“Not exactly.” I worried my bottom lip. “It’s just that Erika was acting a little strange when we went to that dance club in Charleston. She’s always been a loyal girlfriend before, but she wanted to drink and talk to guys while we werethere.”
“Do you think she and Caruso Number One brokeup?”
“If they did, she didn’t say anything about it.” And she would have, right? We were best friends. She told me everything. While I could no longer really do that with her because of Iris, it shouldn’t have had any effect on how she talked about her relationships which was, after all, one of her favoritesubjects.
“I know Texas and Grayson have been working more on the case between classes,” Marv said. “Maybe they came up withsomething.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “You know, I never really understood that,” I said. “Taking classes, I mean. I get that we need to fit in to ask questions, but just one of us could have done it,right?”
Marv shrugged. “If we all have classes then it keeps people from asking too many questions when we’re on campus talking to them. And the more of us trying to feel out information, the higher chance we have of actually getting somethinguseful.”
“Okay, then what about my dorm room?” I gesturedaround.
He tilted his head to the side, those tornado gray eyes staring at me once more. “Do you not likeit?”
I huffed. “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just asking why I was the only one who had to be in thedorms.”
Marv tapped his chin with the pen. “Well, one, because in a dorm setting, you can get closer to get more information. Two, you’re not just in any dorm—you’re in Erika’s old dorm. A lot of the girls living here probably take summer classes, right? It would make sense to put you here in case you came across anyinformation.”
“So, I’m just hereincase?”
“In the dorm? Sure. Here, working the mission? You’re here because you have a personal stake in it, and because we trust your ability and judgment. You know Erika the best. That’s an advantage that we need rightnow.”
"Then, is Grayson here because he knows Joshbest?"
Marv looked away. "Grayson is here because Knix and Alex said he could be. He would have been here either way. They want him to work with us rather than againstus."
I shot him a disapproving look. "Do you really think Grayson would work against us onthis?"
"Who fucking knows what he's thinking," Marv said. Before I could reply, the sound of keys jingling in the hall preceded the opening of the door. Lizzie's short crop of highlighter pink hair came into view. When she caught a glimpse of Marv, a smile spread across her face and I rolled myeyes.
Here we go again, Ithought.
"Hi," Lizzie said, dumping her stuff on her bedspread before marching over and shoving out her hand. "Who are you?" Her eyes slid my way. I shook my head, but she ignored me. "Theboyfriend?"
Marv had just reached back for her hand when she said the word "boyfriend" and he froze as they clasped palms. Then, with an utterly straight face, he nodded to her as he shook her hand. "My name's Marv," he said, "and not yet, buthopefully."
I slapped his shoulder before I even realized that I had moved. Staring down at my own hand in shock, my eyes shot up to meet Marv's amused gaze. "I'm not taking it back," I saidquickly.
He chuckled, releasing Lizzie's hand. Lizzie laughed, backing towards her bed. "Well, I'm just glad I didn't walk in on you two having sex," she said. "That happened with my roommate lastyear."
My cheeks flamed red and I shook my head sharply. "That's not going to happen." When Marv looked at me curiously, I stumbled to explain. "I mean, you wouldn't walk in on...that."
Lizzie shrugged. "Well, if you ever wanna do it, just hang a sock on the doorknob. That's like the universal signal for getting it on orsomething."
Could my blush get any hotter? Yes, yes it could. And itdid.
"Okay, well, we should probably be going," I said, shoving Marv towards the door, grabbing my phone and keys on the way. "I'll see you later." I pushed Marv out into the hallway and shut the door behind me before grabbing his hand as we headed for the exit. Marv looked behind himself,chuckling.
"Not. A. Word," I warned, but that seemed to only make him laughharder.
"What's the problem?" Marv asked as we stepped outside. I groaned. "I didn'tlie."
Ignoring him, I released his hand and strode across the street, heading in the direction of the duplex. Marv jogged to catch up with my stomping gait. "Why are you so upset?" heasked.
I glared at him for a brief second before turning my face forward again. "It's embarrassing," I said. But more than that... "It makes me feel like a badperson."
Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell that Marv was shocked. I sighed. I should have known he wouldn't understand. Marv snagged my hand and brought me to a stop on the sidewalk, before pulling me to the side as a guy on a bicycle flew past us. "You are not a bad person, Sunshine," he replied with a stern expression. "Why would you even thinkthat?"