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"Who wants a glass of wine?" I asked cheerily, deftly opening the bottle of wine. Grant and Sarah declined since they were drinking beer but Kendra looked up at Simon hopefully.
"Please? Just one glass?"
Simon sighed and crossed his arms. "Fine, just one glass." He glanced over at me. "A small one."
Neal got up and walked over to me with an easy smile. "Why don't I give you a hand?"
"Thanks," I said nervously. He handed me a glass to pour wine into and I jumped when his fingers brushed against mine. I inwardly lectured myself. All this talk about Neal was making me jumpy for no reason. I needed to get a handle on my emotions.
I poured a small glass of wine for Kendra, which Neal handed to her with a grin. "Don't go drinking all of this at once because I have a feeling you won't be getting a refill."
Kendra smiled at him dreamily as she took the glass, obviously affected by his golden California good looks. I couldn't help noticing he had the body of a surfer, lean with broad shoulders. I guiltily pushed the thought away, feeling disloyal. Despite Neal's surface appeal, he was no competition for Simon.
I glanced at Simon watching me and gave him a half-smile, praying that he hadn't been able to read my thoughts. "Simon, do you want a glass?"
"No." I watched as he stalked into the kitchen and heard him grabbing a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. Neal walked back over to me, holding out another glass.
"I hope you'll try some. I'm not a wine aficionado but the guy at the wine store recommended it."
"Of course. But guests first. Let me pour you a glass." I reached to take the glass from Neal's hand and I wasn't sure if I just imagined his hand purposely grazing mine. My eyes shot up to his but he was just smiling at me guilelessly. I quickly filled the glass and handed it back to Neal before I poured my own, taking a large gulp.
Simon came back from the kitchen and sat on the arm of the recliner, studying the scene before him with narrowed eyes. Sarah looked up from talking to Grant and smiled at Neal.
"Neal was telling us earlier that he's a senior too. I didn't realize seniors lived in Bowery Hall."
Neal reclaimed his seat on the couch next to Grant and Sarah and I made my way to the recliner. Simon immediately started stroking the back of my neck when I sat down, and I didn't miss the propriety statement he was making.
Neal glanced over at us before answering. "Yeah, it's mostly a freshman dorm but there are other seniors who live there too. I've lived there since I was a freshman and it's convenient. I'd only move if I were able to live in an apartment, but I'm on scholarship so my housing is already paid for. I figured it wasn't worth the extra cost of living off campus."
"Where are you from?" Kendra asked eagerly. I could already tell she was smitten with Neal.
"Southern California. Let me tell you, the winters here have been brutal."
Sarah laughed. "You should talk to our friend Jenny. She's from Florida and she acts like she'll never last through another winter."
"What about you?" Neal asked, looking directly at me. "Where are you from?"
I started from his sudden attention. I cleared my throat, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "I'm from Philadelphia."
"The city of brotherly love," Neal commented with a grin. "And cheese steaks."
Simon's hand on my neck tensed so I leaned into him, trying to reassure him. "We're all from the east coast. My boyfriend is from Connecticut."
I looked up at Simon and he gave me a half-smile, knowing that my obsequious use of the term boyfriend was meant to send Neal a signal. He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss, gently massaging my scalp. I flushed as we broke apart, acutely aware of our audience.
Kendra grinned at Neal, oblivious to the tension in the room. "Don't mind them. They're always like that. It would be gross if it wasn't so romantic."
Neal was staring at us, an enigmatic expression on his face. He then looked down at Kendra, smiling. "Thanks for the tip."
Kendra monopolized the rest of the conversation, continuing to talk a mile a minute even after we started eating. Most of it was directed towards Neal and I t
uned most of it out, thinking about the task I had before me. I didn't know how I was going to stay close to Neal without giving him the wrong idea. I pondered telling him the truth but realized that he would just think I was crazy and keep his distance. That was the last thing I needed.
"Look outside." Simon's voice was low as he spoke close to my ear. I smiled in glee when I saw big, fat snowflakes drifting down outside.
"It's snowing!" I squealed, getting up and walking over to the window. There was already a light dusting on the street, and the cars and trees were rapidly becoming covered with snow.
Sarah jumped up to join me at the window and laughed as she glanced at me. "Jenny is probably freaking out right now. Her first date with Marcus and it snows."
