I show her the options, including all the other gaming systems. Between my roommates and me, we have pretty much every system and game out there. Sienna picks Mario Kart, and my dick finally gets the idea that we’re not getting any action today. He’s had to accept that a lot. I’m pretty sure he’s ready to remove himself from me and find a new host body.
I’m usually pretty competitive, but we’re firing questions back and forth as we play, getting to know one another.
“Only the one sister?” I ask. I pass her on the game and toss a banana over my shoulder.
She moves her whole body with the controller as she swerves out of the way. “Yeah. What about you?”
“Younger brother.”
“Are you close?”
“Nah. He’s five.”
“That’s quite a gap.”
“Yeah. No kidding. I was seventeen when Ryder was born, and I’ve basically been away for his entire life.”
“I bet he looks up to you.”
“Not really.” I shake my head and focus on staying just ahead of her on the game. I want to win, but I don’t want to blow her out of the water. “When he grows up, he wants to be Spider-Man.”
“It’s good that he’s keeping his expectations reasonable.” She glances over and catches my eye. It’s hard to look away from her when she’s smiling at me like that. She looks away first, but I keep staring.
“I win!” she shrieks.
I glance at the TV screen in time to see her cross the finish line. My dude has crashed into the wall going nowhere, and that feels pretty accurate for the scenario.
“It’s the best of four races,” I say.
I best her in the next three and manage to keep my undefeated record intact. We’re finishing up when Heath and Ginny come out of his room.
“Rauthruss, your phone’s been blowing up. Real mood killer,” Heath says. His gaze lands on Sienna, and he smiles awkwardly. “Hey, Sienna.”
“Hi.” She waves back.
Heath goes to the kitchen and opens the fridge, but Ginny joins us in the living room.
“It’s so good to see you again,” she says as she sits in the armchair across from us.
“Ginny, right?" Sienna asks.
“That’s right.” Ginny’s smile couldn’t possibly get any bigger. “What are you guys playing?”
“Mario Kart. Do you want to play?” Sienna offers.
“Yeah.” She reaches for the extra controllers. “Heath, you want in too?”
“Uhh...” My roommate looks to me. Since I don’t know how to politely communicate that I’d really rather not have them join us, I nod. “Sure.”
“I’m terrible,” Sienna says. “I only beat him on one race.”
“You beat him?” Ginny asks, her brown eyes widen with disbelief. “No one ever beats Rhett.”
I avoid Sienna’s stare and shrug. “I’m having an off day.”
The four of us play a handful of games before Sienna calls it. “I can’t take any more defeat. You guys keep playing. I’ll watch.”
“Same,” Ginny says. “You boys can have it. I want a chance to talk to Sienna anyway.” She moves over to the couch on the other side of Sienna, forcing Sienna to move closer to me. Her leg brushes against mine. I have no idea how such little contact can send so much adrenaline rushing through my veins.
Not having sex today. Not having sex today.
That’s a fucking mantra I hope to never repeat.
“Call of Duty?" Heath asks.
“Yeah. One game,” I say. Ginny’s latched onto Sienna and is already peppering her with questions.
I relax my leg next to hers. She briefly looks over, hits me with a smile, and turns back to Ginny.
Listening in on their conversation as I play, I learn that Sienna is from Wisconsin. A town about six hours from where my family lives in Minnesota—something I interject into the conversation and then get killed by Heath.
“Fuck yeah. Finally.” Heath holds the controller over his head in victory. I’ll get him later. Right now, video games are a distraction to what I really want to be doing.
“Thanks for the game,” I say.
“Need a rematch?”
He knows me well. “Later. I’m gonna hang with Sienna.”
“Right.” He stands. “Baby doll?”
“What?” Ginny asks, briefly looking up at him. Guess I’m not the only one enamored by Sienna.
He motions with his head toward his room.
“Ooooh. Okay.” Ginny squeezes Sienna’s hand. “Rhett is the greatest. I’m so glad you two are hanging out. Really, the best. He’s—”
“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.