And just like that, I snap.
“You can’t just call him that, Blaze,” I say sharply, my voice louder than I intended.Heads at the surrounding tables turn, but I don’t care.
Blaze blinks, surprised—but only for a second.Then the smirk returns.
“What?Loser?”he repeats, testing me.
“Yeah.That.It’s offensive.And maybe it’s time you learned to respect people who haven’t done a damn thing to you.”
My eyes don’t leave his.I won’t let him shrug this off like it’s a joke.
Blaze chuckles, raising his hands in mock surrender.“Alright, alright.No offense meant, Cam.”He flashes a grin, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.“Still… you should swing by later.I’m sure we’ve got stuff to catch up on.”
“Maybe another time,” I say, shrugging him off.
He pats my back, a little too familiar, and leans down.“Later’s good,” he murmurs, then walks off toward Fox and Carter—throwing a quick wink over his shoulder.
I turn back to Landon, who’s running a hand over his hair, clearly shaken.
“I’m sorry about that,” I say quietly.“He was out of line.”
Landon shrugs, trying to brush it off, but his smile is thin.“It’s fine.Maybe I should just head home.You can go talk to your roommate—figure out what’s going on.”
“You’re not leaving,” I say immediately, maybe too firmly.Then I soften.“If you go, I’m coming with you.”
That gets a real smile out of him—dimple and all.God, he’s cute when he smiles.
“Is that your way of saying you love me?”he teases.
I laugh and nudge his arm.“Shut up, you’re so gay.”
We both laugh, but my eyes wander—drawn back to the corner table like a magnet.
Fox is watching.
No beanie today.His hair is freshly cut, sharp lines hugging his jaw.The black denim jacket and white T-shirt combo should be illegal—he looks like a walking magazine ad.Effortlessly cool.Effortlesslyannoying.
And still…soundeniably hot.
I hate that I notice.I hate that Icare.
But most of all, I hate the way he’s been staring at me this whole time—likehe’sthe one who should be annoyed.
Like I’m the one who crossed some invisible line.
“Is it weird to find my roommate attractive?”I ask suddenly, voicing my thoughts without thinking.Landon stops eating, raising an eyebrow.
“You don’t have a crush on him, do you?”
I roll my eyes.“No, God no.It’s just… I hate that I look at him.He’s straight, homophobic, and super annoying.He doesn’t even like me, but I still end up staring at him all the time.”
Landon leans in with a grin.“So… have you imagined him touching you?”
I recoil.“Ew.Jesus, no.”
Landon laughs, sitting back.“What?Having sex is disgusting to you?”
I sigh, looking anywhere but at him.It’s been so long since I’ve been intimate with anyone, which is to say, never.Aside from my dumb high school crush on Bryson, Fox is the only other guy I’ve ever found myself… noticing.And even thinking about it makes me embarrassed.It’s like that awkward feeling after I, well, explore myself.I can’t help but feel ashamed afterward, like I’m doing something wrong.
