53. Kaden
Kaden
Friday afternoon, and I’m cleaning down my station when Iggy walks in. She hasn’t been at the studio today so I’m a little surprised to catch her in the doorway.
“What’re you doing here, Sully?”
“I was in the neighborhood, and I thought I’d come by and tell you guys that I’m having a little get-together at my place tonight,” she says, fiddling with her bangs. “You want to come?”
My frown deepens but then Seth perks up from behind the counter, eyebrows raised at me.
“Who’s coming?” I ask, turning back to Iggy.
“Well, including you two, we’re four,” she says, dusting off her clothes, avoiding looking at us.
“Four? So, you’ve invited us and one more? For a get-together?”
“Uh-huh. So, are you in?”
“Wait, wait,” Seth chuckles. “Are we chaperoning?”
Iggy’s cheeks go pink, and she combs her bangs down again.
“What do you mean?” I ask, darting my eyes between them.
“Sully’s got a…date?”
“Yes, I’ve got a date and I’m really nervous about it so I told her I was having a few friends over, so can you please, please, do this for me?” She hits us with puppy eyes, and hands folded like in prayer.
“Who is she?”
“Her name’s Olive and she’s so goddamn hot, I get all tongue-tied around her. She’s in my class this semester. Well, she just transferred actually, and—”
She goes on and on about it for a while and I glance at Seth who’s raising his eyebrows in question. Eyes gleaming with hope.
“You wanna go?” I ask him.
“Would you be okay?” he says. I think about it for half a second before I decide, because apparently I can't say no when it comes to Seth. Not when he's looking at me like that, all hopeful and excited. And fuck him for that.
“Fine,” I sigh. “We’ll come.”
“Really?” She beams.
“Yeah, but question: don’t you have other friends than us?”
“I’ve asked everyone I know.”
I drop my shoulders. “So, we’re your last resort? Nice! You could’ve started with that, and I’d have said no right away.”
“I know, that’s why I didn’t start with that.” She throws me an air-kiss, before the turns around. “I’ll text you the details!”
I turn to Seth as the door closes behind her. “What details?”
“You think we have to wear like suits, and bring cheese and expensive wine?” he chuckles.
“You’d love that.”
“I’d love to see you in a suit,” he says, pumping his eyebrows.
I drag a hand down my face. “Ugh, I hate first dates, and now I have to go on one that’s not even mine? Fucking awkward.”
“I’ve never been on a date,” he mumbles. “What do I wear?”
“Anything. It’s not even your date.”
“Still. I wanna look good, you know,” he shrugs.
“You always look good, Seth. Don’t sweat it.”
At eight-thirty, Seth—dressed in a light grey hoodie, blue ripped jeans and his new sneakers—and I—dressed in all black—arrive outside Iggy’s apartment.
“You’ve ever been here before?” Seth asks as we walk the path up to her front door.
“No. You?”
“No. Do you know if she’s got any pets?”
I stop and look at him. “What?”
“I feel like I don’t know her at all, I don’t even know if she’s got any pets. What if she’s got a huge fucking dog, or something?”
I snort. “She doesn’t. Wouldn’t be surprised if she had a lizard, or something, though.”
He nods, biting his lip. I’m just about to knock on the door when he pulls my arm.
“How do I look?” he asks.
“Seth.” I drop my head. “Why are you nervous?”
“What? I wanna make a good first impression.”
“You look great. Come on,” I say, dragging him with me. “Let’s get it over with. I wanna go home already.”
Iggy opens the door with a glass of something sparkling in her hand. “Heeey!” she beams. “You made it!” Unfortunately, yeah.
“Nice place,” Seth says, eyeing the room as we walk inside.
It’s the smallest apartment I’ve ever seen. A two-seat couch and a coffee table to the right, a tiny table to the left with two chairs, and behind that, a tiny kitchen. And a small hallway right in front of us, leading to a bathroom and a bedroom. And that’s it.
I guess you don’t really need more than that when you’re only one person, but still.
“Olive, this is Seth and Kaden, from my work, remember? And guys, this is Olive.”
Olive stretches her hand out to shake mine, and then Seth’s. She must be around five inches taller than Iggy, light brown, curly hair and olive skin—fitting. Hazel eyes and a pretty smile.
She greets us with a grin. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Seth says, dropping down on a chair next to the couch. “Love your jacket! Is it Acne Studios?”
“Good eye,” Olive chuckles. “Thanks! Found it in a second-hand store last week, actually.”
And then they’re off, talking about different designer brand I’ve never heard of, and which stores are the best around here.
Seth doesn’t shop second-hand, but he’s too polite to tell her that, so they rattle on.
Iggy grins like this is the best day she’s ever had, and I lean back in my chair, opening a bottle of beer.
“So, you work together?” Olive says after a while, looking from me to Seth.
“Yeah, for almost seven years now,” Seth says, glancing at me.
“And how long have you been together?”
“What?” I laugh before I glance at Seth and he looks at me, a grin spreading.
“Oh,” Iggy laughs. “No, they’re not together, together. That’s just the way they are around each other,” she says, waving a hand at us. “But Kaden’s straight as an arrow.”
“Oh,” Olive says, wide-eyed. “I’m sorry. I just assumed—” she shakes her head. “That was stupid of me,” she chuckles. “I just… This sort of felt like a double-date or something.”
“Yeah, no, uhm…” Iggy clears her throat. “Megan and Tilly were supposed to come too, but they got caught up so.” She waves her hand while taking another sip.
“Aha. But you’re gay, right?” Olive directs this question at Seth, squinting her eyes a little as if she’s afraid she’s making assumptions again.
“Yeah, I’m gay,” Seth chuckles.
“And you’re straight,” she adds, looking at me. And it’s not a question, and even if it was, it’s none of her business so I just raise my brows in answer.
“Okay, glad we sorted that out.” She wipes her hands down her pants, and giggles. “Anyone want to take a stab at me, so I don’t feel like a complete idiot?”
I’m hiding in the kitchen, looking over the open-shelf above the sink, inspecting the weird-looking cups and mugs as if they were the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen before. ‘I’m not a gynecologist but I’ll take a look’ says one. ‘Office twat’ says another.
“I’m shocked you managed to hide in this shoe-box,” Seth snorts behind me. I turn around, dragging a hand through my hair.
“Can we leave?” I whisper.
“What? I think it’s cozy here. And Olive’s great!”
I glare at him. Yeah, she’s funny and seems to be into Iggy and that’s all great but I’m not a people person.
And it’s Friday and if I have to listen to them talking about which professor is the creepiest or which class they’re taking next semester for one more minute, I’ll lose my mind.
And Iggy’s playing her fucking cursive singers which makes my ears bleed.
“Fine,” he says. “One more hour, then we’re leaving.”
He hands me another bottle of beer—a bribe—and I crack it open, shooting another glare at him.
“Come on, boyfriend,” he laughs, and smacks my ass as I walk past him. I stop and snort a laugh before I turn towards him.
“Can you believe that?”
“What?” he says.
“Olive thinking we were together.” I take a swig of my beer.
“Yeah, no.” He snorts, clearing his throat. “That’s insane.”
“Right?” I chuckle as I walk into back into the living room.