I stood dithering outside the hallway leading to the twins' wing wearing the pajamas someone, probably Ash, had laid out for me.
I
had laid out a soft pair of flannel pj pants and a matching t-shirt only to find it replaced with a black and red striped long sleeved shorts romper. It was made of a soft ribbed knit and had small black buttons marching down the entire center front till it got to a drawstring at the hips. He had laid out matching lacy boy-shorts and a fuzzy black shorty robe and socks. It managed to be both cute and sexy while still being kind of my style though I don't remember purchasing any of these things so I'm not sure where they came from. The scoop neck did have the unfortunate side effect of really showcasing the scar around my neck but the t-shirt I'd chosen wouldn't have hidden it and it had left my both of my arms entirely bare. I just didn't have any comfortable-house-only clothing that covered my scars efficiently. I hadn't lived with anyone in so long I'd stopped worrying about what I looked like at home.
Now I was standing here tying and untying the robe, I had already taken out the braid I'd put my hair in straight out of the shower, the messy bun that had followed that and the jaunty ponytail that had followed that. I had very briefly debated pigtails but thought that looked too much like I was aiming for the sleepover-in-a-porno look. I had just settled for tying the robe at the back and just pulling my loose hair forward over one of my shoulders. Now should I leave the romper at two undone buttons or go down one more? I didn't want to look desperate. I wasn't desperate. I should be satisfied. I was satisfied. Did I look satisfied? Desperate? Nervous? I guess I didn't want to seem like a hypocrite or a tease after what had happed earlier. But hadn't I already been a bit of a hypocrite by sleeping with Ash immediately after claiming I needed more time with the twins?
"Boo," a deep voice whispered right into my ear causing me to scream out loud and leap at least twelve inches into the air. The pulse pounding in my ears from the heart attack I'd just had still didn't block out the masculine laughter now echoing around the mostly empty space. I turned to see who I guessed to be Soma doubled over in laughter with tears streaming out of his eyes precariously holding a bowl of popcorn and some cream sodas. I saw Ash and Nichelle shaking their heads in the doorway from where they'd run to check on my outburst.
"Ty takoy mudak!" I cursed at him in Russian. I crossed my arms and marched down the hallway and into the room with the lights on. Surya was coming out of his closet wearing jersey pj pants and pulling on a white ribbed tank top, the kind my brother used to call wife-beaters or just beaters for short. He fished the loose waterfall of his hair out from under it and smiled at me, a slightly puzzled expression on his face, gesturing to the bed which was absolutely bursting with pillows and what looked like three extra blankets. I smiled thinking that it looked far more like the site of a demolished pillow fort than a debauched seduction.
"Hey I'm not an asshole!" Soma insisted from behind me. I snorted but was still surprised. Surya just rolled his eyes and held his hand out to me.
"I didn't know you spoke Russian," I was still miffed but that didn't stop me from graciously accepting Suryas hand to help me climb onto the high bed.
"
I
don't, but Ash does and he told me what you said before he called me an idiot and walked away.
We
speak Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, Hindi, Arabic and obviously English," He threw himself onto the bed after handing Surya the sodas and impressively didn't spill any of the popcorn from the overfull bowl. Surya handed me the remote for the tv and a now opened bottle before climbing up next to me sandwiching me in never having said a word. I felt heat rising to my face but diligently concentrated on bringing up the Netflix menu, I smiled when I saw that Nichelle had already made herself a profile and given herself the eyepatch supervillain face.
"Cool, about the languages I mean," ack, what am I even saying? I leaned forward so they were both behind me and maybe wouldn't see my red face. "Do you have a genre preference?" I asked taking a deep drink of the sweet soda, hoping to lower my core temperature in general. Was it hot in here. Maybe it was the robe?