Page 47 of Roommate
In the first place, it’s expensive. Also, I’m the guy who usually has the forty-minute commute home. But not tonight. Griff’s in the mood to drink, because his pregnant wife can drive him home, and so we’re playing some kind of stupid drinking game that involves getting me a little drunker every time the guys calling the game use the word “stick.”
“Kieran has to do my shot,” Kyle says. “I’m done drinking for the night.”
“You could crash at your brother’s place,” Griff says. “Is there a spare bed?”
“Nope!” I say sloppily. “There’s barely any furniture at all.”
“Are you going to show us your pad?” Griffin presses.
“Sure,” I say. “After the game.”
When the time comes, I rise unsteadily to my feet. The alcohol is swimming through my bloodstream, leaving me feeling pleasantly loose and carefree. It had been too long since I’d hung out with this crew, and it was nice to just watch TV and talk smack with my brother and cousin.
I thank Zara for having me over. “Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask, giving her what is probably a sloppy grin.
“No.” She laughs. “Go home. Your more sober roommate already scrubbed the chili pot for me. Besides—you helped me out with a little childcare earlier.”
“That was nothing.”
“Don’t say that or I’ll ask you again.”
“You can,” I insist.
She grabs my shoulders and points me toward home. “Drink some water before you go to sleep.”
“Good plan.”
When I step outside, Kyle is puffing on a cigarette. “Two seconds, okay? I need it to wake up.”
“Filthy habit,” I say. Although I’ve been known to smoke after a party. I consider asking my brother for one, but then change my mind. The truth is that I don’t want to sober up right away. It’s nice to feel loose and carefree, for once. Although the cold November air is bracing in a good way, and I feel my head start to clear, regardless.
“Let’s see this place,” Griffin says, exiting Zara’s kitchen door a couple minutes later.
Kyle crushes the cigarette under his boot. “Cool. Let’s do it.”
“Pick that up,” I insist. “Don’t litter in my hood.”
With an eye roll, Kyle bends over to retrieve his butt, and then follows me across the yard and up the front path.
“Nice house,” Griff says.
“I couldn’t afford it if I were paying the market rate,” I admit, unlocking the front door.
“You need chairs on this porch,” my brother says.
“It can wait. I need a hell of a lot more than that.”
When we step into the living room, they chuckle at its barrenness. “You’ve got the couch,” Griff says. “But no TV?”
“Later,” I grunt. It’s not like I ever have time to sit down.
I show them the kitchen, where I spend a lot of my time, anyway. I toss my keys and phone onto the counter. Then I realize I still have Roderick’s in my other pocket, so I set it down where he’ll find it later.
“Hey,” Kyle says. “You didn’t tell me your roommate was a queer dude. Isn’t that kind of weird for you?”
Everything inside me sort of freezes up.
“Jesus.” Griffin gives Kyle a non-serious slap to the side of the head. “Don’t be that guy. What does Kieran care?”
