Page 29 of Break Points and Face Offs

“Sure. Now just drop it.”

The stereo is playing some country tune, but I don’t think Priestley’s listening to it. I can practically hear the wheels turning in his head.

We’re almost back at school when he speaks again.

“Why don’t I come to Boston with you?”

I almost choke on my own tongue. “Did you seriously just invite yourself to come home with me for the weekend?”

“What?” He shrugs. “I’ll get a hotel somewhere. We can meet up when you’re done with your family and go over some plans.”

“When I’m ‘done with my family?’ What does that even mean?”

It’s dark on campus without street lights and diner signs lighting us up. I can’t see his facial expressions clearly, but I can sense the animosity coming off him.

“Listen.” I run a hand over my face, feeling dog-tired and wanting to get him out of my hair.

“Why don’t I call you from Boston? We can Facetime or whatever and get a plan ready for Monday.”

“I don’t trust you,” he says. Why doesn’t that surprise me?

“Don’t you have stuff to do here anyway over the weekend?” I ask.

“Like what?”

“Like … socializing. Don’t you wanna see your frat bros?”

“My ‘frat bros’ will all be busy doing fraternity stuff that I’m not involved in anymore, seeing as I’m no longer an active member.”

“Oh.”

The wheels of the SUV crunch over the gravel path leading to the driveway. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I look at the screen to see ‘Ma’ flash up.

I slip my phone back in my pocket.

“Listen, we’ll figure something out, alright?”

I can see his face again in the lights surrounding the dorm buildings. He’s sulking.

“Rosie?”

He dips his head and looks up at me with a frown. His sulking face makes me smile for some reason.

“We’ll figure it out.”

I give his arm a friendly pat before getting out of the car and calling my ma back.

After complaining about Priestley for about twenty minutes, forgetting how tired I was in the process, Ma says, “Bring him home, I wanna meet him.”

“Ma, did you hear anything I just said?”

She laughs. “If he’s this deep under your skin, I need to see him with my own eyes.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re normally cool as a cucumber, so this guy must really be something to have wound you up so much.”

“Exactly why I don’t want him ruining my weekend with you guys.”