UNKNOWN:Hey, Cam, it’s Elias.Sorry I didn’t text sooner.Are you busy?
A smile tugs at my lips as I start typing a response.
“Who’s that?”Landon asks, peeking into my phone.
“Elias,” I reply, finishing my text.
ME:Hi, Eli.Good to hear from you!I’m about to have dinner with my friend.
I send the message, realizing belatedly that I’d just called him “Eli” on impulse.What if that freaks him out?
“So, you two are already hitting it off?”Landon nudges, watching me.
I push a plate of pasta toward him, stealing glances at my phone as I wait for Elias’s reply.“We’re just talking.It’s casual.Now, eat up.”
“Bossy much,” Landon says, smirking at me as he takes out a fork from the drawer.
My phone buzzes again, and I quickly pick it up.
ELIAS:Eli?I like that.Can’t wait to hear it in person.I’m at my brother’s place alone—frat brothers are all out partying.Wish I could come over?
My cheeks heat up.Landon raises an eyebrow as I type back, but before I hit send, he snatches the phone from me, reading the message with a dramatic gasp.
“Oh my god, is he flirting with you?”Landon exclaims, passing the phone back to me.
“He’s not flirting,” I insist, trying to hide my smile as I finish typing.
“Please, he so is.Do you even know what flirting is?”
“Not going to answer that,” I mutter, pressing send.
ME:Sorry, I don’t think my roommate would appreciate that.But I owe you that tour, remember?
ELIAS:I’d like that.Enjoy dinner, and text me after?I’m glad I got to see you again today.
ME:Same here.I’ll text you later.
I set my phone down and start eating, feeling Landon’s curious gaze on me.
“You’re so into him already,” Landon teases, twirling his fork in the pasta.
“Just eat, and stop imagining things.”
Landon takes a big bite, closing his eyes with a contented hum.“God, this is amazing.You’ve got to teach me your spaghetti recipe.”
“Even if I tried, you wouldn’t learn.You’re way too lazy to cook.”
“Fair enough,” he says, laughing along with me.
It’s almost ten by the time we finish eating, and after a quick shower, we settle in for the night.Landon’s asleep beside me, snoring softly after watching a movie on my laptop.He’s in one of my old shirts and a pair of pajama pants, a little snug on him, but he didn’t complain.
As I get comfortable, my phone vibrates on the nightstand.I pick it up, expecting another message from Elias, but freeze when I see it’s from Fox.
How is his number even saved on my phone?And why is he texting me?
FOX:I want you here.
I blink, staring at the screen.Did he send this by mistake?
