Sprawled across the sofa with her head in the boy’s lap was the girl; her beret had been removed and he was gently stroking her immaculate hair. Peter didn’t say much, which I found regrettable, because I felt awkward staring at him unless he was saying something. Gay sex I reasoned with a light sense of dread that Dominic had probably invited more people around; yes, I had seen him bring out at least three wine glasses, and none of them for me. I looked at myself in the mirror and felt rather handsome. My interactions with my two housemates – strangers whose flat I’d found advertised online – were minimal; they were both a little older than me, and we all worked full time and tended to be too tired or busy to socialise much beyond common courtesies. In the few times I had the gut to look at him, I saw that he was very kind looking, of a similar age to Linda and Dominic (I am 22 and they are in their mid-twenties), but much more handsome than his friend, with long, thick brown hair that was tousled back over a middle part, a crisp white collar, a baby blue cashmere jumper, and grey cords.
