Chapter 10 Donovan
Carrie falling on her ass must have really messed her up, because ever since that day, she’s been super weird.
Some kind of brain injury, I’m guessing.
I thought she’d been mellowing recently, but she’s now regressed back into the uptight librarian she was when we first met—bitchy putdowns and all.
Today is the perfect example of how off she’s being—we’ve just met at the library, and I keep catching her looking over at me with this weird-ass expression on her face.
And every time I glance her way, she snaps her eyes elsewhere as if she weren’t totally staring.
Carrie has never been normal, though. I need to remember that. I just feel like now she’s trying to act normal and it’s freaking me out.
“You’re looking at me like you’re two seconds away from shoving that book down my throat,” I sigh, flipping a page. “Was that rimming joke too much?” I think for a moment. “I guess it did sound better when Lewis told it.”
“I doubt it would sound better when anyone tells it,” she says with an eye roll. “I’m just trying to figure out what to do with you. That’s why I’m looking at you.”
“Okay. Well, it’s… disturbing.”
“Poor baby!” She simpers. “It must be so hard to be you. Sorry I’m not eye-fucking you like your little fan club over there. Care to tell her we’re actually here to work?”
I follow her gaze. A cute redhead keeps glancing our way. She’s been checking me out since I got here—as subtle as a searchlight.
“It’s annoying as hell. I feel so bad for your future girlfriend.”
“Are you in a bad mood for any specific reasons,” I prod, “or is this just your default setting today?”
This isn’t the first time a girl has tried to pick me up during one of our classes, and it’s never bothered Carrie this much.
“I’m not in a bad mood, Donovan. This is just who I am. Got a problem with that?” She raises an eyebrow.
“I mean—”
“It’s settled, then,” she cuts in. “So, what chapter are you on?”
“Chapter eleven.”
“You read the fight scene?”
I rest my chin in my hand. “Which one? These two fight every ten pages. ‘Oh my God, you lied to me!’ ‘Oh my God, why were you talking to her?’ ‘Oh my God—’ ”
“It’s called life.”
“Umm, not even close.”
“Umm, yes.” She squints her eyes at me. “Google the top reasons couples fight. It’s literally that.”
“I’m not saying couples don’t argue—of course they do. I’m just saying that’s literally all that happens in this book.”
“It literally isn’t. And anyway, you should meet my parents.” She sighs.
“They fight a lot?”
“Not anymore.”
She’s avoiding my gaze. A sore point, then. I’d love to hear more, but this doesn’t seem like the right time to go sniffing around, and I’m pretty sure if I did ask, she’d just snap and tell me her private life was never part of our deal.
“Anyway! Think of all that fighting as inspiration—it’s basically a what-not-to-do guide.”
“Meaning?”
She starts checking off the points with her fingers.
“No getting jealous for no good reason. No over-the-top possessiveness. And no acting like a totally normal situation is the world’s biggest betrayal.
” She glances at me. “Though in your case, priority number one is not giving the girl a reason to feel jealous—that means stop checking out every piece of ass that goes by like you’re sizing up a potential replacement.
And another thing,” she adds, “is no putting your friends before her, and no getting yourself into situations where she could assume the worst. So, even if a girl is just a friend, no meeting up one-on-one on the sly—”
“Solid advice. Though they always end up having insane makeup sex in the end.”
She snorts. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a real intellectual, Donny?” She taps my book. “Now—a little less conversation, a little more action.”
I do as I’m told, except I decide to read aloud.
“Donovan! We’re in a library.” Carrie hisses.
“Okay, okay!” I roll my eyes. “Jeez…”
I go back to reading in my head, and I’m soaking up the main characters’ post-hookup antics when a booming voice breaks the silence.
“Wolinskiii!”
Carrie swears, and I can hear someone tutting behind me.
I look up. The guy who just yelled at me is striding over toward us, and I have no idea who this dude is.
I’m just about to say hi when I realize that I’m not his target at all.
He makes a beeline for Carrie, stepping behind her chair and grabbing hold of her bun, ruffling her hair.
“How’s my favorite little Wolinski doing?”
The guy rests his chin on Carrie’s shoulder, and I’m so confused right now.
“I’m… good…?” I try.
He glances at me for all of a second, before turning back to my love coach. Her cheeks are flushed.
“I was talking to her.” He nods. “But glad to hear you’re doing good, dude.”
“I’m Wolinski,” I snap.
He beams. “So’s she.”
I freeze. Slowly, I lock eyes with Carrie.
“Your name is Carrie Wolinski?”
“Yeah?” She shrugs.
The guy tugs on one of her curls. “You free sometime this week?”
She looks up at him. “I’m actually crazy busy, but I’m sure I can make time.”
“Nice glasses, by the way. They new?”
The pair of them exchange smiles, and I glance back and forth between them. I’m so confused right now. They seem to know each other super well. I do not like this guy swooping in and stealing my tutor from under me like that.
He straightens. “Gotta run. Catch you this weekend? I’ll call you!”
He pinches her nose affectionately and gives me a quick wave before striding back across the library. Asshole.
“How come he’s allowed to call you?” I frown.
“We’re from the same town. I’ve known John practically my whole life.”
“You sleeping with him?”
Shit. The words just came spilling out of me. She widens her eyes.
“I am not having this conversation,” she says curtly, playing with her glasses.
“So, yeah—you’re sleeping with him.” I snicker. “Don’t be such a pearl-clutcher, Wolinski.” I stretch my legs out and fold my arms behind my head. “I can’t believe you have the same last name as me.”
“Oh no!” She brings a hand to her chest. “Tough finding out you’re not speshul?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked.”
“Right…”
I guess she’s got a point—I barely know anything about her. I’m so used to hanging out with extroverted girls, I’m only just realizing how little Carrie has shared about herself. And that suddenly makes me feel uncomfortable.
“Have you got family in Poland?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “By the time my grandparents came over, there was nobody left.”
“My grandma is still in Rybnik. Sometimes my dad flies out to see her.”
“I’ve never been. I heard Poland’s beautiful.”
“It’s been a long time since I visited, but I plan on heading back there for a few days once I’m done with school. You should come!” I beam. “I could show you around Warsaw. I bet you’d love it.”
She bursts out laughing.
“What?” I protest. “We could make it into a Wolinski road trip!”
“Sure we could.” She laughs again. She seems to think this is some kind of joke.
Slowly, her smile fades. “Wait, are you serious?”
“What? No.” I force a laugh. This is so awkward. If she thinks I was just messing around, then fine. “You can relax.”
She’s right—what was I even thinking?
She dives back into her book, looking relieved, and I sit there staring at her, wondering why the hell I opened my mouth in the first place. The truth is I’ve been getting a little too comfortable around her, and that’s starting to feel… dangerous. So yeah—thanks for the reality check.
I try to focus back on the chapter, but I’m not feeling it anymore.
“I think I’m done for the day,” I announce, snapping the book shut. “Want a ride home?”
“I’m good, thanks. I’m going to stick around here for a while.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“You’ll text me tomorrow, you mean.”
“But that other guy gets to call you?” I whine, tidying my stuff away. “You know, one day you’re gonna be so obsessed with me you’ll beg me to answer the phone!”
It was supposed to be a joke, but now that I’ve said it out loud, it sounds weird, and I’m kind of cringing.
“Oh, I’m sure I will.” She snickers. “I’m sure I’ll declare my undying love for you when we go on that epic Polish adventure.”
I get to my feet and walk around the table to where she’s sitting. I grab hold of her bun, just like that John guy did earlier. And then I lean down and plant an obnoxiously wet kiss on her cheek.
“See you soon, Wolinski.”
I don’t hear what she says to that. Because by the time she’s opened her mouth to speak, I’m on the other side of the room.
I should be spending all my spare time and energy on becoming a better person—and instead I’m over here plotting ways to get Carrie to finally relax around me. I guess that could be considered part of the learning process. Not exactly what I’d planned… but it can’t hurt.
Call it practical, hands-on experience.