“You got me dinner?” she asks behind me, sounding dumbstruck.
“You have to eat, right?” I ask as I shove my hands in my pockets.
“Yeah, but you didn’t have to get me food,” she says as she catches up to me. I can feel her eyes on my face but keep mine trained on the building ahead of us.
“I know,” I say.
“Oh… well… thanks, I suppose,” she stammers, and it makes a smile form around my lips.
“You can always thank me another way,” I say as I tap my pointer finger against my cheek.
“Ugh,” she lets out on a huff and begins to walk faster while mumbling, “Should’ve known there was a catch.”
“You bet your pretty little ass, I’m a catch,” I call after her.Chapter 3MILAFallon, Jade, and I have just attended our last lecture for the day, and we’re walking back to the dorm when two juniors, Nate Sparks and Justin Green, approach us.
“Ladies,” Nate says, a grin playing around his lips. “I’m having a party next Friday and was hoping you’d come?”
I glance at Fallon, knowing she’ll decide for all of us.
She looks at Jade and me before she answers, “Sure, we can show our faces. Where will it be?”
“At Studio 9. I’ve booked the club.” Looking happy that we’ll be attending, he begins to turn away. “Catch you later.”
I’m just about to continue walking when Justin touches my arm to get my attention. “Hey, Mila. Can we talk?”
I’ve never actually spoken to the guy and have no idea why he would want to talk to me. My eyes dart to Jade, who’s downright scowling at Justin.
Raising an eyebrow at him, I say, “What about?”
He shoots a glance at Jade and Fallon, and realizing they aren’t leaving my side, he sighs. “Seeing as you’re all going to Nate’s party, I was hoping you’d go with me?”
Huh?
His question takes me totally by surprise because we’ve hardly interacted with each other.
What happened to first getting to know a girl before asking her out on a date?
“Ahh…” I hesitate, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but then answer, “We’re going in a group, so I’ll see you there.”
He looks taken aback by my answer but then shrugs. “Sure. Save a dance for me?”
“Yeah,” I agree, figuring one dance won’t hurt.
“Great, see you around.”
I watch him walk away then turn my frown to Jade and Fallon. “Well, that was a surprise.”
“Yeah,” Fallon agrees.
Jade’s still scowling at Justin’s back, then she grumbles, “I saw him checking you out the other night.”
“For real?” I ask as we begin to walk again. “I’m not interested, though. He’s not my type.”
An arm falls around my shoulders, and as my head snaps up, I get an instant overdose of Jase.
His sexy as hell grin. His woodsy aftershave that smells heavenly. His muscled body pressing against my side.
Sigh, total ovary-exploding worthy.
“That’s ’cause I’m your type, right?” Jase teases, his eyes slowly drifting over my face.
Giving him an irritated scowl, I shrug his arm from my shoulders. “That would be a solid hell no.”
I’m such a liar.
“Ouch.” He places his hand over his heart, pretending to look wounded. “You’re so damn cold.” And then his attention turns to all of us. “I’m hungry. Wanna grab an early dinner with me?”
“Sure,” Fallon answers, and we change direction toward the restaurant.
Jade and I fall back behind Fallon and Jase, and my cousin hooks her arm through mine. “So… Justin Green?”
“That’s never happening,” I say, shaking my head.
“Don’t you think it’s weird he suddenly asked you out?”
I shrug, not caring. “Let’s change the subject. Things look good between you and Hunter.”
Jade knows I don’t open up easily, and not pushing, she smiles like a lovesick teenager. “Yeah, I still get moments where it’s surreal.”
“I’m glad you realized he’s the one for you,” I mention.
“Yeah, me too.” Then Jade wags her eyebrows at me and whispers, “How about you and Jase?”
Giving my cousin a disgruntled look, I shake my head. “That’s another solid hell no.” Just then, Jessica and her group of friends approach Jase, and I pull a face when she hugs him. “Jase will never be a one-girl kinda guy.”
Jade lets out a disappointed sigh. “Yeah, I had high hopes, but with that dream up in smoke…” she grins at me, “we should find you, someone.”
I pull my arm free from hers and shake my head hard. “No.” When she gives me a pleading look, I adamantly state, “No, Jade. I don’t want to date.”
She takes a deep breath, then concedes, “Fine. But the second you’re ready to climb into the dating pool, you better tell me. There are a couple of hot fish in the sea.”
“I’ve never liked fishing,” I joke as we walk into the restaurant.
I wait for everyone to pick a seat, and leaving a couple of chairs empty between Jase and me, I sit down and grab a menu.