“Ah, but here’s the problem with that: You were in said big, comfy bed and I didn’t feel like fighting off your drunken advances all night.”

Josh laughs. “Hey, you were just as smashed as I was so for all I know, I would’ve been fighting off your drunken advances all night.”

Devyn rolls her eyes. “Yeah, in your dreams, pig.”

Josh laughs harder this time, ruffles her hair again, and walks back into his room without another word. Seriously, what the hell is going on with these two? Josh has always been flirty with her but this feels different. Did something happen between them last night?

“What was that about?” I growl.

She raises her eyebrows. “What was what about?”

I fling my hand towards Josh’s room. “You and Josh. Since when are you two so touchy feely sharing coffee? Do you think your boyfriend would appreciate that?”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh geez, Riley. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. You and I normally share the same bed when I stay over and Brian’s never had a problem with it. He knows we’re just friends and he trusts me.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, I don’t like it. Josh is different.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “And why’s that?”

We’re interrupted again when Megan steps out of my bedroom. She looks thoroughly fucked but she clearly touched up her hair and makeup before coming out here. I look back towards Devyn and can’t help but appreciate how good she always looks first thing in the morning with no makeup, bed head, and a wrinkled tee.

Megan glares at Devyn. “What are you still doing here?”

Devyn takes another sip. “I stayed the night. I had too much to drink last night to walk back to the dorms and Josh was in no condition to drive me.”

Megan puts her hand on her hip and looks at me. “Does this happen often?”

I shrug. “Sometimes.” I intentionally leave out the part about Devyn usually sleeping in my room.

Devyn smirks when she sees the fire in Megan’s eyes. I can’t help but mirror her expression.

Megan saunters over to me, pulls my head down and kisses me. Hard. With a shit load of tongue. “I have to get going to Psych class. Thanks for the incredible night, baby. I think I’ll be walking funny for a week.” She winks as she walks out the door.

Devyn rolls her eyes again. “Incredible night, huh?”

I rub my neck, totally embarrassed by Megan’s over the top territorial behavior. I guess it’s time to end things with her. “Uh…I guess.”

Devyn laughs and says, “Well, Megan certainly seems to think so.”

“Yeah, Megan is actually starting to get on my nerves so I think I’m going to cut her loose.”

“Does she know that?”

I shrug. “She knew this wasn’t going anywhere when she signed up. We’re just having fun; she’ll be fine.”

“Fun?” Devyn asks. “Is that what you call it?”

“Yeah, fun. That’s all it ever is. These girls aren’t interested in getting to know me. They want one thing from me and I’m okay with that.”

“Don’t you get tired of it, Rye? Don’t you want a real connection with someone?”

I smile. “That’s what I have you for.”

Devyn bites her lip, looking frustrated, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” As she picks up her folded clothes and heads for the bathroom she adds, “I have to get going too. I’m supposed to meet Brian at ten o’clock.”

I keep talking to her through the door. “What are you guys up to this morning?”

“We’re just going to grab some coffee and head to the library.”

“Are you sure he’s okay with you staying here all the time?” I ask. “If I were him, I don’t think I would be.”

She comes out of the bathroom wearing her clothes from last night. “I swear. We’ve talked about it quite a few times. He says he’s secure enough in our relationship and if I say we’re just friends, he trusts me implicitly.”

“And why is it that we’re just friends again?” I try keeping my tone light to suggest that I’m joking, but I’m really not. We haven’t visited the subject since we first met, but last night I almost kissed her while we were playing around on the couch. I don’t know what came over me, but I know she sensed it, and I have a sneaking suspicion she might have actually kissed me back.

She pokes me in the chest with her index finger. “Because you, my friend, are a total slut.”

I laugh. “Oh, yeah, that’s right. Why do I keep forgetting that?”

Devyn shakes her head. “I have no idea. Lucky you have me around to keep reminding you, right?”

“Right,” I agree halfheartedly.

DEVYN

EVERY YEAR, I COME back home the week before fall semester begins to visit my parents’ graves. This year, Riley insisted on making the trip with me. We step through the wrought iron gates of Rogue Valley Cemetery and make our way over to an old oak tree.  A light breeze floats through the air carrying the scents of nearby rose bushes and an impending storm.

I kneel down and lovingly trace the dates on the simple, flat stones marking their graves. My mom was only thirty-eight when she died and my dad was forty-six. They both had so much life to live but God had other plans for them, I guess. “Hi, Mom and Dad."

Riley lowers himself to the ground and takes my hand, silently urging me to continue.

I nod towards Rye. “This is Riley. My friend from school that I was telling you about.” I look into his eyes and smile. “My best friend. We’re about to start our third year of college. I can’t believe we’re already halfway done. Before you know it, I’ll be taking the marketing world by storm with my brilliant ad campaigns and Riley will be a jet designer extraordinaire.”

Riley smiles and squeezes my hand. “You know it.”

I look back towards their graves and sniff back a tear. “I miss you both so much every day. I miss this town. I know you wanted me to follow in your footsteps and attend SOU but I just couldn’t be here every day, being reminded of everything that I’ve lost. I hope you’re proud of me, even if I am a Duck now.” I look back at Riley. “I have to believe that’s what I was meant to be. I wouldn’t have Riley if I wasn’t at U of O. I don’t know if I could’ve made it through the past two years without him.”

Riley pulls me into a side hug and kisses the top of my head. “Do you mind if I say something?”

I wrap my arm around his torso and hug him tighter. “Not at all.”

He clears his throat. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Summers. I know we haven’t officially met, but Devyn’s told me a lot about you. You raised the most incredible person I know and I wanted to thank you for bringing her into this world. I don’t know what I’d do without her and I promise I’ll take care of her. Hell, I’m even letting her drag me to a play tonight. That should tell you how invested I am in our girl here. I don’t willingly watch men in tights spit all over each other for just anyone.”

My sobs fall away as my laughter takes over. I love that he can cheer me up so easily. No one has ever been able to do so like he can. “Thank you, Rye.”

He squeezes me into him. “Cometh, milady. Let’s go see if you can change my mind about this festival.”

RILEY

FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH OCTOBER, the town of Ashland is taken over by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. They boast three theaters, rotating eleven plays throughout each season. While they also offer non-Shakespeare works, my mom would never consider attending anything that wasn’t written by the festival’s namesake himself. I’ve never been much of a fan, but Devyn apparently shares the same passion for good ol’ William.

We’re seeing Antony and Cleopatra tonight in the outdoor Elizabethan theater. Our seats are in the balcony so we have a perfect view of the pink and purple sky as the sun sets behind the mountains. I’m honestly not paying much consideration to the actors; I’m much more interested in the woman beside me. Every once in a while, Devyn looks over and catches me staring at her. She simply smiles and returns her eyes to the stage. I don’t think she has any clue that I’m studying her so closely. She watches with rapt attention for hours as Mark Antony repeatedly neglects his soldierly duties after being beguiled by the Queen of Egypt. Blah, blah, blah, battles are waged. Blah, blah, blah, they both die in the end. Typical tragedy.