When in Paris... (Language of Love)
side. My gaze flicks to April. I don’t know her well enough to read her. Initial impression is that she’s a big flirt.
    Rocking back on his heels, Troy crosses his arms over his chest. “Look who the cat dragged in,” he states, his tone dry but full of affection.
    April laughs in response, her eyes alight with amusement as she quickly closes the gap between them, her arms outstretched in welcome. Troy immediately enfolds her in his arms, dropping all pretense of reserve.
    “ Damn, Rosie, I think you’ve grown a couple inches since I last saw you.”
    Huh? Rosie?
    “ I thought you said her name was April?” Now I’m confused. Had he been talking about another girl?
    After a prolonged hug, they part, still grinning at each other. Peering at me over the top of her head, Troy replies with a laugh, “Yeah, April Rose Wheeler. I only call her Rosie when I want to piss her off.”
    To that, she playfully punches him in the arm.
    Right. And Troy had said his “friend” April was pretty. What a load of crap. Olivia’s friend is nothing less than stunning. But Troy has a girlfriend so what’s up with that? Or maybe I’m reading it all wrong and they are just friends. But then, that’s me, I’m cynical that way. All I know is that I couldn’t have a “friend” like her and keep things strictly platonic. At some point I’d try to nail her.
    “ And this is Olivia. You remember Olivia don’t you?” April grabs Troy by the hand and pulls him over to Olivia. Not that she has to pull because my roommate goes all too willingly.
    “ Oh my God, I can’t believe how much you’ve changed,” Olivia breathes, staring up at Troy, her eyes wide and round.
    I admit my roommate’s a good-looking guy. Not that I’d ever actually say it to another living soul. And if I didn’t have two eyes, the eight weeks I roomed and hung out with him during football training camp would attest to that fact. When we’d gone out, he’d always had a slew of girls hitting on him.
    The way Olivia is reacting to him reminds me of those girls when they first saw him; like she’s blinded by his looks. And the appreciative glint in Troy’s eyes tells me he likes what he sees. Don’t get me wrong, as far as I can tell he’s faithful to his girlfriend, and I guess looking isn’t a crime. As long as he restricts it just to that.
    I must have gotten lost in thought because the next thing I know it’s silent and the three of them are staring at me while I’m staring at Olivia.
    “ You and Olivia went to the same high school?” Troy is incredulous as his gaze darts between us.
    So that’s what I missed. “Yeah, Apple Grove High School.”
    “ Really,” Troy says, drawing out the word, making it more of a statement than question. Speculation shines in his eyes.
    “ We didn’t have many classes together.” Olivia is quick to explain our lack of familiarity, why we aren’t more at ease with one another. I guess which is when I realize how serious I must appear. Or standoffish. Or both.
    Troy arches a brow as he motions between us. “Did you two know you’d be going to the same college?”
    After darting an uneasy look at me, Olivia shakes her head. “No. I think we were both pretty shocked when we saw each other in class today.” She gives a little laugh as she glances at me again.
    There’s an awkwardness about the whole situation that causes a knot of tension to form in my shoulders. But something it’s obvious we’re going to have to get past. I mean, my roommate and hers are “friends” and we have a class together.
    The silence is broken by the buzz of the door.
    “ That’s the food,” Troy announces moving toward the door, his hand reaching for the wallet in his back pocket.
    I lead the way to the living room and after a pause, Olivia and April follow. Sliding my backpack off my shoulder and onto the floor, I nod toward the couch and armchair. “Have a seat.” As both girls move in that direction, I step in front of

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