My best friend licks his lips and shrugs, causing me to sigh. “Gross. Did you at least wash your hands? Gargle with mouthwash? Vaginas are icky.”
August chuckles and nudges me. “Yeah, that’s your opinion, man, but I did. Don’t worry. Wouldn’t want to offend your delicate sensibilities.”
His eyes flick across the crowded room, and I follow his gaze and see a dark-haired, tattooed guy sitting on the couch, making out with two girls.
“Why’s Emery here?” I ask, and August huffs in irritation.
“My mom asked me to lug him around.”
“Don’t you guys like, not get along?”
August runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “Yeah, well, what am I supposed to do? Tell her no? It would break her heart. She wants us to be friends. At least he’s occupied and leaving me the hell alone.”
I eye Emery and watch as he slants his head and licks into one girl’s mouth. It’s kind of obscene what he’s doing with those lips of his.
“Oh Jesus, stop looking,” August grumbles and tugs me away. “Let’s not talk about him or ogle him. He’s not what I want to be focusing on.”
“And what do you want to focus on?”
“How about the fact that I saw your Viking here.”
“He’s not my Viking, and don’t remind me,” I groan and slap a hand onto my forehead. “He’s everywhere. Everywhere! I should have never accepted that ride home from him. That was a huge mistake. I’m never going to escape him now. I’m going to be ninety years old, and Sem will be lurking around the backyard of my senior care facility.”
August chuckles and ruffles my hair.
“Excuse me,” I say with irritation. “My hair is a masterpiece. Took ages to get it perfect. Do not ruin it any further.”
“Colin isn’t even here, so why do you care what you look like?” August asks with a sly smile. “You trying to impress Sem now, huh?” He waggles his eyebrows at me, and I flick his nipple.
He hisses.
“Of course not! And Colin isn’t here because he’s a single dad. He wouldn’t be at a stupid college frat party at ten at night. He has more important matters to deal with, like his son. Or working on some important lecture for class. And you know what? I’m jealous of him right now. Why are we here again? I never liked frat parties, they remind me too much of my brothers.”
I shudder at the thought of making out with someone who even vaguely resembles them.
“You’re here because you love me. And tell me again why you’re so into that guy, Colin? Because he doesn’t even notice you.”
“Whatever. He will. All in good time.”
August snorts. “Sure, Mag. Whatever you say. You’re like the least patient person I know, but hey, maybe tomorrow in yoga, the man of your dreams will finally turn your way. You’ll meet his eyes and end up barefoot and pregnant.”
I arch an eyebrow at my best friend. “Maybe I will. But the better question is willyoube there tomorrow morning after tonight? Because you look like you imbibed a little too much.”
“Sure will,” he says and then presses a hand to the small of his back. “My back’s still killing me since the accident. Gotta work out the kinks so I can keep on playing ball, and you know…fucking all the hotties.”
“You better not be lying to me,” I say, poking him in the chest.
“I swear on our friendship that I’ll be there no matter what I get myself into tonight. OrwhoI get myself into.”
I press my fingers into my ears and shake my head. I do not need to know about any of his sexual exploits. Nope. No, thank you.
August and I met each other freshman year after being placed in the same dorm room. We hit it off, despite being different in so many ways. He’s straight; I’m gay. He’s tall; I’m short. He’s a jock; I’m a geek. But the one area we intersect is the two of us are elementary education majors. We just finished up our senior year of college last month, and next year we will complete our teaching credentials. In the meantime, we both work at a daycare and are currently facilitating our own classes for summer camp. I’m in a classroom with the kindergartners, and he’s with the third graders.
And despite being extremely good-looking in that boy-next-door way, I have zero interest in him. Nada. Zilch.
“Hey, I know. Maybe tomorrow, if we show up early to yoga class, we can get a spot right in front of Colin, and he’ll have the perfect view of your tiny ass. You can show him how bendy you are. Might actually notice you exist after seeing how you can fold yourself in half.”
I roll my eyes. “You are aterriblefriend. Why do I even like you?”