Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
He knew exactly what movie to put on—The A-Team. Lots of explosions, ridiculous chases, and funny banter. He pressed play on the movie, and they dug into the pizza. It might have been lukewarm, but it still tasted amazing. Luke was going to offer to stick in the oven to warm it up, but they were both shoveling in pieces so fast that it didn’t seem important any longer.
They polished off the pizza with relative ease and sat back, chatting through the movie. During the many times they leaned up to get their drinks and then sat back again, they might have inched closer together. So close that their shoulders brushed. Luke froze on the outside while butterflies took flight in his stomach. It was almost impossible to pay attention to the exciting climax of the movie now. Matteo was close enough that Luke could smell the faded notes of his cologne mixed with the lingering scent of pizza sauce and cheese.
As the credits rolled, Luke began to panic. What now? Matteo’s shoulder wasn’t merely brushing his, but it was pressing into it. Their arms were touching! If he moved, that would all end. If he were brave, though, he could lean toward Matteo and kiss him, but he wasn’t that brave. Not even close.
“So…um…” Matteo started, at least sounding like he was in the same indecisive boat as Luke. “Do you have some studying you want to get done?”
That’s right! He wanted to use Luke’s house as a quiet location to study. He’d totally forgotten.
“Oh, wait! It’s Friday!” Matteo smacked his forehead, and Luke barely stopped his hand from shooting out to rub that spot for him. “You probably have no interest in studying today.”
“No, I wouldn’t mind getting some reading done,” Luke said. “I’ve got an enormous collection of books I need to work through. Do you want to study for a while?”
Matteo’s sunny smile returned in a heartbeat. “Yeah. I mean, if you wouldn’t mind. Should we read here…? I know your roommates are giving us some space, but I’d hate to take up a common area like this.”
“We could study in the library. Ogos is usually the only one who hangs out in there, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Or…we could read in my room. We’d be out of the way in there.”
“Yeah, that sounds great! Besides, I’d love to see your room.”
Luke huffed a little laugh. “Don’t get your hopes up too high. There’s not much to it. Just a lot of books and notes for my thesis. Pretty boring.”
“What? You don’t have a flock of plush birds on your bed?” Matteo teased as he helped gather up the pizza box and used napkins. He accompanied Luke to the kitchen, where they disposed of their garbage and refreshed their drinks. After a quick pit stop in the family room to grab their bookbags and coats, they trekked up the stairs.
“All my roommates have rooms here,” Luke explained as they crossed the second floor. “Not much to see except for the bathroom.” Which he remembered to point out in case Matteo needed to use it. “My room is in the attic.”
“Whoa…lots of stairs, but private, right?”
“Definitely.”
“Um…so…are you dating anyone?”
Luke’s foot slipped off the stair he’d just stepped on, and he barely managed to slam his hand against the wall to keep from face-planting. He had not been expecting Matteo to ask him that. He cleared his throat and continued. “Watch that step. It’s…slippery. Uh…dating? No, I’m not dating anyone. I don’t have much time for it.”
“Oh. Yeah. You’re busy with your thesis and classes,” Matteo replied.
Why did he sound so disappointed?
Fuck! Was he interested?
“What I mean is that I’d love to date. Like to, I mean. I’ve quit two of my jobs. My landlord is paying me to help keep up with the house, so I’m hoping to have a lot more time on my hands now. For dating, that is. Are you dating anyone?”
And of course, when he blurted out that last question, he had just reached the top of the stairs, so he spun around and practically shouted it in Matteo’s face.
Dear fucking God and all the damn demons listening to him through the walls, could he be more awkward than this? He would have to ask Azroth if he was cursed or born under a cursed star, because normal people couldn’t be this awkward.
Somehow, Matteo didn’t seem to notice. The young man with the rich dark eyes and beautiful hair smiled at him, staring like he hung every star in the night sky for him.
“No, I’m not dating anyone right now.”
“Cool. Cool.” Luke murmured and forced himself to take a step back so Matteo could finish coming up the stairs. He waved one hand at the room while running a critical eye over everything. It wasn’t too messy, but only because he didn’t have a lot of stuff. “This is my place.”