Chapter 1 #3
I snort before gesturing toward the stage with a raised eyebrow. “He is literally holding onto him and just standing there. There has to be something more going on.”
Colten watches for a moment, biting his lip as he considers it, but then shakes his head. “We can ask later. He seems fine for now.”
I sigh but follow Colten’s decision. After spending three years of rooming and playing with the guy, I trust him to be the responsible one and to keep us from getting in trouble. We’re best friends for a reason.
As soon as the presentation ends, I try, and fail, to get Julian to go celebratory drinking with us.
He just keeps looking over at Rowan, like the guy is using some sort of strange mind-control powers on him, and brushes me off.
Colten, regretfully, won’t let me tackle Rowan, so Julian and Rowan are able to run away. Before Colten can drag me back to practice, however, I go to help Jessica as it’s clear she’s trying to sleep off the hangover in the hallway.
So, like the gentlemen we are, we escort Jessica back to her dorm.
Halfway there, she starts crying.
“Do I actually love accounting?” she asks tearfully, “Or am I just doing this because I’m useless at everything else?”
“You were pretty decent at studying,” I tell her. “Remember? You never had time for me because of it. It’s why we broke up.”
Colten gives me a look. Jessica just cries harder.
Once she’s safely inside her dorm room with her friends helping her, we head back toward the athletic center.
“I don’t understand how you even get dates in the first place,” Colten says, shaking his head at me. “It’s honestly impressive.”
“I think it’s because I’m six-four,” I reply bluntly. Colten lets out a sudden, sharp laugh before covering his mouth as if surprised at his own reaction.
“Honestly,” I tell him, grinning as I lean forward and look down at him. I tower over him by almost a foot. He stares up with a flat look, his right eyebrow twitching. “It’s what the girls always say, anyway. Something about bigger being better.”
Colten suddenly seems to find the opposite wall fascinating. “Do they really say that? How gross.”
“Really?” I ask, moving to stand in front of Colten’s fascinating wall. “I think it’s more inconvenient. And expensive! Do you know how much my cleats cost? It took me all summer to afford the pairs I have right now.”
Colten sighs, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck as he meets my eyes.
His neck has to stretch to look up to me, being so much shorter.
It’s a common sight for me with most people, but with Colten, there’s something about him that makes me want to pick him up and carry him around like we just won a game.
I stoically resist.
Mostly because he would kill me, but also because I’m a good friend.
“You have many more qualities beyond just being a giant,” Colten replies, shaking his head. “You’re kind, sweet, and can be very understanding when you want to be.”
I feel heat rise to my cheeks, blinking at Colten.
He clears his throat when he catches my stare, before adding, “But your left leg could use some more practice. Let’s go do drills.”
“All work and no play,” I sigh, but continue to follow him.
We turn the corner, passing a quiet hallway, and immediately stop.
Because Julian and Rowan are pressed against the wall.
Kissing!
It’s messy, both of them basically grinding against each in broad daylight. I’m almost positive that Rowan is trying to suck Julian’s soul through his mouth, like some sort of alien parasite.
But, despite how embarrassingly desperate they look, Julian has Rowan’s face in both hands like he’s holding something fragile and precious.
Colten grabs my arm and yanks me past before I can say anything.
I grin, feeling vindicated. “I knew there was something more going on!”
“Don’t be weird about it; the situation is weird enough as it is,” Colten warns, though I can see him holding back his confusion. I elbow him, grinning even harder.
I’m not sure how long that relationship is going to last, given how weird they both seem to be about each other. Still, the way Julian was holding him…
I sigh longingly. “Weirdness aside, they are a little cute. Kind of makes me jealous.”
Colten looks at me, unimpressed. “If you actually took the girls you dated seriously, you could have that, too.” His voice is sharper than usual. I roll my eyes. He’s such a worry-wort.
“It’s not that I don’t take dating seriously,” I say.
“Oh?” Colten raises his eyebrows at me.
“I just haven’t found the right person yet.”
“You’ve dated nearly every girl on campus,” Colten reminds me.
I open my mouth to argue, to remind him that it’s not like I’ve dated every girl in the world yet—
But then someone says cheerfully behind us, “I can help with that!”
We both jump.
Elias Papadakis is standing there like he materialized out of the wallpaper, smiling a bit too brightly.
“I can help you find your soulmate!” he exclaims, almost bouncing with excitement.
I blink before looking at Colten, who seems just as confused.
Is Rowan’s cousin and/or friend trying to scam us?