Page 31 of The Goat in the Bedroom
“You're staring,” Freddie said quietly, appearing at my elbow while the others were distracted by one of Sean's more animated stories.
“What?”
“At Artie. You're staring at her like she's about to disappear.”
I looked down at my drink, suddenly self-conscious. “I'm just... making sure she's having a good time.”
“Uh-huh.” Freddie's tone suggested they weren't buying my explanation. “You know, Jules mentioned that you two have been living together.”
“We're roommates.”
They narrowed their eyes at me. I was getting tired of people doing that. “Right. Roommates who look at each other like that.”
I sighed. Yep. I was going to go through this dance again, because when you know all the names of the streets in hell, why move? “Like what?”
Before they could respond, the group's attention turned back to our conversation.
“What are you two plotting over there?” Parker asked.
“Just discussing the dating scene here,” Freddie said smoothly.
The evening wound down around midnight, with everyone exchanging numbers and making plans for future hangouts. As we gathered our things to leave, Sean pulled me aside.
“This was fun,” he said. “You guys should definitely come to our place for brunch next weekend. I love to put on a spread and introduce old friends to new ones.”
No wonder George and Liam had become fast friends with Sean and Ren. “That sounds great.”
Then Sean gave a subtle nod toward Artie who was saying goodbye to Parker and Freddie. “And remember, some chances don't come around twice.”
I didn't need to ask what he meant. Our car pulled up and we headed home with Sean's warning ringing in my head the whole way.
When we got home, I followed Artie to the front door. I had this crazy energy still flowing through me from the evening and I didn't know what to do with it.
Artie leaned against the front door, waiting for me to get the keys out. “I forgot how much I missed having queer friends who actually get it.”
“I know, right?” She was the one who got me. She always had.
“I get so tired of the weird assumptions people make. The way some people act like you have to pick a side.” She stretched and yawned. “It's nice to just be yourself without having to explain anything.”
I fumbled with the keys, hyperaware of how close she was standing. “That's exactly what I needed too. People who don't care about football or family names, who just... like us for us.”
“See? I told you making new friends in LA wouldn't be as scary as you thought.”
“You were right. As usual.”
I turned to face her, and suddenly we were standing much closer. Close enough that I could see the flecks of silver in her blue eyes, could count the freckles scattered across her nose. I could smell her strawberry shampoo, could feel the warmth radiating from her body in the cool night air.
She looked up at me, and something shifted in her expression. The easy friendliness was still there, but underneath it was something I refused to acknowledge. Not yet.
“Gryff,” she said quietly.
“Yeah?”
For a moment, I thought she was going to say something that would change everything. Something that would make this conversation about more than just friendship and mutual support.
Instead, she reached around me to unlock the door, her arm brushing against my chest as she did. The brief contact sent electricity through me, and I had to resist the urge to pull her closer.
But neither of us moved to actually go inside. We stood there in the doorway, looking at each other, both of us aware that something had almost happened but neither willing to acknowledge what it was.
