Page 40 of Scrap Metal & Love Reforged

Seth chuckled, but something changed in his expression. It became solemn and melancholy, nearly anxious. Whatever caused the hesitation, it was gone a moment later. Maybe his thought had gone somewhere else for a few minutes.

“Anyway,” he said, “Now that we’ve got all your things, do you want to do something? Have you got work tomorrow? Hey, I know! We can binge-watchStar Wars.”

“Oh, God. I haven’t followedStar Warssince the nineties.”

Seth gave an exaggerated sigh. “Ah, the nineties. I miss them already. I’ll go ahead and flip on the TV.”

He clambered from the bed with considerable enthusiasm, and after he left the room, I stared after him for a few seconds. Of course, I was justthinking, getting my act together in this new apartment with my new temporary roommate.

I might’ve stared at his ass a little longer than I should have, but Seth didn’t need to know that. I tucked my hands into my pockets. I’d really done this. Godofdiscord would probably have a heart attack when I told him that I’daskedto do this and actually gone through with it.

He’d think I was trying to make Seth my boyfriend.

I wasn’t though. That would be impossible, I wasn’t even out. Utterly impossible. And there was no indication either that Seth was even still interested. He’d have invited any of his friends to live with him.

And if I try to make this something bigger than it is, I might ruin everything.

We sat on the sofa, he on one end and me on the other. It was at least midnight, and through the windows, we could see the tops of many of the downtown buildings in Bluehaven—laid out before us, lit brilliantly. We’d binge-watched all ofStar Wars—a use of our time that felt both great and ridiculous. In all my life, I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful view. Seth finished his glass of red wine. He’d offered me a glass, but I’d declined, worried that I might spill it on the pristine white leather sofa.

Seth picked up the remote and clicked the TV off. I was surprised he stilluseda remote and didn’t have something more technologically advanced, like one of those TV set-ups where you just talked to the TV and it did what you wanted. With the TV off, it was dark except for the city lights twinkling outside the window.

“Heard anything about your competition?” Seth asked.

I shook my head. “I’ll know in a week or so.”

I tried to say it nonchalantly, so Seth couldn’t tell how desperately I’d been counting down the days until results were supposed to be announced. But evenifI won, that didn’t mean I’d get the money quickly. It was ridiculousjusthow much a difference of a couple thousand dollars would make for me, though.

“Well, I’m sure you'll win anyway,” Seth replied.

I shook my head. “We’ll see.”

Still, it was hard not to be thrilled with his praise, like a reinforcement for my shaky confidence. I felt heat rise to my face, and my heart quickened. Seth just had a way of speaking that was so enthusiastic and genuine that even the most common, seemingly token responses seemed to be the sincerest admissions. And maybethatwas really what I liked most about him. He wasn’t fake or deceptive.

That, and his energy. He had an unrivaled enthusiasm that was impossibly infectious.

“I’m really glad you let me stay here. It really takes a load of stress off my shoulders. I was beginning to worry I’d have to move in with Skye.”

“Your sister?” he asked.

I nodded.

“I’m glad to know that I’m slightly better company than your sister,” Seth replied, his voice teasing. “I’ve spared you that horrible fate.”

“That isn’t what I meant. It’s different moving in with a friend than a family member, especially when you take into account years of sibling rivalries.”

“Can’t relate!”

“Count yourself lucky.”

He hummed and shifted on the sofa, turning so he faced me directly. In the dim light, his warm hazel eyes looked darker, more amber or brown. Seth leaned his head against the back of the sofa, raking a hand through his hair. “Despite any sibling rivalry, she seems to care a lot about you.”

“She does. Skye worries about me all the time,” I replied, “Because of… what happened.”

Seth’s face softened. I could see the questioning in his eyes. He wanted to know what I’d been going to say before I caught myself, but he wouldn’t ask. For all his seemingly flippantegocentrism, Seth really did understand other people well. He was kind. And the longer I hung out with him, the more I began to see that; the better I began to think of him.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to steady myself. I hadn’t shared this story in a long time. I tried not to think about it either. “My brother Lance died when I was a teenager, and I’ve not really been myself since that happened.”

“I’m so sorry.”