Page 6 of Perfectly Wrong

“A caramel macchiato with whip.”

“Me too.” She laughs softly. “Find us a seat?”

“Yeah.”

I wander off and find a tiny table for two shoved in a corner, but it’ll work. A few minutes later, Trinity joins me and sits across from me.

“It’s so busy.”

I nod, sipping my coffee. “Yeah. What do I owe you for this?”

“Oh nothing.” She waves her hand. “My treat today. You can get the next one.”

“Right.” I take another quick sip. “How did you find me in such a huge class of students?”

“Student directory,” she answers, brushing blond hair off her shoulder. “I’m resourceful.”

“You could’ve just put them in my box.”

“I could’ve but I was hoping maybe we could be friends.” She smiles again. “It’s hard to meet people here if you’re not in a sorority or love to party.”

“Yeah, I noticed. I’m not really into the party scene. I mean, I like it occasionally, but not every night.”

“Same.” She nods. “What’s your major?”

“Business. You?”

“Architecture.”

My eyes widen. “Yeah? Is that what you want to do?”

“Not entirely. I want to be an interior designer, but my parents said architecture is a better degree, so I can do both with that.”

“Yeah. Awesome. Maybe I should be brave enough to change my major.”

“You like architecture and design?”

I shrug. “Never thought about it on that level. I want to flip and restore houses. I thought the business degree might help.”

“Oh yeah.” She nods, smiling. “I think that sounds so cool. I love watching design and renovation shows.” She touches my hand. “Look, we have something in common.”

I smile, avoiding her eyes for a moment. “We do, but um, Trinity?—”

“You can call me Trin.”

“Okay, Trin, um, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I, uh, —”

“Oh god. You have a girlfriend, don’t you? I should’ve known. You’re way too hot to be single. I didn’t even ask. I’m sorry.”

“No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Oh.” She tilts her head. “Then what is it? I’m not your type or something?”

“No, you’re not, but only because you’re a girl.”

“What?” I see the understanding settle on her face. “Oh. You’re gay.”

“Yeah.”

She sits back in her seat. “Well, shit, Tristan.” Then she laughs. “I would set my sights on a gay guy.”

“Sorry.”

She shakes her head. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Please don’t be. It happens all the time. I guess I don’t come across gay.”

“Not at all. You’re really good looking.”

“Thanks. For the record, I’m flattered.”

“Cool. Well, we can still be friends, right?”

I smile. “Absolutely.”

A couple of weeks later, I roll over and pull the blankets back from Trin, passed out beside me as usual. The TV is still on from last night. I rub my forehead before crawling out of bed to pee and come back.

She opens her eyes, blinking up at me. “It’s cold.”

“Because I took my blankets back. Just cuddle.”

She moves into me and I spoon her. For anyone walking in right now, they’d assume we’re a couple even though we’re both fully clothed at the moment.

Friends typically don’t share the same bed, but in the short time I’ve known her, Trin has become my closest confidant.

Today I want to tell her about my obsession.

After lying together for a while, we both get up and shuffle to the kitchen. I sit at the dining table of my tiny apartment while Trin starts a pot of coffee for us. Once that’s going, she sits across from me, pulling her knees to her chest.

“It’s snowing. What do you want to do today? Movie?”

She nods. “We should work on our homework too.”

“Yeah.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I’m struggling with one of my classes. Two maybe.”

“We can work together.” She pats my hand. “I got you.”

“I know.”

Trin stands to get coffee, returning quickly with two steaming mugs.

“I want to tell you something.”

“Okay.” She sips her coffee with big blue eyes gazing curiously at me.

“It’s a to-the-grave secret.”

“Oooh. Juicy. Hit me.”

“Promise?”

“Who am I gonna tell, Tristan?”

“Just promise.”

“I promise.”

“Okay. Remember a few weeks ago, when I was staring at my phone and you tried to take it to see what I was doing?”

“Yeah. I thought you were watching porn in front of me.”

I laugh. “Right. I wasn’t. I was reading a text message for the hundredth time. It’s from this guy, no, he’s a man.”

“A man?”

“Yeah. We hooked up the night of my graduation party, and Trin, it was fucking everything.”

“Yeah?” She grins. “He’s delicious?”

“Perfect. I’m like low key obsessed with him.”

“He’s back home?”

“Yeah.”

“So call him. Tell him you want to see him. Thanksgiving is coming soon.”

“Yeah, so the thing is he’s my dad’s best friend.”

Trin’s eyes widen. “What?”

I nod. “I seduced him.”

“You sneaky little shit. He fucked you?”

I lean back in my chair as memories wash over me. “Like I’ve never been fucked.”

“Wow.”

“Because he’s a man. He’s like nearly forty, I think. He’s so hot too. He’s just perfect.”

“Have you called him at all?”

“No. He told me we can’t be together, you know? It just has to be a moment we had. My dad would kill us both.”

“Shit. That sucks.”

“Totally. I can’t stop thinking about him. His name is Bishop.”

“Even his name is hot.”

“Yeah. I don’t know what to do.”

“Text him. Just tell him even though you aren’t with him, you still think about him. Even if he doesn’t answer, at least he knows. Maybe then when you see him again, he might say something.”

“True. It’s been a few months already. He’s probably moved on, and just thinks I’m a kid.”

She shrugs. “Don’t know if you don’t try.”

I bite my bottom lip. God, I want to hear from him so bad. “I’m doing it.”

Staring at my phone for a second, I think of something to type.

I know we can’t be together, but I dream about it like we can every night. I think about you all the time. I miss you so bad. I wish I could have one more perfect night. Love Trist

I glance up at Trin. “We’ll see.” I take a sip of coffee just as my phone buzzes. “It’s him.”

“What does it say?”

I open the text with shaking hands. “This might be the nicest thing I’ve ever read. Thank you.”

“Hmm.”

My phone buzzes again. “It was a perfect night. I think about it too.” My heart races in my chest. “Shit, Trin. I’m gonna pass out.”

She giggles. “I told you. Ask him about Thanksgiving.”

I nod, typing it out. I’ll be home for Thanksgiving. Can I see you? His response comes quickly. I read aloud to Trin. “I wish, babe.”

“He called you babe,” she says, whispering.

“I’m going to see my folks. Christmas?” I look up again. “Fuck. He suggested Christmas.”

Trin frowns. “But you’re going skiing with your mom.”

Can’t. Skiing trip with mom.

He doesn’t answer for several minutes. “Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Shit,” Trin says. “Say something else. Pull him back in.”

“Like what?”

“Invite him here.”

I think about it for a moment, then do it.

Come see me here. Please, Bishop.

Babe…

“What does it say?” Trin asks.

“Babe. Nothing else yet.” It buzzes again. “I can’t do that. It’s too risky. Remember we talked about focusing on school. I’ll be here when you get back. Maybe the holidays won’t work this year, but you’ll be back. I’ll see you then.” I sigh. “He’s blowing me off nicely.”

Trin nods. “Sorry.”

My phone buzzes again. “But you made my fucking day.” I smile, reading it twice, when a new message comes in. “And I think about you too. Far more than I should. Take care, babe. Do well in school. I’ll see you again someday.”

I set my phone down and basically pout. “I think it’s almost worse now.”

“Yeah. I mean, he obviously likes you too.”

“I guess. He told me the best thing I could do was to do well in school to keep my dad off my back. He’s right. He’s fifteen years older than me.”

Trin smiles, patting my hand. “Give it time. The door is still open a little bit. What do you say we work on our papers, make some progress, then we’ll pig out on pizza and watch a movie?”

“I think that sounds awesome.”