7. Hadley
Hadley
“H ey,” Katie says, closing the front door. “Another lasagna?” She eyes the lasagna I recently pulled from the oven. The sauce is still bubbling between the thick layers of mozzarella.
“It’s the last one for a while,” I assure her. It’s my third this week.
“I’m not complaining, but my waist might.”
I grin. We’ve barely made a dent in most of the pans of lasagna that we’ve been taste-testing before I pawn them off to different neighbors.
I still haven’t found the right balance between acidity, sweetness, and spice.
I spent most of my day, reading reviews and tips from different lasagna recipes, jotting down a dozen notes that I implemented today along with some other tips I’ve learned from previous recipes.
“This is a serious commitment,” she says, moving beside the oven and eyeing the lasagna.
“It will be ready in about thirty minutes if you want to try it.”
“I just got done having dinner with Carsen.”
“Where’d you guys go?” Over the past week, I’ve been making an effort to engage with Hannah and Katie, and they’re beginning to reciprocate the efforts, making the aches from missing April less noticeable.
“We tried that new Greek restaurant that left the coupons on campus.”
“Was it good?”
She nods, before leaning closer to the lasagna and taking a deep breath through her nose. “Not as good as this smells. What did you change this time?”
“I added finely minced carrots and did half sweet Italian sausage and half spicy Italian sausage.”
“It smells amazing.” She moves back to her position leaning against the counter.
Katie’s hair is a darker shade than Hannah’s and comes down just past her shoulders and is usually curled in beach waves.
Her eyes are a dark blue that don’t remind me of Nolan’s in shape or color, and she hates all sports, which surprises me even more now that I know Nolan plays football at such a competitive and elite level.
“You’re welcome to it. In fact, I insist. I need to know if you notice the carrots.”
“Have you heard from April lately? I haven’t emailed her in a month. She probably thinks I’m mad at her.”
I never told Katie or Hannah about Ezra and April, maybe it was because school was ending soon, or because I wasn’t very close with them, but I think a part of it had to do with embarrassment and a strange sense of loyalty that had me wanting to spare her feelings and our roommates’ reactions.
“We kind of grew apart over the summer and haven’t talked much. ”
“I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
I shake my head, dismissively. “No. It’s fine.”
Her brow furrows as she looks at me for another minute.
I think she wants to delve into it further, ask for details or maybe confirmation, but she seems to feel the same uncertainties about our relationship and flashes a supportive smile, instead.
“How have things been going with Nolan? Has he done anything stupid or obnoxious I should know about? I feel bad that I’ve spent every night at Carsen’s but having him stay here seems awkward as fuck. ”
I chuckle, leaning my chin in my hands. “Are he and Nolan friends?”
“Carsen has a total man crush on Nolan. I swear. It’s so weird. And Nolan shoots Carsen warning glares every time he stands beside me.”
My laughter fills the kitchen, trying to imagine Carsen, who I never see without a polo or button down and slacks, his hair always slicked back, trying to navigate Nolan’s intimidating posturing.
“Does your brother try and pull the same big brother, overprotective crap?”
I shake my head. “I think because of our age difference it deterred it. He was already moved out of the house before I started middle school. He might have tried playing the role with Lanie, but I’m pretty sure she would have kicked him in the ass if he tried.”
Katie grins. “You’re lucky. Normally, I don’t mind staying at Carsen’s, but his roommate has been off this week, and I don’t enjoy living out of my trunk.”
“Maybe Nolan will get over it if he sees him stay a couple of nights. You might have to test the theory unless you want to try convincing Carsen to sneak in your bedroom window.”
“I’m not opposed to the idea.” She seems to consider the possibility. “That oak tree is right outside my window.”
I chuckle, trying to imagine Carsen climbing a tree in his leather loafers. “Carsen will break his arm, or leg, or both so unless you have plans to play naughty nurse games that likely won’t be that fun, you might want to revise that plan.”
She sighs. “I’ll probably just keep staying at Carsen’s until Nolan gets this out of his system and moves back into the dorm. He’s only doing this to prove a point. Besides, Carsen’s roommate doesn’t care.”
“What point is Nolan making?”
“That his coach nor the university can tell him what to do. Nolan has always hated conformity. It’s like he’s allergic to being told what to do. Tell him to duck and he’ll jump, tell him to slow down and he’s going to sprint.”
That itch beneath my skin seems to come alive at her words.
“And he gets away with it because he’s a boy and he can run fast and catch a ball, so people believe that makes him special.”
“But Camden requires a lot from their athletes, doesn’t it?”
Katie tilts her head fractionally. “Genetics or the laws of nature were too kind to him. It’s infuriating because he’s smart, smarter than smart but he wastes it.
He doesn’t care about school or his career, sometimes I’m not even sure he cares about football.
” She shakes her head as though ridding the negative path our conversation is heading down.
“Anyway, if he does do anything stupid or annoying, just let me know. I told him that living here is conditional and if he does anything to piss one of you off, he’s out. ”
“You guys aren’t very close, are you?”
“We were.” Pain lances her features for a fraction of a second. “But then he became Mr. Popular jock, and all he cared about was parties, and being the coolest guy in his class.”
It’s my turn to wince, seeing her betrayal and disappointment in her frown and bowed shoulders.
“Enough about Nolan. What are you doing at home?”
I release a weighted sigh. “Debating how important my degree is,” I admit.
Katie raises her brow and pulls her chin back. “Rough day?”
“Rough week. I’m taking a public speaking class, and it’s literally the worst class ever. Our professor is making us give our first speech Monday, and I have no idea what I’m going to talk about. I have the weekend to write it.”
“Ah. So you’re pre-suffering.”
“I’m suffering adjacent,” I correct her.
She rolls her eyes as the front door opens, and Nolan appears. His blonde hair is slightly mussed perfection, and that damn jaw has my gaze slipping to his lips before glancing at the Camden Knight’s tee that seems to emphasize his broad chest, wide shoulders, and Chris Hemsworth-worthy biceps.
Katie clears her throat, and my attention snaps to her as my heart rate accelerates and I straighten, feeling the hint of guilt for nearly—partially—checking out her brother.
“Maybe you need to get out and do something to keep yourself from pre-suffering. It’s Friday night,” Katie says.
“Whoa, whoa.” Nolan moves closer, setting a drink and brown takeout box on the counter between Katie and me and then placing his hand across her forehead. “Are you sick or have you been abducted? Because you may not realize this, but you just suggested someone go out and have a good time.”
Katie bats him away. “Why are you here?”
He smiles triumphantly. “I live here.”
“But it’s Friday night,” Katie says. “Why aren’t you out at a party or making poor decisions in someone else’s house.”
His lips twist with amusement that doesn’t hit his eyes. “We have a game tomorrow.”
“When has that ever stopped you?” Katie asks.
His smile turns fiendish. “Since I gained roommates to hang out with.”
Katie rolls her eyes. “We’re not having a party. Don’t even think about it.”
Nolan raises both hands, doing his best to look innocent, though it’s a stretch even with the stance. “I wouldn’t dare break the house rules. It’s just me and my team snack.” He motions to the drink and box.
“I can’t believe they make you guys’ snacks.
You guys are so pampered. I swear, they’d wipe your asses if you let them,” Katie says, reaching for the box.
She opens the flaps, revealing popcorn, chicken tenders, and two granola bars.
“This isn’t a snack, it’s a meal.” She grabs a piece of popcorn, tossing it in her mouth.
“They make you snacks?” The question is out of my mouth before I can stop it.
I’ve been avoiding Nolan all week, in part because I’ve begun questioning if our conversation was actually an elaborate dream considering he’s done and said nothing, and also because of the flair of intrigue that flashes warm in my chest whenever I see him.
“Jealous?” he asks, turning his gaze—which is bluer tonight—on me. “You only have to run twenty miles, and practice forty hours a week to earn it.” He continues to look at me, tracking across my face as though we’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in years.
“Don’t pout,” Katie says. “You love it. You love the attention and the game and all the snacks.”
His gaze moves from my mouth to Katie. “I didn’t say I don’t.”
Katie grabs another handful of popcorn and turns to me.
“You should go out. Have fun. Find that P.A. you were hanging out with last year. What was his name? Ezra?” For most of our freshmen year, Katie was the most studious and intense person I knew.
She spent every moment studying, skipping parties, and all the activities others were clamoring to do with their newfound freedom.
Hannah was nearly as dedicated and watching them influenced me to work just as hard.
However, Katie changed her tune after meeting Carsen last spring.
I’m still trying to acclimate to this version of her that doesn’t consider college parties ridiculous, risky, and misogynistic.