Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“Aren’t you going to apologize?” Her lip curls, and her eyes narrow. “Do I know you?”
“I’m sorry. That was totally my fault,” Lovey says.
The girl’s eyes shift from me to her, and then to Lacey. “It’s your fault this klutz spilled my lunch all over the floor?”
As if some kind of karmic god has heard my prayer, BJ drops down at the table between Lacey and Lovey. He slings an arm over both of their shoulders. “It’s my favorite set of twins.”
“Hey, BJ.” The girl from the first day tosses her hair over her shoulder and gives him a simpering smile. Apparently the dropped soup and my missing apology are totally forgotten.
BJ glances at me, concern coloring his features for a moment before he turns his megawatt smile on the girls behind me. “’Sup, Bethany.”
“Are you guys having a party this weekend?” she asks.
BJ shrugs. “Dunno.”
“Well, if you are, me and my girls are up for some fun.”
“I’m sure you are.” BJ nods, but I can tell he’s fighting not to laugh, or say something incredibly malicious.
“Okay, well, hopefully see you around.” She and her friends strut down the aisle, leaving the broken bowl and a puddle of soup at my feet. It’s actually spread all the way to my backpack. I pick it up off the floor and set it on the seat beside me. I nab a napkin and wipe the soup off my leg. It must have been some cream variety because it looks like a cross between puke and jizz. It’s also all over my favorite pale purple Chucks, which means I’ll need to wash them when I get home.
BJ blows out a breath. “That girl is off her tits.”
“What’s her deal?” Lacey asks, lips pursed as she watches her walk away.
BJ shrugs, reaches around Lovey’s shoulder, and steals a cucumber slice from her salad. “Dunno, but based on what I’ve seen, she’s been bouncing around the hockey team circuit like a ping-pong ball.”
She rolls her eyes and elbows him in the side. “Why is it okay for guys to sleep with whoever they want and girls get labeled as sluts if they do?”
“I’m not calling her a slut. I just don’t think it’s smart to try to hook up with guys in the same friend group. It creates unnecessary drama.” He raps on the table. “Anyway, I got to get to class. Just wanted to stop by and say hi. I’ll see you later, Lav?”
“Probably?” The only place I tend to go other than home is the library or Lovey and Lacey’s, so there’s a pretty solid chance I’ll see BJ later.
I use a handful of napkins to mop up the puddle of soup before we take our trays over to the garbage and head out. Lacey and Lovey both have class. While we’re walking, Lovey sends Dylan a message asking if he’s interested in tutoring a friend in economics.
He responds right away, asking which friend.
Lovey throws me a saucy smile as she types my name. Less than fifteen seconds pass before a new message appears:
Dylan
When and where? I have time this afternoon.
Which is how I end up at the library less than an hour later in one of the study rooms with Dylan. He suggested a café, but that would feel too much like a date, and I’m less likely to run into any of my family members in the library.
The first few minutes are a little awkward, because I’m nervous and can’t remember everything I said to him when we were talking at that party. But he’s really nice and seems totally happy to help me out. He’s tall and lean with blond hair, gray eyes, and a nice smile. I pull out the test I failed.
“Oh wow, did you take this hungover?”
I’m pretty sure it’s meant to be a joke, but not really.
I smooth out the paper, feeling heat creeping into my cheeks. “Unfortunately no. I just really suck at all the calculations, which is kind of ironic because my mom’s an accountant.” I’m afraid I’m about to start rambling. “Anyway, we only have this room booked for an hour, and clearly I need a lot of help, so . . .” I trail off.
The way he smiles at me makes me nervous. “I don’t mind. Let’s figure out where you went wrong, so we can get you back on track.”
An hour later, I sort of understand where I messed up, but I don’t think Dylan has ever tutored anyone, and he tends to skip a lot of steps by saying magic happens. As far as I can tell, there isn’t any magic, just a lot of stuff that makes my brain hurt. I’ll consider myself lucky if I pass this course.
It’s overcast when we leave the library, so Dylan offers to drive me home. It’s not far, but on the off chance the threat of rain becomes real, I agree. My palms start to sweat as soon as I get in the car. I know him just well enough to make the ride possible at all, and now that I’m alone with him, my mouth goes dry.