Chapter Seven #4
Oh, that was good. She sighed in pleasure and eyed the rest of Blake’s plate. He pulled it closer, eyes twinkling. “Get your own! This one’s mine.” He really was cute, with his nerdy glasses and that tousled dark hair.
“It’s tempting. But I’ve got a bunch more to try.” She pulled her folded map out of her pocket. “I have a map.”
“I’m glad I ran into you.” Blake glanced past her again and she turned. Andrew and Zane were sitting together on the grass in the shade, eating their dumplings, laughing, eyes only for each other.
“I’m sure you’d be welcome if you went over there.” She knew she could crash Cora and Vanessa’s conversation, too.
He shook his head. “I’m not going to interrupt. Look how happy they are.”
“Suckers,” she said automatically, then winced. “Sorry! Habit. Truthfully, I’m … not dating right now. On purpose.”
Blake tipped his head to the side. “A break?”
“Maybe a permanent one. I don’t know.” She sighed. “I stopped trying.”
“It does take a lot of energy.” Blake took another bite and looked off into the distance, off in the direction of their friends, gaze wistful. “I’m glad to see Andrew this happy. He deserves to be with someone nice.”
“How long have you two been friends?”
“Since college. We roomed together for a while, but then Andrew decided he would do anything to avoid living with another person again.” Blake took a few bites in the silence. “We’re better friends when we don’t live together.”
“You turned him off roommates altogether?” Maggie pressed a hand to her heart. “Should I be worried?”
Blake smiled around his fork, dimples creasing his cheeks. He swallowed. “I’m an absolute delight to live with. You should know that by now.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tolerable. I can’t walk around naked.”
“I’m not stopping you.” Blake gave her an innocent look, and Maggie had to laugh.
“Is that a flirtation coming from you? I can’t believe it. I thought you were like a perfect Midwestern farm boy, innocent as a Little Golden Book.” Maggie studied him, examined the mischief in his eyes. “What else aren’t you telling me?”
“I’m an open book. And I’ve never lived on a farm.” Blake stared down into his dish, breaking eye contact. Maybe she was coming on too hard.
“Right.” She snatched the fork out of his hand and stole another scoop of lamb and rice before he could stop her. He grabbed the fork back and pulled the dish even further away, making her laugh through her mouthful.
“I’m going to start charging you to eat my food.” He gave her a grumbly look which was likely all show. “I’ll give you an itemized bill, like your last roommate.”
Maggie chuckled. Off in the distance, Vanessa and Cora had lined up in front of another food truck, and Andrew and Zane were still sitting in the grass, eating dumplings more slowly than any human should.
They all looked happy, and even if she didn’t share in that happiness, she should try to appreciate it secondhand.
Blake finished eating and sealed the container back up, then guzzled half the can of soda and stifled a burp behind his hand.
“Classy,” Maggie remarked.
“Sorry.” He pressed a palm to his chest. “Might have overdone it there.”
She tossed her balled-up aluminum foil at his chest. “Quitter.”
Blake caught the foil. “I’ll never be accused of tapping out early on food. There’s a gourmet ice cream sandwich truck over there. Want to get some before crashing everyone else’s dates?”
Maggie got to her feet and gathered her trash. “I’d love to.”
By the time they reached Andrew and Zane, Andrew was alone, and he waved them over. “Those look great.” Andrew eyed their oversized ice cream sandwiches. “Enough to share?”
“Heck no. Get your own.” Blake sat down and patted the grass for Maggie to join. “Where’s Zane?”
“Buying us those Belgian fries.” He peered past Maggie’s shoulder, and she followed his line of sight to where Zane was nearing the front of the line.
“Waiting in line for you? He’s a keeper.
” Maggie studied Andrew while she ate her ice cream sandwich.
He was the kind of guy she’d expect Blake to be friends with: they both had that nerdy vibe, although Andrew didn’t have Blake’s goofy demeanor.
Of course, Blake hadn’t seemed goofy until Maggie got to know him. Maybe Andrew was similar.
Andrew didn’t look away from Zane. “It’s the honeymoon period. I’m sure if he sticks around, he’ll be making me get my own fries soon enough.”
Blake nudged Andrew with his elbow. “Don’t rush it.”
“I’m not.” Andrew gave them a smile. “Although look, he’s already eating some.”
“Room for me?” Zane asked when he returned, settling in next to Andrew. They looked comfortable together, Zane resting easily in Andrew’s personal space.
Andrew dipped two of the fries in one of the sauces. “They sure don’t give you many fries.”
“They do, but I ate a third of them on the walk back.” Zane grinned, some of his shyness fading. “It’s the cost of waiting in line for you.”
Andrew sighed. “It’s true. The magic is gone.”
“How long have you two been dating?” Maggie asked.
“A few weeks,” Zane answered. Yeah, they were still in the honeymoon phase. He was making complete doe eyes at Andrew even as he talked to Maggie. “And you’re Blake’s roommate?”
“That’s me.” Maggie took another bite of the ice cream sandwich. “Whatever horror stories you’ve heard about me, none of them are true.”
Andrew smiled. “I’m glad Blake found someone nice to live with him.”
“I’m not nice,” Maggie said at the same time Blake said, “She’s not nice.” They caught each other’s eyes, and both started laughing.
Maggie elbowed Blake. “He doesn’t know how good he’s got it.”
“Hearing your past roommate horror stories, I’ve got a pretty good idea.” Blake shuddered.
“This is why I’m never going to live with anyone ever again.” Andrew grabbed another few fries, then paused. “Outside of a relationship.”
A small smile curled Zane’s lips. The two of them would have been adorable if Maggie wasn’t suddenly stabbed by a pang of jealousy. She’d have escaped to get more food if she wasn’t still eating this ice cream sandwich (which was delicious, but yes, absolutely too big).
“I might bail on this ice cream sandwich for those fries,” Blake said, like he was reading her mind. “Maggie, do you want to split one?”
Maggie nodded. “Want me to come with you?”
“No, I’ve got it.” He was up on his feet before Maggie could protest. Great, now she was the third wheel again, this time with a couple she didn’t even know.
“I think you’re good for Blake,” Andrew said. “He’s been happier lately.”
Maggie’s face grew hot. The compliment made her feel … something. “Me? What? We’re not even that close.”
“You’re friends though, right?” Andrew leaned closer.
“I guess.” She didn’t have too many friends, but she would count Blake among them in some form. “So I’m good for him? What, was he starting to talk to his plants or something?”
“He always talks to the plants. That’s not new.” Andrew’s expression remained deadpan. “But living alone isn’t good for him. He’s social. Back before he worked at PlantSeed—” He stopped talking abruptly, like a switch flipped, and Maggie was about to ask more when a shadow fell over them.
“Found you!” Cora and Vanessa joined them on the grass, and whatever Andrew was going to say was gone.
Vanessa immediately launched into a description of the giant baked potato they’d shared and the ridiculous number of toppings they’d managed to add.
Cora nodded along, adding a few descriptions at regular intervals.
Maggie shifted to watch Blake at the front of the French-fry line.
He was the only guy in line not on his phone, looking around him, taking in the beautiful day.
What a dweeb.
She realized she was smiling and turned back to the group, where Andrew was giving her an intent look.
Instead, she shifted her attention to Cora, who was responding to Zane’s question about the latest work their lab was doing.
Vanessa brought out a different side of Cora, much more animated than usual, and Maggie decided she liked it. Even if it was unexpected.
Blake rejoined them and flopped down next to Maggie. “Hey, the gang’s all here. What did I miss?” Unlike Zane, he apparently hadn’t eaten any of the fries in the walk over; the cone was still full.
Maggie grabbed a few fresh, hot fries. “Just getting to know each other. We saved the intimate questions for your return.”
He moved to stand up again. “That’s my cue to go—” and Maggie pulled him back down once more, all of them laughing. His arm was surprisingly strong under her grip; corded lean muscle. When he looked down at her hand, she snatched it away. She should have let go earlier.
Across from her, Andrew was giving her that look again, the one that indicated he saw more than he let on.
Too bad Maggie couldn’t be sure what he saw.