Chapter 13 #2
Then his shock morphs into a sputtering laugh.
“You know, you’re probably right. I really do have a lot of pointless conversations.
” He studies me as we veer down the hallway to my dorm room, tapping his lip with his finger.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone be such a smartass to me. It’s kind of refreshing.”
We reach my dorm room then and come to a stop.
“You think my smartass-ness is refreshing?” I cock a brow at him as I attempt to balance my food in one hand so I can dig my phone out of my pocket.
“I do … Here, let me help.” He takes the plate and drink from me before I can protest. “Most of the people who go here are fake—plastic. And what makes it even worse is that because of our last name, so many people kiss our asses. Not that I’m complaining that I have it that bad. I get my entitlement.” He grins at me.
“I never said anything about that.” But I was thinking it.
“You were thinking it, though,” he says, like he can read minds.
I hate that he can, at least with me. Typically, I’m not an open book, but more like a locked journal stuffed under floorboards, underneath a bed, in a dungeon.
His smile widens. “And now you’re wondering if I can read minds.”
I roll my eyes but have to bite back a smile. “That’s not what I was thinking.”
“Liar,” he teases as I scan my code and the door beeps open.
“Maybe I am a liar. Maybe not.” I take my plate and cup from him. “You’ll probably never figure it out.”
“Actually, I don’t think you’re a liar. In fact, I think you might be the most honest person I know.”
“I’m really not.”
“We’ll see,” is all he says.
Resisting another eye roll and potential smile, I step over the threshold and into my room, lifting my foot to kick the door shut. But he places his hand against it, stopping me.
“I actually have a question for you.”
“Okay, you can ask it, but I won’t promise I’ll answer.” I set my food and drink down and turn to face him. “What’s up?”
His gaze sweeps across the room, and then his brows knit. “Wait—you’re rooming with my sister?”
“Is that your question?”
“No, I just realized her stuff is in here.”
“Oh. Well, yeah, I am. Why else do you think we were going to orientation together yesterday?”
He shrugs. “I just thought maybe you guys made friends.”
I waver. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, because I think your sister’s really nice, but I don’t think we would’ve even talked to each other had we not been roommates.”
He drags his teeth along his bottom lip.
“I don’t know. It’s not that surprising to me.
Sure, you guys seem like opposites—although I barely know you.
” A smile creeps onto his face again. “Well, other than you’re a smartass, which Lily isn’t.
Still, I get the whole social outcast vibe coming off you, and Lily can be like that sometimes.
Or, well, she has in the past.” He pulls a whoops face. “Please don’t repeat that.”
I snort a laugh. “Who would I tell? I haven’t talked to anyone besides Lily, Wren, you, River, and Noah.” I set my phone down beside my food. “Besides, it’s not my thing to gossip.”
“I wouldn’t guess it was. In fact, you seem like you’re the opposite …” He trails off. “Wait, you talk to Noah?”
“For like five seconds.” I pick up one of my slices of garlic bread and pop a chunk into my mouth. “And only because I was talking to River, and he came to talk to him, so he introduced himself.”
That seems to astonish him even more. “You were talking to River?”
“I just said I was. And you saw me the other day while I was.”
“But that’s not the time you’re referencing.”
“Well, no. I’m talking about while I was in my first class today.”
His shock magnifies. “So, you’ve talked to my brother twice already?”
“Yeah, so?” I shove another bite of bread into my mouth. “Why is everyone making such a big deal about this? I get his whole betrothed thing, but so what if we talked? Is he not allowed to talk, either?”
“No, he’s allowed to. He just doesn’t do it very often.” He leans against the doorjamb with his arms crossed. “You saw him in that jail cell, all silent and brooding. Well, that’s pretty much how he is twenty-four seven. He must like you or something.”
“He barely knows me, so I doubt it.”
“You don’t seem too impressed that he might.”
I smile cheekily. “Should I swoon, like I did over you in jail? Oh, wait, I did not do that, even though you tried to get me to.”
He drags his hand across his mouth to conceal a smile. “Hell, you’re entertaining.” He lowers his hand to his side. “We have to be friends.”
I cross my arms. “Friends, huh? Why do I get the feeling you don’t have female friends?”
“Hey, that’s not true at all.”
“Really? Or are you including friends with benefits?”
He squirms ever so slightly. “Okay, maybe that’s partially true. But I don’t screw every woman I talk to.” His squirminess shifts in the blink of an eye. “Besides, there’s a first for everything, right?” He dazzles me with a grin.
And for a moment, it works on me, as my heart flutters inside my chest. But seriously, what the hell?
Stop that, you dumbass heart. You have one job, and that’s to keep me alive. Not swoon.
I shake the feeling off to the best of my ability. “I guess.”
“So, what do you say?” He legit sticks out his hand. “Friends?”
Do I want to try to be friends with him and his pretty boy looks and charm? Sure, having as many friends as possible would be nice, but Finn’s flirty vibe could become a problem.
I keep my hands at my side. “Only if you promise not to flirt with me.”
His head bobs back as he lets out a groan. “Come on, Maddison. It’s like my natural personality to flirt.”
At least he’s being honest, I guess.
“But I’ll try to tone it down with you,” he adds with his hand still outstretched.
I eye his hand. Do I dare to do it? Because it kind of feels like I’m about to make a deal with the devil. A cute devil, albeit. But still, it could be a problem.
He juts out his lip. “Pretty please?”
“Oh, whatever.” I shake his hand. “Let’s be friends, Finn.”
“It’s a deal, Maddison.” He pauses. “What’s your last name, anyway?”
“It’s Averly. And if you’re going to be my friend, call me Maddy.”
“Maddy?” he muses. “That’s cute.”
I point a finger at him. “And you’re already flirting.”
“I’m just complimenting your name.” He flashes me his pearly whites as he removes his hand from mine. “So, new friend of mine, you’re going to the party tonight, right?”
I nod. “I have to since I promised your sister I’d go with her.”
“Good. I’ll introduce you to some people.” He backs toward the doorway. “That way, you won’t have to spend this year being a loner.”
“Hey, maybe I like being a loner.”
“Do you?”
“Sometimes.” I think. Truthfully, I don’t know any other way regarding life.
Sure, I have friends, but when you have my trust issues and grew up in a sketchy environment like I did, you get used to keeping your guard up.
“You sound just like River,” he remarks as he steps into the hallway. “No wonder he’s been talking to you.”
I lightly touch my chest. “Aw, and I thought it was because of my charming personality.” My tone oozes with sarcasm.
He smiles. “It’s probably a little bit of that, too.
” He falls silent for a second, studying me, an indecipherable look crossing his face.
But he promptly erases it, his signature smile returning.
“See you at the party, Maddy.” He winks at me before spinning around and strolling off down the hallway.
I close the door behind me, wondering what on earth I’ve gotten myself into, making a promise to be friends with the popular, beautiful star quarterback.
One day at this school, and I feel like I’ve already become someone else.
And I’m not sure if I hate it or like it.