My thank you for letting me move in.
Thea.
Thea.
My heart skips a beat at her kindness. She doesn’t even know me, yet was kind enough to put a plate away for me. Who does stuff like this? I don’t even bother to look at what’s under the plastic wrap and set the plate in the microwave. I already know I’m going to like it because of the lingering aroma. I watch the time tick down, stopping the clock before the machine beeps and wakes people in the house. The plate is hot, but I don’t care. I’m starving. I don’t even know the last time I had a home-cooked meal.
As soon as I sit down at the small table in the kitchen, the stairs creak. One of the guys is awake, and I can for sure as shit bet they want some of what I have. They can all fuck off. This is mine. I’m about to cover my food protectively when I glance toward the doorway. It’s not one of my roommates . . . well, it is, but the new one.
“Hi,” she says. “I’m Thea. You must be Kyler.”
I’ve never been a fan of my name, yet the way she says it makes me come alive. Thea stands in the doorway between the dining room and kitchen in sweatpants and a Northport hockey T-shirt with her hair piled on top of her head, staring at me, waiting for me to say something.
“Di . . .” I pause and reset. “Did you make this?” My fork points to the heaping pile of lasagna.
She nods and comes into the kitchen. “I did. It’s the least I can do since you guys allowed me to move in.” Thea goes to the cabinet and grabs two glasses. She fills them both with water and then carries them over to where I’m sitting, placing one in front of me.
“Thanks.” I’m not sure what I’m thanking her for, the food or the water.
“I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I’m going to love it.” And I probably would if I could muster a bite, but I’m afraid to take my eyes off of her. I’ve seen Thea at games and even in pictures, but we’ve never met. Honestly, I wish we had because then maybe I wouldn’t feel like my tongue is swollen or my heart is trying to run its own marathon. This woman—no, Jude’s sister—has me tongue-tied and searching for coherent words. I shouldn’t feel this way, because again, she’s my buddy's sister, but if Thea were the one hitting on me at the bar, I’d still be there, fucking her six ways to Sunday.
“If you tell me what kind of foods you like, I can make those for you.”
“You don’t have to cook for me,” I tell her.
“I know, but I want to. I like cooking, and I know Jude eats a ton of junk food, which isn’t good when you guys are in season. Northport has a good chance of winning it all this year. Think of how much faster you’ll be on the ice with a balanced diet.”
“You have a point, but I would feel awkward.”
Thea smiles, and every part of me alights with excitement. “It’s something I want to do. It’s no problem if you don’t have a list. Just know there will always be a plate waiting for you when you come home.” She stands and takes her glass of water with her. “Goodnight, Kyler. It was nice meeting you.”
She gives me a small wave and then disappears. I listen to her footsteps until she’s reached the top floor. Once her door closes, I inhale deeply, absorbing every bit of her she’s left behind.
“I’m so fucked.”
Three
Thea
I walk downthe stairs with a feeling of nervousness and excitement. Today is my first official day at NU. Even though I moved five days ago and have visited campus to pick up my schedule, I’ve not met any of my new classmates yet. I’m excited to start my studies, learn about something I’m passionate about, and put it all to good use in tried and tested recipes for my roommates. But I’m also nervous, as I’m very much aware I’m essentially starting again and joining a class with other new students. Of course, there is the fear I won’t fit in, but I’m hoping we’ll all develop some sort of camaraderie between us.
I can already hear the enthusiastic chatter from the kitchen as I get to the main level. If there’s one thing I’ve learned quickly, it’s the fact my roommates have enough personality to fill a stadium. Well, three of them do. The fourth, I’m still trying to figure out. Nolan is the joker of the group, always coming up with the one-liners and has the ability to instantly put anyone at ease. Devon is his right-hand man, counterbalancing Nolan’s outrageousness with a sense of calm; and then, of course, there’s Jude. Everyone’s friend, confidante, and all-round good guy. I may be biased—he’s my brother after all—but I honestly couldn’t name someone as genuine and loving as Jude. One day, he’ll make a damn good partner and father.
And then we have Kyler: quietly spoken and noticeably absent. I wish I knew more about my fourth roommate, but despite our early morning conversation on my first night here, I’ve not crossed paths with him since. If I was the paranoid type, I’d think he was avoiding me. Always coming home after everyone’s gone to sleep, and leaving before dawn, it’s almost as if he has some kind of secret life when he’s not in school or playing hockey. Or the boys weren’t exaggerating when they said he keeps to himself. He really isn’t the sociable type. Not for the first time, I wonder how a guy like him is friends with the other three—they’re polar opposites in terms of personality. Maybe it’s why their relationship works so well.
As I walk into the kitchen, I’m greeted by the boisterous sound of “Thea!” simultaneously shouted by Nolan, Devon, and Jude. Yet again, Kyler is not with them, and yet again, I am slightly disappointed. It would have been nice to have a house breakfast on our first day, so we can talk about what to expect, plus I need all the good luck vibes I can get. As if sensing my disappointment, Devon explains his absence.
“Don’t take it personally, Thea. Kyler’s never here for any meals. If he wasn’t on the team, I’d forget what he looks like.”
I smile at his reassurance as I reply, “Honestly, if I did not bump into him on my first night, I’d have assumed he was some kind of imaginary friend to the three of you and he doesn’t actually exist.”
“No such luck,” Nolan chips in. “He definitely exists, especially on the ice. If it wasn’t for him, we’d probably be annihilated on a regular basis.”
“Good to know, maybe I should check in with him there to find out if he’ll be joining in any of our household dinners in the future.”
I grab a bowl and some fruit and begin chopping it up before adding it to my granola and yogurt. It might not be the breakfast of champions needed to calm first day nerves, but it works for me.