Page 67 of Do You Even Hex, Bro?
Sean in particular looks like he might explode. I've known him since freshman year, and I've never seen him this disciplined. He only makes three bad jokes, which for him is practically monastic.
"So, what's your verdict?" I ask as Regina finishes sampling each pizza. "Which one wins?"
She considers, taking a sip of her beer. "I think they're all good in different ways."
"Oh, come on," Sean groans. "That's a copout."
Reinga frowns, but there's a glimmer of frustrated amusement in her eyes.
"That is pretty diplomatic," Killian observes, a smile playing at his lips.
"Sean has a point," Rowan says. "We need a clear winner here."
Regina sighs dramatically. "Fine. The buffalo chicken with jalapeños. It has a nice kick."
The three of us collectively groan. Sean, on the other hand, lets out a fucking whoop. He's never been a gracious loser, but as a winner, he's downright insufferable.
"Knew it! Who's the pizza champ?"
"There'll be no living with him now," Rowan says dryly, taking a sip of his fancy foreign beer.
Regina laughs.
It’s the most magical sound I've ever heard. A sound I immediately decide to devote my life to hearing as much as possible. Judging from the way the others fall silent, even Sean mid-preening, they're having the same experience.
The conversation flows surprisingly easily after that. We keep it light—campus geography, local restaurants, nothing too personal or heavy. I find myself studying Regina when she's not looking my way. The tiny crease between her brows when she's thinking. The way she tucks her hair behind her ear when she's about to speak. The cautious animation that enters her voice when she talks about something that interests her.
At one point, she mentions needing to change her phone number, and Sean perks up like a hunting dog spotting prey.
"Hey! We should add you to the pack group chat," he says enthusiastically.
Regina hesitates. "Group chat…?”
"It's how we communicate when we're not together," I explain. "Class schedules, pack business, memes. Mostly memes, if I'm honest."
"Somany memes," Rowan confirms with a long-suffering sigh. "And occasionally, unsolicited dick pics from Sean."
"Hey! That was one time and it was an accident!" he bellows.
"How do youaccidentallysend a dick pic?" Regina asks warily.
"Oh. I uh?—"
"He was trying to send it to his doctor," I chime in before Sean can come up with a lie. “He thought his knot wasn’t going to go down.”
"Traitor," Sean mutters under his breath. "For the record, it?—"
Regina holds up a hand. “Nope, that's okay. I really don't need to know.”
"Fair," Sean says, taking another swig of his beer.
"I guess it would make sense to have each other's numbers, at least until I can get a new one," she says carefully. "As long as there are absolutelyzerodick pics."
"Deal," Sean says enthusiastically.
Regina pulls her phone from her pocket, unlocking it and offering it to Killian. "Here."
"Sweet!" Sean crows. "We just scored our mate's number!"
