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For the next ten minutes, Mandi grills Eli about hockey while I try to figure out a way to escape. I don’t want to be rude to Eli, but I also don’t give a shit about being rude to Mandi. It’s not like she would notice, anyway.
“Excuse me for a minute,” Mandi says, giving Eli’s arm a squeeze. “I have to run to the little girls room. I’ll be back in a jif, so don’t go anywhere, okay?”
She doesn’t wait for Eli to reply before she hustles off to the restroom, swinging her hips seductively as she goes.
I frown, not appreciating being left to entertain Eli in her absence. I’ve got absolutely nothing to say to this guy. Annoyed, I shove my laptop into my knapsack and pretend to fuss with the zipper.
Fucking small talk. I hate it so much.
“So, how long have you and Mandi been friends?” Eli asks. He lifts the to-go cup to his lips but doesn’t drink, and I notice the amused look he’d worn earlier has returned.
“Yeah, despite the impression she’s given you, we’re not friends. We’re just roommates. I’ve known her all of two weeks.”
“Really?Shethinks you’re her friend.” He cocks his head. The amused look gives way to a smile.
“Yeah, but we’re not, and we’re not going to be.” I pause, trying to figure out a way not to sound like a total bitch. “We’re way too different, and she’s...”
“Pushy?”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.”
Eli laughs. “And the not-so-nice way?”
“Annoying as fuck.”
“Eh, I don’t know about that.” He waves a hand. “She seems pretty nice. I think you might be coming down a little hard on her.”
Leaning forward, I shake my head. “I never said she wasn’t nice. But let me give you a piece of advice, Eli: run. Runnow. She’s completely oblivious, okay? When she said she doesn’t take no for an answer, she meant it. Yes, she’s gorgeous and probably exactly your type, but don’t blame me if there’s a pink stuffed bunny boiling in a pot on the hotplate of your dorm room like inFatal Attractionif things go south.”
“What makes you think she’s my type?”
“Really?” I chide. “That’swhat you took away from that little speech?”
“Well, that and the pink stuffed bunny taking a sauna in a pot. That was weird.”
I sigh. “Trust me, you have no idea how weird.”
“You still didn’t answer my question.” A teasing smile plays around his lips. “Why do you think she’s my type?”
“Come on,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “She’s anyone’s type, at least looks-wise.”
“Oh, I don't know,” he muses, fiddling with the lid of his cup. “How do you know blondes in leopard print glasses who wearSundown Republict-shirts aren’t my type?”
I freeze, then like an idiot, glance down at my shirt. My cheeks grow hot as I try to think of a response, but I’ve got nothing. It doesn’t matter anyway, because I hear Mandi’s heels clickity-clacking on the tile floor, signaling her return.
When I glance back up at Eli, he winks, then turns and gives Mandi an easy smile. “Welcome back.”
“Did you miss me?” she asks teasingly, then giggles.
“How could we not?” he flirts back.
Yeah, and on that note, I’m outta here. I push my chair back from the table, and it squeals in protest. Grabbing my knapsack, I stand up from the table and hike the burlap bag over my shoulder.
“I’ve gotta jet. I have a test to study for,” I tell them. “Time to head to the library.”
“Oh,poo,” Mandi says, pouting. “But we were just getting to know Eli.”
“Don’t let me stop you two from having a good time,” I say, pushing my chair into place under the table with another god-awful screech.
