Power Plays & Straight A's - Eden Finley Page 0,16
who?
“What? No.”
Why don’t I believe him?
“Oh, so you’re being rude on purpose? Isn’t it polite to invite a person in when they come over?”
“Isn’t it polite to give someone a heads up before you show up unannounced?”
“Touché.” I take out my phone and send off a text.
His phone beeps in the room behind him.
“You better get that. It sounds important.”
He cracks a smile. Finally. “Are you going to tell me why you’re here or not?”
“I’m here for two reasons. One, I’m guessing by your lack of communication that you’re understanding team dynamics and individual goals better.”
“I know enough to grade everyone’s papers.”
I narrow my eyes. “But not enough to understand it.”
“So?”
“So, you were still taking notes in class. Meaning you want to understand it because you still can’t wrap your head around it in a practical sense, and it’s driving you crazy.”
He grunts. “And reason number two for why you’re here other than to remind me I don’t belong in your class?”
“Oh, I’m heading out to the LGBTQ mixer thing. Wanted to invite you.”
I’m starting to realize talking to Zach requires processing breaks. Like, his robotic mind needs time to take in the words and analyze them.
Zach lets out a sigh, and disappointment fills his eyes. “Seth asked you to do this, didn’t he?”
“Why would Seth tell me to take you to a mixer?”
“I spoke to him earlier and he was on my case about making friends. I might be socially inept, but I at least know straight guys don’t go to queer mixers without ulterior motives. You know lesbians aren’t interested in sleeping with you, right?”
And that answers whether or not Seth told him about me.
“You know what the B stands for in LGBTQ?”
“Are you going to straight-splain it to me?”
Okay, now he’s pissing me off a little, but I can’t say I hate it. I like it when he stands up for himself. Like when I questioned his TA abilities.
My lips curve. “Bi chicks and threeways. Enough said.”
“You’re gross.” He goes to shut the door in my face—deservedly so—but I stop it with my foot before he can close it.
“Zach …”
“What?”
“I was fucking with you. I am bi.”
He eyes me like he doesn’t believe me.
“I could prove it to you if you want me to. Though I think Seth would blow a fuse if I did.”
The door eases back open.
“You’re bi …” There he goes with the analyzing thing again.
“It’s not exactly a secret. I figured you would’ve heard something by now.”
“I’ve heard you’re a bit of a man slut.”
I roll my eyes. “Ah. Good old bi stereotyping for the win.”
“So, you didn’t sleep with half the student body?”
“Maybe a quarter. No, maybe a third. You’re smart, what’s between a third and a quarter? I suck at fractions.”
He frowns.
“Joking! I’m no virgin, but it’s not that bad.”
He winces.
“I promise my reputation is bigger than the reality.”
“And you’re bi.”
“Yup. I like hearts not parts. Although, I think that’s technically the pan slogan.”
Green eyes assess me.
“Would you like to call my brother and verify before you believe this isn’t a charity date?”
Zach balks. “D-date? You didn’t say this was a date.”
Shit, I didn’t mean it to sound like that either. That word just flew out of my mouth. This isn’t a date. This is me showing the new guy a safe space for like-minded people.
I wave him off. “You know what I mean.”
“I-I don’t, actuall—wait. Seth knows you’re bi?”
“Has since we were teenagers.”
“He … he never told me.”
“Would you have been okay if he’d told me you were gay?”
He cocks his head. “Didn’t he?”
“No. You did. Thanksgiving, I think. Three years ago.”
“Then why …” He pulls the most confused look I’ve ever seen on him, and that’s saying something. “I don’t understand why Seth never told me. About you.”
I shrug as if I don’t know. Seth wanted to keep Zach as his friend and didn’t want me to ruin their friendship by hitting on him. “He respects his brother’s privacy? My right to come out on my own?”
“Who are you not out to?”
Ah. I rub the back of my neck. “Well, our parents don’t know for one, so if you’re ever with them, please don’t say anything. And it’s not a secret on campus, but I don’t go around advertising it. I didn’t come out in a big article in the college paper, although they’ve asked me to. I didn’t want to make it a thing, you know? I just want it to be what it is.”