each other for support. My parents’ constant bickering frayed my nerves, and Dex’s father was always canceling on him until one day, the visits stopped completely. Dex hasn’t seen him since.
My mom remarried when I was in high school, and though my stepdad’s great, it was hard to accept for a while. So yeah, having Dex around as a sounding board has been great.
A sharp knock startles me. Maybe it’s the RA or Dex, surprising me. I open the door to find a short, thin dude with black hair, a lip ring, and ripped jeans. “Hi, I’m Kael.”
“Can I help you with something?”
He glances over my shoulder. “I’m, uh…your new roommate.”
“Wait, what? I thought I scored a single.”
“Last-minute placement.” He bites his lip nervously. “Housing said they emailed you.”
“Shit, I guess I haven’t checked my messages in a while.” Well, there goes that plan. I open the door wider. “Well, come on in.”
He hesitates before he walks inside, and I wonder if he’s even more timid than me.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asks once I close the door.
“What do you mean?” Do I have a choice?
“Housing told me you checked the box on your application…the one that says gender is not an issue for you.”