“Not exactly,” I admitted. “I guess we just… reached a compromise.”
“You did?”
“I wasn’t ok with all the parties he was having, and he agreed to tone down the partying. That was our major point of difference.”
“Hmm…”
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
I rolled my eyes. “What mom?” I said. “Just say whatever it is you’re thinking.”
“Sounds like there’s more there…”
“Of course you would think that.”
“Am I wrong?”
Of course, she wasn’t wrong, but I was reluctant to admit it to her. I thought about the kiss we had shared. Neither Devlin nor I had ever brought it up since I’d moved back, but I could feel it there between us in quiet moments. There was definitely something between us and I knew it needed to be addressed soon or it would explode out of our control.
“You’re not… totally wrong,” I admitted, at last.
“Ah-ha.”
I laughed. “How about we grab dinner soon?” I suggested.
“Of course, let me know when you’re free.”
I promised her I would and just as we wrapped up our conversation I came upon my building. It was past nine o’clock, and I knew that Devlin’s friends would have arrived by now. Sure enough, I heard light music as I entered the apartment. There were only a handful of people around. Jay and Chelsea were sitting on the couch while David and Trevor sat on the floor passing chips around the group. Devlin came in from the kitchen just as I walked up to the small group.
“Hey, you,” he said, and he looked happy to see me.
“Zoey,” Chelsea greeted. “Come join us… we were talking about the exhibit that Devlin has coming up.”
“Oh yeah… I’m excited about that too.”
“I don’t even know if this will happen,” Devlin said. “That bastard Gordon keeps postponing the exhibit date.”
“Good things come to those who wait,” Trevor said.
Devlin threw him the bird, and the group laughed.
“Excuse me, guys,” I said. “I’m just a little tired today. I might turn in early.”
“You’re always turning in early,” David said. “Come on… forget sleep and chill out with us.”
“Leave her alone, guys,” Devlin said immediately. “She’s actually got drive and discipline… unlike the rest of us.”
As the others rushed to defend themselves against that statement I slipped away and went to my room. About fifteen minutes later, I heard a knock on my door, and I went to open it to find Devlin standing there with a couple of bottles of beer.
“Hi,” I said, a little surprised to see him. “What’s up?”
“Those losers are boring,” he said. “So I decided to sneak away some beers and come see how you were doing.”
I smiled. “Come on in.”
When he walked inside, I closed the door and looked at him curiously. “Doesn’t being in here with me kind of defeat the purpose of inviting your friends over.”