She snorts. “Why would I offer you to if I wasn’t willing to?”
“I just… I don’t want to hold you up.”
“Hold me up from what? My morning stroll? I love to do this. Do it every year. My dad’s a professor here, and he used to bring me on campus all the time for picnics, so I know where everything is.”
“Are you a student here?”
“Of course! A junior. I purposely try to make sure that my schedule is alter on in the day so I can spend at least the first week or so looking out for anyone who seems to be lost.”
“Like me.”
“Yeah, that look of panic on your face… Don’t worry. You aren’t the first one I’m going to help today, and you won’t be the last.”
“It’s so nice of you to do this.”
Robyn makes a face that’s just a little bit mischievous. “It’s an excuse to scope out the boys. Not that I typically go for younger men, but looking can’t hurt any, right?”
I giggle. “And maybe make a few friends?” I ask.
“Exactly. You can’t have too many friends, right? Although some friends later turn toxic, and I don’t deal with that shit. Believe me, I have my own baggage. Everyone does, but as long as you don’t take out your crap on me, we’re all good.”
“I don’t have baggage,” I joke.
“Sure you don’t.” Robyn laughs. “No one likes to own up to it, so it can cause issues but all I say is that if you deal with it, it can become a little smaller, you know? So I try to handle my shit and not have it rub off on anyone else. Not that I’m perfect. So far from it. Oh, shit. Let’s start to walk.”
I fall into step beside her, and sure enough, we start to head back toward Vinney Hall.
“I don’t blame you for getting lost,” she says. “I’ve been saying for years that they should hand out a map that’s actually worthwhile to every freshmen, but no one asks me. My dad thinks I should already try and apply for a job here, but I didn’t come to college to work throughout. I have my studies—”
“And your friends.”
She beams at me. “I have this year and next year. After that, I can work every day for the rest of my life. Until then, I’m going to enjoy—look at him. What do you think?”
I follow her gaze to see a guy with dark hair and dark eyes. The way he’s walking, he knows how to move. He’s fluid, like a dancer, and sometimes, you can just tell that a guy has rhythm, and that’s what a great lover needs. Rhythm.
Fuck. I still don’t have that dream entirely out of my head.
“What do you think?” she asks. “Yes? No? Do you prefer blonds?”
“I don’t care what a guy looks like.”
“So long as he’s hot, right?” She bumps her shoulder into mine.
“Ah, well,” I flounder and then burst out laughing. “Attraction does have to play a role, yes,” I admit.
“Thank you! I’m so sick of people who say they only look at someone’s personality. Yes, of course you don’t want to be with an asshole, but if you aren’t at least attracted to the guy, it’s not going to work out. We have eyes, so can anyone blame us for wanting to be with someone who is pleasing to the eye? Of course not!”
“I do have other criteria,” I add.
“Naturally. Going with someone based just on looks… that’s not a relationship. That’s a hookup, and there’s ain’t nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you just get that itch that you can’t scratch yourself, you know?”
“Or don’t want to scratch yourself,” I point out. I pause and squeeze my legs together, really wishing I would’ve had time earlier to take care of business.
“I knew right away I would like you.” Robyn beams at me. “Are you in Vinney Hall?”
“Yes. Are you?”
“No, but Dooling is beyond Vinney.”