“It’s been known to happen from time to time.” She holds her camera up to the screen, taking a picture of Heartless Engagement queued up ready to play. “Dare to dream, Dal. It’s chick flick central up in here and it’s all under your account.”
The guys left a few hours ago for their first road trip of the year. Now I’m curled up on the living room couch with Bailey and Siobhan. It’s only seven o’clock and we’re already in our pajamas, stuffing ourselves with Chinese takeout while we debate which movie to watch first.
I can’t remember the last time I stayed in on a weekend. It’s kind of nice. Even though it might not be how I usually spend my Friday nights, I’m having fun, and contrary to what I expected, I don’t even have the slightest hint of FOMO. Much as I love Abby, I desperately needed a break from her and the party scene.
A second later, her phone vibrates in her hand, and she cackles. “He said, ‘I’m going to spank you when I’m back.’”
“Sounds like an incentive to keep misbehaving.”
“Right?” Siobhan sets aside her phone and grabs her chicken chow mein off the coffee table. She tucks her legs beneath her, gesturing with her chopsticks. “If anything, I need to step up my game. It’ll keep things interesting for when he gets home.”
Despite my generally cynical view of college dating, I have to admit their relationship is cute. They’re reportedly nine months in and still seem to have fun together. My brother and Bailey seem pretty perfectly matched, too.
Too bad those are both unicorn relationships. The exception, not the norm.
“Speaking of that, you should’ve seen the text Chase sent—” Bailey catches herself and buries her face in her palms, her voice muffled. “Oh my god, that’s your brother. I’m sorry. I’d rather die than hear about Derek in that context. Forget I said anything, please.” The tips of her ears turn red, burning so bright they nearly match her crimson Falcons hoodie.
Siobhan pats her back soothingly. “Aww, it’s okay. Chase has corrupted you a little, that’s all.”
Or corrupted her a lot, by the sounds of it. Even with my bedroom on the main floor, noises travel—and I’ve heard some things I wish I hadn’t over the past couple of days. But good on Bailey for getting hers because from what I know, her ex was a total piece of shit.
“All good,” I tell her, reaching for my sesame shrimp. “I’ll pretend he’s not my brother any time you mention it. It’ll be the first rule of Sleepover Club.”
Bailey reluctantly drops her hands, but she still looks mortified. “Thanks, Sera.” She slides off the couch and stands, avoiding eye contact. “I need to pee. Be right back.”
Siobhan and I watch her leave, exchanging an amused look. Bailey’s slip of the tongue bothered her a thousand times more than it did me. Brother factor aside, I’m not one to judge what consenting adults do in their spare time. I mean, I did have sex with a stranger in a nightclub bathroom.
To my left, a new message pops up on my phone.
Abby: The Kappa girls are waiting for your application! They can’t wait to have you as a member.
Sera: Sorry, Abbs. I completely spaced on that. Been swamped with school and unpacking, but I’ll get to it as soon as I can.
Abby: Are you sure you don’t want to come out? You’re missing an amazing party. Lots of hot guys…
Sera: Maybe tomorrow. Girls’ night in tonight. You know, bonding with my brother’s girlfriend and all that.
Abby: Buzzkill.
Considering I’ve gone out with her nearly every night this week, calling me a “buzzkill” over a single evening is hardly accurate. I’ve been to some of the local bars so much the staff are already starting to learn my name. Irritated, I lock the screen and toss my cell aside without replying.
“Tell me, is it weird living with Tyler?” Siobhan asks, nudging me with her elbow.
“Weird?” The word comes out as a squeak, several octaves too high. I certainly sound weird. Drawing in a breath, I try to normalize my voice. “No, why would it be?”
She laughs, tucking a lock of glossy raven hair behind her ear. “I stayed here briefly after there was a fire at my old place, and I don’t think he spoke more than a handful of sentences to me the entire time I was here.”
“Ty isn’t rude,” Bailey interjects, sinking onto the sofa next to me. “He’s just quiet. Don’t scare Sera.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. Tyler’s a bit of a dark horse, that’s all. Hard to get to know.”
“He’s been nice so far.” I cram an entire shrimp in my mouth at once so I have an excuse to stop talking.
“I’m sure the fact that you’re gorgeous helps.” Her mouth tugs, her blue-green eyes glinting. “You know, I bet you two would look cute together…”
I saw us in the mirror on Halloween and can confirm we look great together, especially with him between my legs.
For a brief, insane moment, I wish I could tell them the truth about what happened with Tyler. But I know I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to ask either of them to keep that a secret.
Bailey playfully pokes Siobhan in the ribs. “Shiv! Stop, you’re such an enabler.” Fighting a smile, she leans forward and takes the last eggroll from the carton.
“He’s hot,” I admit. “But even if you remove the roommate part of the equation, I think Chase’s head would explode if anything happened between me and one of his friends.”
Still chewing her bite of eggroll, Bailey presses her lips into a line and nods emphatically, verifying what I already know. My brother would go nuclear.
“Probably, hey?” Siobhan muses. “As an only child, I didn’t even think about the whole brother factor. Plus, Chase is overprotective of people he cares about. Like both of you.”
I’m all too aware, which is why I deliberately shield him from certain details about my life. Even with good intentions, his execution is misguided at times. None of the guys in our high school dared to come within ten feet of me, and I ended up losing my virginity to Rob. Not saying that was Chase’s fault, but his attempt to protect me was a little futile.
“Tyler isn’t exactly relationship material anyway,” Bailey points out.
Good thing that’s not what I want him for.
Knowing better than to say that out loud, I lean over and snag a throw blanket from a wicker basket next to the couch instead. I’m convinced Siobhan or Bailey must have purchased some of the décor around the house. There are a few feminine touches scattered around, like the vanilla-scented candle above the fireplace and the matching hand towels in the bathrooms.
Siobhan shrugs. “I guess that depends if you buy into the whole Taxi Cab Theory.”
“Taxi Cab Theory?” Bailey echoes, her forehead creasing.
“Taxi-what?” I ask.
“It’s from Sex and The City. I was binging re-runs over winter break. Anyway, according to the theory, men are like taxis: when they’re available, their light goes on. They wake up one day and decide they’re ready to settle down, so they commit to the next suitable partner that comes along. By that logic, someone could have a ‘one that got away’ simply because the timing wasn’t right.” Siobhan pauses, taking a sip of her ice water.