Tonight, I had company over—my girlfriends Maria and Anna—for a cozy board game night. We had snacks spread out on the table, the scent of freshly popped popcorn filling the air, but we were missing one crucial element: a fourth player.
"Anh, you can't just invite us for a board game night and not have the full team ready," Maria complained, folding her arms dramatically.
Anna chimed in, gesturing to the empty chair. "Yeah, this is breaking board game etiquette! How are we supposed to win with just the three of us?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, the door clicked open, and Kieran walked in, fresh from his evening run. His hair was slightly messy, his light hoodie clinging to him just enough to hint at the effort he'd put in.
The girls' eyes widened in unison, their playful complaints fading into stunned silence. Maria leaned closer to Anna, whispering loudly enough for me to hear, "Wait, you didn't tell us you had a hot roommate."
Anna shot me a mock glare, nudging my arm. "Anh, are you hiding secrets from us? Like, seriously, how did this not come up before?"
I let out a long exhale. "Evening, Kieran," I greeted him. "By the way, my friends think you're hot. So... do you want to take a quick shower and join us? Because we're missing a fourth player—pretty pleaseeee???"
Kieran raised an eyebrow, smirking as he pulled off his hoodie. As he did, his t-shirt rode up slightly, revealing a glimpse of his muscular back. The girls immediately went wild, Maria clutching Anna's arm dramatically as they both stifled exaggerated squeals.
"Hot roommate, huh? That's a first." He chuckled, glancing at the girls. "Give me ten minutes and I'll be back to crush all of you at whatever game this is."
"Thanks, hun," I called out to him with a grin. As soon as he disappeared down the hall, Maria and Anna pounced, their eyes wide with exaggerated outrage.
"Explain. Now," Maria demanded, pointing at me.
Anna nodded fervently. "How could you not mention him before? What kind of friend keeps this a secret?"
I laughed. "I didn't know you were interested in my roommate situation?" I said. "He's been here for, I think, almost four months? A really chill guy, good roommate too," I added, my tone of voice slightly dreamy.
Maria and Anna exchanged knowing looks, Maria smirking. "Uh-huh, 'good roommate,' sure. That tone says otherwise. Spill it, Anh!"
I hesitated for a brief moment, was it really just friendly banter between roommates, or was there something else creeping in? I shook the thought away, forcing a light laugh.
I laughed again. "What are you guys implying?" I said. "There's nothing going on between us, plus you guys know I'm still with Nate."
Maria rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, yeah, we know. Doesn't mean we can't speculate though."
Anna grinned, nudging me. "Exactly. We're just saying—it's a little too cozy in here for 'just roommates.'"
A while later, Kieran came out fresh from the shower, wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, his hair slightly damp from the shower. As he leaned casually against the doorway, the room seemed to hold its breath. Maria and Anna stared at him like he was the best thing to happen since sliced bread, their jaws slightly dropping in unison. Even I couldn't help but let my gaze linger a moment too long, feeling a warmth spread through me that I quickly tried to push away. It was frustrating how effortlessly he fit into my world, how easy it was to get caught up in the way he moved, the way he laughed. I shook myself internally, reminding myself that this was just a friendly moment, nothing more. And yet, my fingers tightened slightly around my drink as if grounding myself from thoughts I wasn't ready to acknowledge.
"Alright, I'm ready to win. What game am I destroying you all at?" he said with a playful smirk, oblivious to the effect he was having on the room.
"Come sit," I said, patting the seat next to me. "We're playing Hegemony, so this will take a while. Is that okay?" I asked, grinning. "It's Friday night—I'm not sure if you want to spend it with a bunch of nerds."
Kieran raised an eyebrow as he took the seat, the smirk never leaving his face. "Are you kidding? Nerds are my people. Plus, destroying you guys sounds like the perfect way to spend the evening."
Maria leaned over, whispering to Anna but loud enough for me to hear. "He's way too confident. We need to humble him."
Anna giggled, nodding. "Let's take him down."
"Right, before I get flayed by my friends," I said, waving a hand toward them. "This is Maria, and this is Anna. Maria and Anna, meet Kieran—my roommate of four months."
Kieran gave them a charming smile and a slight nod. "Nice to meet you both. So, which one of you is going to lose to me first?"
Maria raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Confident much? You've got a lot to prove, new guy."
Anna laughed, pointing at the board. "Don't get too cocky; we play to win here."
We played until late into the night, the room filled with laughter, playful banter, and the occasional exaggerated groans of defeat. It struck me how different this felt from the nights I had spent with Nate—he never joined our board game nights, brushing them off as childish or a waste of time. Kieran, on the other hand, fit right in, engaging with Maria and Anna like he'd known them forever, making the entire evening feel effortless and fun. The atmosphere was amazing, lighthearted and warm, and at some point, the girls managed to bully Kieran into making them cocktails.
"Come on, Kieran," Maria whined dramatically. "You can't just sit there looking all impressive—you've got to show us you've got skills."
Anna chimed in, grinning. "Yeah, hot roommates have to pull their weight. It's, like, a rule."
Kieran raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling as he leaned back slightly against the counter, exuding an effortless confidence. "Alright, alright, but don't blame me if my cocktails ruin your game strategy." He shot a playful wink at Maria and Anna, shaking his head in amusement before rolling up his sleeves with deliberate ease, as if he was about to put on a real show. He headed to the kitchen, rolling his sleeves up as he scanned the ingredients with an easy confidence.
As he mixed the drinks, he couldn't help but enjoy the playful chaos, a sense of belonging settling over him. There was something about Anh's presence that added to the warmth—her laughter, the way she so effortlessly brought people together, and even the way her smile lingered when she looked at him. These moments feel too good to be true, he thought briefly, a flicker of something unspoken crossing his mind.
The girls' laughter and their teasing demands only added to the evening's energy, but it was Anh who made it feel uniquely special. She had a way of lighting up the room, her laughter infectious and her presence grounding. As I watched him, I felt an unexpected warmth in my chest. He was funny, witty, and effortlessly charming, going along with Maria and Anna's shenanigans without a hint of complaint. It was impossible not to admire how natural he made it all seem, and in that moment, I caught myself feeling something more—a quiet appreciation for how easily he'd become such an important part of my world. A small hesitation flickered in my chest, a sudden awareness of how much I enjoyed having him around. Was this just friendship, or was there something else creeping in? I pushed the thought away as quickly as it came, unwilling to untangle whatever it was stirring inside me.
The silence stretched for a beat too long before I cleared my throat, shaking my head. "You really have no shame, huh?"
Kieran grinned, taking a bite of his eggs. "None at all. But at least I'm honest about it."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. I wasn't sure when exactly breakfast had turned into something that made my heart race, but I knew one thing—it was getting harder to pretend it was just another casual morning. And yet, acknowledging it felt like stepping over a line I wasn't ready to cross. I swallowed, pushing the thought away, telling myself that I was overthinking it. Maybe it was just the comfort of routine, the ease of familiarity. But as I looked at Kieran, his gaze lingering on mine for a fraction too long, I wondered how much longer I could keep pretending.