“Yeah, and you liked the White Claws that you drank out on my friend’s boat as we cruised around the lake, better.” Despite my love for tea, it was more fun. James convinced his friend to let me and seven of my girlfriends take over his boat for a day. It was fun for many reasons, the biggest being any time I can see James shirtless is a win, and at one point, he and his friend jumped off the boat. And while three of my friends ended up puking from one too many drinks, it was pretty great.

“Fair.” I watch as he spoons some food onto a plate for me and puts it in the microwave.

“I know it’s better on the stove, but I’m starving, are you good with this?”

“I’m an undergraduate student; I don’t even have access to a stove unless I go to the common room in the basement of my dorm or come here. Microwave is perfect.”

Twenty minutes later, after he’s changed into more comfortable clothes, we’re in his living room watching some movie about the end of the world. Well, he’s watching. I’m alternating between eating and trying to read over my notes for the hundredth time. He’s on the couch behind me and I’m sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table with my books littering the space.

Silence fills the room and when I look up, I realize he’s muted the television. “Gab, is this distracting you? I know you need to study.”

“No!” I say it a little quicker than I intended, but I don’t want him to leave. I liked being here with him even if I’m studying and he’s watching a movie. I just wanted to be in his space. I pick up the white carton and pull some rice to my lips.

“As many times as we’ve had Chinese food together and you’re still using a fork,” he says as he pulls the noodles to his full lips with chopsticks.

“We can’t all be perfect,” I tell him with a middle finger and a cheesy smile that I know makes my dimples pop out.