2. Austin
2
AUSTIN
By the end of the week, I have to admit it’s lonely without Dex. He’s such a big part of my life that my thoughts are consumed with what he’s up to every minute—outside of our frequent texts.
Though I have a sneaking suspicion I know exactly what he’s up to. Dex has always been a social person, and I can picture him kissing babies and running for office someday. He has this charismatic personality everyone gravitates toward, so he’s likely hanging out with all his new housemates. I briefly met Milo and Ian when I helped carry the first batch of boxes over, and they seemed nice.
I can’t help wondering if any of the guys are gay and might eventually hook up with Dex. It could prove awkward living in the same house after something like that. Not that Dex will mind. He’s left plenty of enchanted men in his wake. He makes himself clear with hookups upfront. But while he’s good at the art of flirting and seduction, he’s woefully bad at relationships and connections, at least in the romance department.
I, on the other hand, am sort of obsessed with romance books and romantic comedies. I know what I want, but I’m way too shy and self-conscious to follow through. And don’t even get me started on dating apps and those uncomfortable encounters.
I close my laptop and slide off my bed. There are some perks to having the room all to myself, and apparently, the poli sci gods graced me with this one. I use the extra space to stack my books and odds and ends.
I can also jerk off more with Dex gone—which he thinks I never do.
Plus, the room has remained tidy. Dex is like a human tornado, collecting things as he goes. He even snatched one of my hoodies by mistake, but something about him having it comforts me. Like a reminder that I’m still with him.
Guess I’m feeling a bit sappy about this whole arrangement.
Dex and I’ve always had mostly different interests, but they intersect where it matters, like gaming and snacking. We grew up in the same suburb outside of San Diego, and though we were friendly in grade school, we didn’t really connect until we were both members of the same after-school group in middle school. There, we realized we had something else in common besides being gay and the aforementioned gaming and snacking. Our parents were divorced, and we both lived with our moms though at the time I was being shuffled back and forth between my parents.
There were lots of feelings that came with all that baggage, and we turned to each other for support. My parents’ constant bickering frayed my nerves, and Dex’s father was always canceling on him until one day, the visits stopped completely. Dex hasn’t seen him since.
My mom remarried when I was in high school, and though my stepdad’s great, it was hard to accept for a while. So yeah, having Dex around as a sounding board has been great.
A sharp knock startles me. Maybe it’s the RA or Dex, surprising me. I open the door to find a short, thin dude with black hair, a lip ring, and ripped jeans. “Hi, I’m Kael.”
“Can I help you with something?”
He glances over my shoulder. “I’m, uh…your new roommate.”
“Wait, what? I thought I scored a single.”
“Last-minute placement.” He bites his lip nervously. “Housing said they emailed you.”
“Shit, I guess I haven’t checked my messages in a while.” Well, there goes that plan. I open the door wider. “Well, come on in.”
He hesitates before he walks inside, and I wonder if he’s even more timid than me.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asks once I close the door.
“What do you mean?” Do I have a choice?
“Housing told me you checked the box on your application…the one that says gender is not an issue for you.”
I scrunch my nose as I look at him. What the hell is he talking about?
He straightens his shoulders. “I’m a trans guy, and it’s important that I feel safe.”
Well, now I feel like crap for being so abrupt. “Oh God, I had no idea. I’m gay, and you’re totally safe with me.”
He breathes out. “Thank you. My girlfriend told me it would work out.”
I pad to the extra bed and lift my laptop. “Meaning?”
“I’ve only been out for a year and on T for half of that, so I thought for sure you’d know. It’s hard to gauge anyone’s reaction.”
I study him as I move the books to the floor. He has small features, and maybe now I can notice he’s binding his chest, but I’d never presume to know anyone’s gender or identity. I’ve been proven wrong plenty of times. “It’s all cool. I hope you’ll feel comfortable with me. I’m pretty quiet and introverted?—”
“Pretty organized too?” he asks, likely noticing how everything is arranged just so.
“Yeah,” I admit. “My last roommate wasn’t at all, so unless you’re worse than him, I’m sure we won’t have a problem.”
“I’m a clean freak too.” He smiles for the first time. “I’m gonna grab some boxes from the car.”
“I can help.” I follow him to the hall and then out to the curb, where his car and girlfriend are waiting.
After introductions, we all grab a box to carry from the trunk. “Are you new to campus?”
“I commuted last year,” Kael says. “Angelica lives in campus housing with her friends.”
“Gotcha,” I reply absently as I try and put the pieces together. Kael was direct enough with me in our room, which is good. But maybe he also needed a backup plan if our vibe didn’t work out. He’d be stuck without housing unless Angelica and her roommates offered, but they probably don’t have the room.
Damn, that has to be hard. Sure, being gay is tough, but I can blend in when I need to. Kael seems worried he can’t, which makes his safety his utmost concern. I’ll need to be cognizant of that.
After we get him moved in, we chat for a while before he walks Angelica out. Afterward, I show him around the building, pointing out the RA’s room, the laundry, and the gender-neutral bathroom. It’s a newer policy Dex helped institute in the dorms. That way, trans and nonbinary students have a choice if they feel uncomfortable. Dex said he’s hoping to get the university president on board to add more, but funding is tricky.
“Although, I’d be sure to knock first. That bathroom’s occasionally been used for drunk encounters.”
Kael looks amused. “Noted.”
Most of the students we meet on the way to the dining hall are friendly, and Kael seems to relax further.
We get food and sit, and as I dig into the pizza, Kael picks at his salad, not saying much.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just…my nerves are shot. I wasn’t sure how this would go, so thanks for making me feel safe and comfortable.”
I nod, emotion lodging in my throat and making it hard to swallow.
Later that night, I pull out my cell and text Dex.
Turns out, I did not, in fact, score a single room.
The room is dark, but I can hear Kael tossing and turning. It might take him a bit to get adjusted to his new surroundings.
What do you mean?
I have a new roommate, and he’s pretty cool.
I smile because it’s true. I like Kael, and hopefully, it’s mutual.
Yeah? So essentially, you’re gonna replace me.
He sends a pouty-face emoji, and I huff out a laugh.
We can do a roommate swap. But I don’t think Kael would want to be in your Molly House either.
Just for that, you’re meeting me and my new housemates at Shenanigans tomorrow night. Shenanigans is the campus bar that also serves food. The place is quite busy most nights.
I’ll think about it , I type, though I already know my answer. Meeting him there isn’t a hardship. It’s only been a few days, but I already miss having him around.
Glancing across the room, I wonder if the noise I hear is Kael softly snoring. I hope so. The guy is probably wiped out from the day.
I’m all for making new friends as long as it comes naturally.
Besides, Dex will low-key love that for me. He worries too much about my social life.
Pretty please , Dex replies.
I smile at my phone. Fine.
Good. Now, tell me more about your roommate.