He sounds so glum that I have to laugh.
“Maybe when we were together on the cruise ship,” I explain.
“Ah, when I had my A game. I swear you’ve done something to knock me down a few rungs on the ladder.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.”
“The jury’s out on that, but, Katie, I have to tell you… I’m not going to wait around forever for you.”
“I never asked you to.”
“I know, but I’m just saying.”
“What’s the matter? Am I cramping your style?” I tease.
He grunts. “Something like that.”
“I really didn’t intend for things to become so complicated.”
“I’ve tried talking to the guys. I’ll talk to them again.”
“Do they seriously think they’re defending your honor?”
“Something like that, maybe. I don’t know, but if you continue to antagonize them…”
“They started it!”
“I realize that, but for it to end, someone is going to have to rise above, and it might be easier if it comes from one versus three of them.”
“Of course because guys can’t be mature.”
“I thought I read somewhere that girls mature faster than boys.”
“That sounds like an excuse.”
“I’ve tried, and I thought I was making progress, but the spray painting really didn’t help your cause at all.”
“I’m sure it didn’t.” I grimace. “I just wanted to stand up for myself, and I figured it would be easy enough to paint over the words…”
“What did you even write on them?”
“Stupid shit,” I mumble.
“People are starting to talk about you around campus,” he says.
“Probably not good, considering you all seem to be popular, and I’m just a lowly freshman, like Ace said.”
“You aren’t a lowly freshman. We were all freshmen one.”
“I can’t help but notice that you aren’t telling me what’s being said.”
“Not everyone likes us.”
“Oh, so people are impressed that I’m standing up to you all?”
“I wouldn’t say that either. There’s just been buzz about you.”
I roll my eyes. “If they stop, I’ll stop. If they continue…”