And Stella’s next words don’t make the situation any better.
“I saw you, you know,” Stella says quietly, her eyes boring into mine as I suck in a sharp breath.
“Oooh… what have you been caught doing, baby C?”
“Don’t call me that,” I snap, my heart slamming against my ribs as I wait for her to reveal what she’s seen.
“Someone was creeping out of our building like a naughty little princess last night,” Stella teases.
The sigh of relief that wants to race past my lips is almost impossible to hold back as I realise that what she’s seen is the least of my crimes recently.
“Alex and I were working on an English lit project. There’s nothing to get excited about.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong, Cal,” Emmie says, her eyes glittering with excitement. “If you were in Alex’s flat, then someone was probably very, very excited. That boy has it bad for you, girl.”
I want to argue, but then I remember being pressed up against the door as he gazed down at me, his eyes focusing on my lips.
Jesus. I’m so deep in shit right now.
“There’s nothing going on with me and Alex,” I argue.
“Yet,” Stella adds with a smirk. “I know it’s probably the wrong thing to say, given the situation with big brother and all, but I think you two would make a cute couple. And I know he’s a bit of a whore, but I reckon he’s got skills.”
“He does, from what I’ve heard,” Emmie confirms. “Two girls were talking in my art class the other week—”
“Stop, please, stop,” I beg. I’m already forced to listen to more than enough of that shit from the guys. I don’t need it from my girls, too.
“What? I’m just saying. Losing it to him would be preferable to many, many others.”
Ripping my eyes away from their grins, I’m distracted as someone familiar walks into the café and looks around.
“It could be worse. It could be someone like that,” Stella jokes.
“You know who that is, right?” I ask, amused that she can be so observant most of the time yet Jerome’s presence completely passes her by.
“Uh… well from his uniform I’m assuming he’s someone I should know but… nope.”
“That’s Jerome,” I point out. “His dad is a soldier.”
“No,” Emmie breathes, her eyes drinking him in.
He’s cute, in a really put-together, quiet, nerdy way. Not at all Stella and Emmie’s type if their boys are anything to go by—and from my recent experiences, I’ll happily say he’s not mine, either.
He’s calm, quiet, serious. The complete opposite of the bad boys we’re surrounded by on a daily basis.
And he’s good company. He doesn’t stick his nose in where it’s not wanted. He’s just… a friend.
“Do not tell me he’s going to follow suit. They’ll eat him alive.” Stella shrugs.
“I have no idea,” I say honestly.Whenever we spend time together, I always get the impression that he doesn’t want to talk about that stuff, and to be quite honest, neither do I, so we both just… avoid it.
“I guess every crime organisation needs an IT nerd. He could fit right in,” Emmie quips.
“Don’t judge. He’s actually quite sweet.”
They both stare at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“What? I’ve known him all my life. We’ve had tons of classes together. He’s actually my study partner for maths. He’s—”