He chuckles, shrugging.“Maybe I should’ve waited until you replied.Didn’t mean to drop by unannounced.”
“Don’t be silly,” I say, my voice coming out softer than I intended.
A throat clears next to us, and Elias and I both turn to see Nat and Katie smirking.
“Hi!”Nat says brightly.“I’m Nat, Cameron’s friend.”
Elias smiles politely.“Hello, I’m Elias.”
Katie steps in, introducing herself too, and they both shake hands with him across the counter.I suppress an eye roll, wishing they’d back off.
“Are you his boyfriend?”Nat asks outright.I shoot her a glare, hoping Elias doesn’t get uncomfortable.What if he’s not even out, and now she’s put him on the spot?
Elias raises his brows, biting his lip, then glances at me with an amused smirk.
“You can’t just ask that, Nat,” I mutter, exasperated.
“Why not?”she whispers back, looking genuinely confused.“Wait, he doesn’t know?”
“We’re friends,” Elias says, chuckling.
“Yeah, sorry.I didn’t mean to jump to conclusions,” Nat says sheepishly.
“It’s fine.”Elias turns back to me.“Are you closing soon?I’d love to hang out after, if you’re free.If you have plans, though, I totally understand.”
I laugh softly at his nervous rambling.“No, it’s fine.I’m off in about twenty minutes.You don’t mind waiting?”
“Not at all.”He smiles.“Could I get a soda while I wait?”
“Sure.Go grab a seat, and I’ll bring it to you,” I say, nodding toward the booths.
As he walks away, Nat turns to me, eyes gleaming.“So… how come he doesn’t know?You guys have been flirting for the past five minutes.”
I roll my eyes.“He’s a friend, Nat.And I don’t exactly announce my sexuality to everyone I meet.”
She gives me a look.“Oh, he knows.The way he’s been smiling at you?Anyone can tell.”
“She’s right,” Katie chimes in, grinning.
Nat grabs a soda from the fridge, flashing me a smug smile before heading over to give it to Elias.When she comes back, she looks at me expectantly.“So, how did you two meet?”
I sigh.“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Oh, so we’re keeping secrets now?”Nat pouts, giving me her best doe-eyed look.“You tell Landon everything, but I can’t know how you met that hot guy?”
“Don’t guilt-trip me.”I groan.“Fine.We met at the frat party on Saturday.”
“Saturday?You two act like you’ve known each other for a month.”
“Elias just isn’t complicated,” I say, shrugging.
“Unlike your roommate?”Nat smirks, raising an eyebrow.
“See, this is why I didn’t want to tell you.You’re just going to bring up Fox, and I don’t want to talk about him.”
She chuckles.“Okay, okay.And sorry for assuming things in front of your… man crush.”
“Whatever.”I roll my eyes, but I can’t help smiling a little.
