Page 9 of Convergence

“Whatever. Ev, you’re coming with me and we are dancing,” she said and pulled him after her. She gave a naughty expression back at me, and my stomach clenched. Why did I feel jealous? It honestly made no sense.

I turned to Nate, who was looking down at me. “I guess it’s only us tonight. Let’s go get a drink,” he said and grabbed my hand as we pushed into the crowded house.

His hand was warm and strong around mine as we weaved through people towards the kitchen. I made note of where the sink was as Nate and I grabbed drinks. Nate filled me a plastic cup with beer from a keg and then one for himself. We headed towards the living room where the music was blaring. I wasn’t much of a dancer, but I would do it if he wanted to. We stopped inside where the music was loudest and looked around, sipping our drinks. I tried to find Ev and Daisy but couldn’t see over the other dancers. Nate was at least a foot taller than me, so he had no difficulty.

“Oh, there they are,” Nate shouted over the music as if he had just spotted them and pointed to the other side of the room.

I looked up at him and shook my head with a little smile.

“You can’t see?” he chuckled. I nodded, and he set our drinks down on the tv stand behind him. Before I knew what was happening, he was lifting me under the arms like baby Simba in The Lion King. Oh, yup, Ev and Daisy were grinding on the other side of the room. Cool.

He set me down and asked, “Did you see them?” like it was any other day he lifted his new roommate and colleague like a child out of a crib after naptime. It seemed like zero effort to him, so I made a questioning look and squeezed his bicep.

He laughed and handed me back my drink. “During the summers I work in inventory for a grocery store.”

I looked him over as his eyes scanned the people in the room. He was wearing a fitted black t-shirt under a blue and white plaid flannel shirt and jeans. He wasn’t wearing a beanie hat like I had predicted would be part of his wardrobe, but a backwards baseball hat with a faded logo I couldn’t read from a foot below him. Nate was handsome in a way that suggested he had no clue about his own appeal. His thick framed glasses reflected the lights of the party and his deep green eyes shone with a shy happiness as he looked around the room. From this angle I could see his long brunette lashes were interspersed with blonde. His evening stubble along his strong jaw was dark and added to his handsomeness.

He looked down at me staring at him, and I startled a bit, realizing I was being awkward. He leaned down and said, “Do you want to grab another drink and go outside?” His breath was hot on my neck as he practically shouted into my ear. I shivered despite myself.

I nodded, and we headed back to the kitchen. Outside in the backyard, we sat at a patio table that had seen better days. I looked up at the stars and sipped my fresh beer. Few were visible this close to downtown Cleveland, and a spotlight was shining into the sky on a rotation.

“I didn’t go to many parties like this earlier in college. I did a few to check them out, but I made some good friends and we partied together, mostly. Video games, pizza, and beer was our typical weekend,” Nate said and sipped his drink.

“Me neither. I went to a few with friends from study groups,” I added.

“Was your idea of a party a late night in the library then?” he teased.

“No,” I giggled. “I had a few acquaintances who were willing to spend time with me outside of the library. They liked when I drank because I could talk more.”

“Do you like talking more when you drink?” he asked, and it felt like he honestly wanted to know my feelings.

I exhaled and considered the question. “I mean, I like feeling more uninhibited with my words. I wish I felt like that all the time. But… when I was in therapy after the accident, they warned me it could be a slippery slope. So, I am careful,” I said and looked away from his gaze.

“That makes sense. And I imagine you feel better in smaller settings?” he asked.

“I would think most people do,” I said in answer. I felt awkward telling him I was a severe introvert and unable to talk.

“Not Daisy,” Nate said good-naturedly.

I smiled. “No, not Daisy. Though I am sorry you didn’t get to dance with her tonight. We could go in and find them again.”

“Nah,” Nate said and shook his head. He finished his drink and leaned back in his chair. “I had wanted to dance and party once while I was here for this project, but now I’d rather chill with you.”

Our eyes met, and I blushed and looked down. “Thank you.”

“It’s going to be an interesting year with her around though, that’s for sure,” he said and smiled. Behind his thick-framed glasses, his eyes were focused on me and seemed to dance when he smiled.

“I dare you to send a selfie the next time she asks,” I said with a grin.

“Ew, like a dick pic in the group chat?” He barked a laugh, his posture still open and relaxed in his chair.

“No! I said selfie! You’re the one with the rotten mind!” I laughed with him.

“I’ll send a dramatic GPOY,” he said, knocking his leg against mine under the table. “Do you remember GPOY? Gratuitous Picture Of Yourself? Like from earlier internet days?”

“I do. I remember it from my time on Tumblr,” I admitted.

“Yes! And LiveJournal. I spent a lot of time on Dungeons and Dragons pages. And Star Wars,” he confessed.

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