He shook it off. “I guess I just find it odd he’s asking you such personal questions. You guys aren’t exactly friendly like that, he’s sticking his nose in shit that isn’t his business.”
“Whoa. What’s with the tone? He’s your friend. He cares about you.”
“Right. He’s my friend, like you’re my friend. Not his.”
“Leo—”
He abruptly stood up. “Throw on whatever you want to watch. I’m going to jump in the shower.”
I don’t know why but for some reason, I announced, “You’re still my best friend. No matter what, you’ll always be my best friend, Leo.”
He snapped back around, took one look at me, and declared, “Yeah, make sure to keep it that way.”
I sat there while he showered, staring aimlessly at the television. We didn’t watch a movie that night.
Both of us lost…
In our own thoughts.
Chapter 7
—Mila—
“As we discussed at the beginning of the semester. Your dual thesis will count as fifty percent of your final grade for this class,” Mr. Berry announced, standing in the front of the auditorium of my psychology class.
Cain raised his hand. He was sitting on the other end of the wide-open space that was filled with seats for students.
“Yes,” our professor called on him. “Mr. Roberts.”
“What do you mean by dual thesis?”
“I mean you and your partner will present a dual thesis on the laws of attraction. It will be good practice for those of you who will be going onto graduate school.”
“So, what you’re saying is my final grade will rely on someone else?”
“Yes, choose wisely.”
Great.
Our professor proceeded to hand out directions for our final assignment while I contemplated who would be my partner. I didn’t exactly make any friends or acquaintances in this class over the last semester. I kept to myself, I was there for one reason and one reason only.
To learn.
Not sure how long I sat there, thinking about it, when out of nowhere I heard Cain’s voice hovering above me, “What do you say?”
I peered up at him. “To what?”
He cocked his head to the side before sitting in the empty seat beside me. “Partners?”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Never been so serious in all my life.”
“You think I’m going to rely on you for passing or failing this class? Right before graduation?”
“So not only do you think I’m a man whore, you also think I’m stupid?”
“I don’t think.” I nodded. “I know.”
“Mila, I have a three point nine GPA. I’m graduating Summa Cum Laude.”
“You’re full of shit.”
He reached into his backpack. “Read ‘em and weep, darlin’.”
I grabbed his transcripts out of his hand. Right there in big, bold letters, Cumulative GPA: 3.9
“Wow,” I breathed out. Shocked was an understatement.
“I know, pretty impressive, right?”
“I mean yes but that’s not what I was thinking.”
“Care to elaborate?”
I lifted my eyes to him. “You actually carry around your transcripts?”
He shrugged. “Helps me get laid.”
“Ugh!” I smacked the papers on his chest.
“Ow. Rude.”
“At least I was right about my first assumption. I stand corrected. You’re smarter than you look.”
“I was kidding. I just left the dean’s office and he gave them to me.”
“Dean’s office?”
“Yeah, he wanted to congratulate me on making his list every year since we started college.”
I sat there, my mind blown. “How did I not know this?”
“There’s a lot that you don’t know about me, Mila. This is just one of them.”
“I guess so.”
“So what do you say? Partners?”
“I think I’d be the stupid one if I said no.”
“Damn. You sure know how to give a compliment.”
I chuckled. “I’d be honored to be your partner on this assignment. Will you please accept my profound apology for judging your dumbass face?”
“Better, we’ll keep working on your social skills though.”
“I can’t wait.” The sarcasm in my tone was evident.
“Let’s get started. Your place or mine?”
“Definitely mine. I don’t trust your place to not be crawling with women.”
“Dude, do you think I just hold them captive or something?”
I grabbed my backpack and stood. “At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me. You seem to be full of them.”
“Them or it?”
“You tell me.”
He stood, walking out of class next to me. “I’d much rather surprise you.”
Glancing up at him, I asked, “Where did you park?”
“Parking lot outside of the building. You?”
“I parked by the cafeteria.”
“All right, I’ll drive you over to your car.”
“Sounds like a plan. You can follow me home from there.”
“Mila, I know where you live.”
“Okay, stalker. That didn’t sound creepy or anything.”
“I’m a man of many talents. Wait until you taste my cooking.”
“You cook?”
“Yeah, I’m starving. You got food?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”
“I have food. I like to eat and unless I cook for myself, I’d starve.”
Who was this guy?
“I have food.”
“Great. I’ll whip us up something.”
Once we arrived at his truck, Cain did something I never expected…
He opened my door for me.
“What?” he called me out on it. “You don’t think I know how to be a gentleman? You wound me,” he said with his hand on his heart.