Page 31 of Broken Hearts
“That’s enough,” I cut her off. “Please don’t embarrass me.”
“So modest. Another great attribute,” she says as she gets to her feet. “I’ll see you later?” Ginny asks Sienna.
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Hope so!” Ginny bounces to Heath and jumps on his back before they disappear down the hallway.
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. They seem nice.”
“Wanna watch a movie or something?” I’ve never invited a girl over to the apartment to hang out. Well, unless you count Carrie and the two times she visited. But that was different. We were already together.
“Sure.”
While I flip through the channels, she leans back on the couch until her shoulder rests against my chest. I sink farther behind her, taking advantage of the position and getting closer.
We decide on Aquaman and settle in just as the front door opens. Mav walks through with his dog Charli in one arm, a bag of groceries in the other.
“Hey-o!” he calls, shutting the door behind him with a foot. “Sienna! What’s up?”
“Just hanging out. You live here too?”
“Nah, downstairs.”
The door opens again, this time Dakota steps through it. “All I have is apple cider vinegar,” she says to Mav. Then she looks at the room and waves to Sienna and me.
“She and Reagan live across the breezeway,” I explain, then ask them, “What are you guys doing here?”
“We’re grilling,” Mav says with a duh expression.
“Well, can you do it quieter? We’re watching a movie.”
“Oooh.” Dakota’s eyes light up. “I love this movie.” She sets the vinegar on the kitchen counter and sits with us. “Rhett, that shirt looks great on you.” Her gaze rakes over me which is super weird. I legit don’t think Dakota has ever complimented me before.
“Uhh….” I glance down at my plain black T-shirt. “Thanks, I guess.”
“It really brings out the gray in your eyes.”
“You do have great eyes,” Mav calls from the kitchen.
What the hell is going on? I realize now why my roommates spend so much time in their bedrooms when their girlfriends are over. It’s like a bus station in here with people coming and going, interrupting and acting fucking weird.
Mav stacks plates, meat, and seasoning into his arms. “Food will be ready in about forty minutes. Are you staying, Sienna?”
She looks to me.
“Maverick is a pretty good cook,” I tell her.
“Pretty good?” He scoffs. Charli barks at his feet.
“I guess now I have to stay to find out.”
Dakota stands and flips her red hair over one shoulder. “I better go supervise.”
“Worried about me?” Mav asks her.
“Worried that you’ll burn the place down and take my apartment with it.”
