Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Natalie: You doing okay? Staying out late tonight!
Mom: Yes! Lots of orders keep coming in and good tips, so I’m going to keep making deliveries. Is Jace okay?
Natalie: Yep! Asleep in his own bed!
Mom: Wow!
I’m already in my pajamas when my phone rings. Actually rings, like someone is calling me, instead of just the buzz of a text. Weird.
“Hello?” I don’t know the number, but I answer, curious to find out who uses phones these days.
“Uh, Natalie?”
I recognize Hunter’s voice, and even though he can’t see me, I raise a brow.
“A phone call? Are you in your sixties?” I flop down on my bed. Moved back into place now that the ceiling’s not leaking anymore. “And how did you get my number?”
“The phone book, obviously. Since I’m an old person.” Then he clears his throat. “Um, you know how you owe me a favor?”
“What? No, it’s the other way around. I shared my study spot, and you owe me.”
Why am I smiling? Why is this conversation… fun?
“Oh, right, I mix those up all the time. But, um, I need a favor, a big one, and I’ll obviously owe you something massive.”
Sitting up in bed, I’m immediately suspicious. “Hunter, what’s going on?”
He sighs, and I picture him running a hand through his hair. “It’s Hadley. She called me, needs a ride home from a party, but—”
“You’re out of town.”
The Griffins are playing in Denver this weekend, so I’m not traveling with the team.
“Yeah. And everyone I’d trust with my sister is with me. Everyone but you.”
Now it’s my turn to sigh. “Dammit, Hunter. When you say things like that, how can I say no?”
I get out of bed and start getting dressed. The leggings I have on will do, and I add a sweatshirt over my threadbare pajamas t-shirt.
“I hoped that would work.” His voice is low in my ear, somehow intimate, and I shiver. I’m probably cold.
“You owe me. You owe me so big,” I growl, my voice fierce.
“Yep. Of course.” I can practically hear him nodding over the phone. “Anything you want. Name your price.”
“Anything?” I tug knockoff Uggs on and grab my purse from my desk chair. “You better be careful what you promise.”
“Seriously, Natalie. Anything.”
This could be fun. “Hang on.”
I press my phone to my chest as I tiptoe across the hall and tap on Sarah’s door. Jace fell asleep in his own bed for once, and she just got home a few minutes ago.
After Sarah’s whispered, “Come in,” I crack the door open and peek in.
Jace sleeps like only a kid can—sprawled out, his feet on his pillow, Paw Patrol sheets flung on the floor. I don’t get it, but at least it’s not my bed tonight. Too bad I’m not getting to enjoy it.
Sarah’s brown hair is down, her short bob brushing the tops of her shoulders, and she scrolls on her phone before looking up at me. “What’s up?”
“I need to run to campus. Can I borrow your car?”
“Where’s yours?”
I inhale and force myself not to snap at her. She probably just forgot. “Mom has it for GrubHub.”
“Oh, yeah. Her little side hustle.” I bite my tongue at her tone, because I’m sure she’s had a long day. “Sure. Keys are in the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” After easing her door closed, I put my phone back up to my ear. “Okay, Hunter. Where am I going?”
“Sigma Alpha Epsilon.”
“On Old Greek Row?”
“That’s the one.”
Getting in Sarah’s blue Ford Focus, I put my phone on speaker—no Bluetooth here—and back out of the driveway. “Would you believe, I’ve never been to a frat house before?”
I don’t know why I keep the conversation going. I could hang up and call him when I’ve arrived, or when I’ve found Hadley. But having him in my ear… it’s nice. Nicer than I expected.
“Really?” His voice is incredulous, and I huff.
“I’m not in a sorority, and I’m not a big-shot hockey player, so no.”
“Well, then, you’re welcome.”
“Uh, excuse me? For what?”
“For giving you the capstone to your college experience.”
“You’re hilarious, Hunter.”
“I know.”
It’s late enough that there’s minimal traffic, and once I reach campus, it’s just three quick turns until I’m on Old Greek Row. It’s not the only street with frat houses, but these are the biggest. Marking the gateway to campus, it’s the border between the town of Lafayette and the university area. Set back from the road with massive front lawns, the houses perch on hills that students sled down every winter on lunch trays they steal from the dining halls. Or slip-and-slide down in the spring. I’ve always wondered if they have to mow themselves or hire a lawn service. I bet it’s a service.
Right now, the lawns aren’t even visible. Enormous walls of multicolored tarps block off the houses from view of the road. I squint out the window, trying to spot any distinguishing marks. I have to look up past the tarps to see the faded letters on the massive mansions. All the frat houses have this tarp setup on their lawn—to keep people from seeing the debauchery, I imagine. Between the tarps, frat bros cluster together, holding red solo cups.
“Okay, it’s the big one on my left, right?” I ask, squeezing the Focus into a spot along the drainage ditch. It’s not a legal parking spot, but I don’t plan on staying long. Hopefully, I can beat the vigilant campus cops who love to give tickets.
“Natalie, I don’t know where you are to know if it’s on your left or not. Does it have a bunch of lions? Statutes, flags—those guys are all about the lions.”
I do a survey, and yep, he’s right. Two stone lions that used to be regal but now look sad, wearing Burger King crowns, bracket the driveway. I’m in the right place.
“Lions, got it.” Pocketing my keys, I hold my phone to my ear and exit the car. “Do you know where she is?”
I really don’t want to see what’s beyond that tarp, but I take a deep breath and walk up to it. Lifting the corner, I duck under. It’s brighter inside than I expected, and no one is naked. Whew. There’s also no one wearing a toga or playing a guitar. Animal House gave me false expectations. I just see clumps of college students, standing around and chatting.
Before Hunter can reply, I’m tackled to the ground in a hug. The breath whooshes from my body, and I drop my phone.
“Natalie! I’m so excited to see you!” Hadley sits on my knees. Her blonde hair swirls around her face, looking white against the moonlight and her eyes twinkle. So, a happy drunk. That’s not the worst.
My fingers scrabble in the grass beside me, then close around the hard plastic of my phone, and I hold it up to my mouth. “You can relax, I’ve got this. I’ll call you later.”
Then I hang up and focus on the girl on top of me as the dew from the lawn seeps into my leggings. The late October night is chilly, and instead of smelling like roasting marshmallows and leaves, the scent of beer, weed, and bonfires washes over us. Ah, college.
“Hadley, I’m excited to see you, too. Is everything okay? Hunter asked me to come get you.”
She scrambles off of me, scoffing. “Pffft. That’s soooooo Hunter. I call him to say hi and he sends out the calgary. Caverly. Clavery.” She hiccups. “Rescue party.”
I sling an arm around her shoulders and steer her around the edge of the tarp and towards my car. “Right? He’s such a party pooper. But since I’m here, let’s hang out.”
Her face lights up. “Ohmigosh, yes, let’s! It will be sooooo fun. What should we do? Get ice cream? Watch movies?”
“All of that.” Walking her around to the passenger side door, I open it for her and make sure she gets buckled. “But my house is a drag. Can we hang out in your dorm room?”
“Sure!” She bounces in the seat, as I slide into mine and start the car.
“Where do you live?”
“The one named after Amelia Whas-her-name.”
Like attending frat parties, I’ve never lived in the dorms, but I know where Earhart is. The general vicinity, at least. Most of the freshmen dorms are on the other side of campus.
I pat her knee and ask questions about the frat party, her classes, her roommate. Her head lulls on the seat and her words slur more as she gets tired. Mid-sentence about her history professor, she nods off.
Navigating the twists and turns of the roads that wind around campus, I park in a ten-minute spot outside her dorm and nudge her. I can drop her off and then move my car into a commuter lot a few blocks away. “Hadley? We’re home.”
Blinking awake, she shakes her head. “How did I get here?”
“I drove you.” Hopping out of the car, I jog around to her side and tug her out. Slinging her arm around my shoulders, I propel her to the door and fumble in her pockets for her ID to get us inside. “We were going to hang out, but I can leave if you’re tired.”
“Yeah, I don’t feel so hot.”
Hadley looks a little green as we step out of the elevator onto her floor, and we get to the bathroom just in time.
After I get her back to her room and into bed, I pull out my phone and text Hunter.
Natalie: I’m making a list of all the things I want in return for tonight.
Hunter: Is it bad?
Natalie: So bad.
Natalie: I get the study spot forever, obviously.
Hunter: It goes without saying.
Natalie: A car.
It’s the most ridiculous, extravagant thing I can think of, and his immediate response makes me laugh out loud.
Hunter: Come on, it’s not THAT bad.
Natalie: What happened to Mr. “Name Your Price”?
Hunter: He didn’t realize the price would be that steep. But you can borrow mine any time you want.
Why does texting him make me feel giddy? I smile to myself, trying to figure out what to say next to get a rise out of him.
Natalie: Okay, I’ll settle for that. And I want your hoodie. It was comfy.
Hunter: It’s yours. I’ll deliver it when we’re back and take you for a joyride.
Natalie: Deal. It’s a date.
Why did I add that? It’s not a date, not a date-date, obviously, not at all. It’s just an expression. But what if he takes it the wrong way? My palms sweat as I wait for his three little bubbles to turn into a message.
Hunter: Thanks again. I’ve gotta go to bed but I’ll keep my phone by me in case you need to call. Good night, Natalie.
Natalie: Good night, Hunter.