Page 49 of Darkness Defined

“Nope.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Gonna tell him?”

“Not planning on it.”

Rubio shook his head and took a deep breath. “I don’t envy you. That’s gotta be torture.”

“Eh.” I shrugged. “It’s not all bad. We’re friends at least.”

“Sure you are.”

I scoffed. “Just friends. He’s straight.”

“You seem awful sure of that. Have you asked him? I mean, you haven’t told him about you. Seems like you’re assuming to me.”

“Pretty sure I would have picked up on it by now if he wasn’t.”

Rubio tilted his head to the side and gave me a considering look. “Does he talk about other people—girls—bring any by the dorm?”

I shifted my weight. “Well, no. But he also seems kind of new? to all of this. Could be he’s trying to get settled.”

“You say so.” Rubio stepped closer and passed me the books of mine he’d been holding. “Just saying, you miss a hundred percent of the chances you don’t take.”

“What are you, a feel-good poster now?”

He laughed. “Fair. But if you tire of chasing after the straight guy, my offer still stands. And my roommate is more than game to play. He’s a wyvern, you see, and he’s got this wicked long tongue and when he—”

“Whoa, I’m gonna stop you right there. That’s more about your personal life than I need to know, boss.”

“Pft. None of that ‘boss’ shit. We’re a casual thing, nothing serious, and you’re absolutely my guy’s type.” Rubio gave me a slow once over that gave me chills. For an outrageous second, I was actually tempted to take him up on the offer. Maybe not the threesome part, but at least the hooking up. It would be nice to kiss someone, to be touched, craved the way I craved Matt.

“Alex!” Matt picked up his pace, quickly eliminating our space for this conversation.

“Really,” Rubio deadpanned.

I shot him a look and waved to Matt so he’d know I heard him. “Shut up. As for the other…” I hesitated.

Rubio squeezed my shoulder. “Hey, no pressure, really. I like you, but if you’re not into it, you’re not into it. Just know you’ve got options if you give up on your ‘probably straight’ roommate.”

I relaxed and offered him a smile. “You’re a good guy. Thanks. I appreciate it. That’s just… not quite my speed.”

“Understood. Good luck with your day, Alexi.” Rubio gave me a warm smile before turning on his heel and walking off. I watched him go, biting the inside of my cheek while debating whether I’d made the right choice.

“Hey, who was that?”

I turned my focus to Matt, per usual, standing a little too close. Rubio’s assessment that I might be jumping to conclusions about Matt’s sexuality played in my mind. Would it be wrong to ask? Would it scare him away? Or bring him closer? Fully prepared to throw caution to the wind, I opened my mouth. “That was Rubio. He’s in charge of the tutoring group I joined.” And… totally chickened out.

“Huh.” Matt stared after Rubio, then shifted his gaze to the books he’d handed me. “He seems… nice.”

I pushed any lingering temptation to delve into Matt’s preferences away. “He is. The whole crew is. There’s about eight of us, including Rubio, though only five were here today. I confess, I’m really relieved we all mesh so well. I was kind of worried given I’m the newest member and the youngest. Not exactly vetted.”

“They’re all older?” Once more, Matt was staring off in the direction Rubio had vanished.

“Uh… yeah. I’m not exactly sure of their ages, but they’re upperclassmen, at least.”

Matt seemed to shake off whatever funk he’d fallen under. “That’s cool, I guess. You done for the day?”

“Yep. Just need to drop these by the dorm, and I’m a free man. Why? Were you wanting to study together?”