AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Staring at me thoughtfully, she says, “That remains to be seen.” Her gaze moves to my vehicle. “Come on, let’s get your stuff from your car. Coffee and bookstore after?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Vanessa helps me unload my luggage, grumbling that she’s breaking a sweat, but her teasing smile tells me she’s not being serious. Grabbing my pillow from the backseat, I hit her over the head with it, and she complains I’m messing up her hair. She tries taking it from me, but I run ahead, laughing. When I turn around, Vanessa has stopped, dropped my luggage, and is using my side mirror to fix her hair. Rolling my eyes, I continue heading toward our cozy, two-bedroom apartment.
Walking through the door, I drop my bags and look around. The last time I was inside it was May. Once the semester had ended, Vanessa and I packed up our belongings and headed to our respective homes for the summer. For me, home is a small town called Heritage Hills, Pennsylvania, about an hour from the university. I spent my summer living at home and working as an intern for the Adam Michaels Foundation, which offers grief education and support for those mourning the death of a loved one. For Vanessa, her parents reside in Allendale, New Jersey. However, Vanessa spent most of the summer in Cape May where she worked as a lifeguard.
Turning my head to the right, I take in our small kitchen and dining room. Vanessa must have been cleaning while I was driving to campus because the wooden laminate floor shines and the counters gleam. The dining room table looks as though she’s recently polished the wood.
My head swivels to the left, taking in our small living room with beige carpet and white walls. The tan couch sits along the one wall, facing our flatscreen TV. I sigh, nostalgia hitting me, as I recall all the times I’ve sat on it, studying or watching movies. My gaze roves to the matching loveseat beside it, Vanessa’s favorite spot to curl up and study, or read erotic romance on her Kindle.
It looks just like we left it, except cleaner.
Yup, Vanessa was definitely cleaning before I arrived.
“Is this all the further you’ve made it? You’ve only taken two steps inside the door.” Vanessa’s voice comes from behind me. I turn around as she drops my luggage to the floor, her hands on her hips, a teasing grin on her face.
Bending down, I hoist my bags over my shoulder. “What can I say? I’m sentimental.” I walk through our living room and down the hallway to my room, looking inside Vanessa’s bedroom as I pass. “Did you unpack anything yet?” I yell so she can hear me.
Her footsteps pad across the carpet and stop in my doorway, my luggage in her hands. Leaning against the doorjamb, she shrugs nonchalantly. “My makeup.” She grins like that’s a huge accomplishment.
I shake my head. “Gotta have priorities, right?”
“You know it, girl.” She bats her long lashes at me, then steps into my room, dropping my luggage as if it weighs a ton.
I shake my head. “Why are you cleaning and helping me carry my stuff? Shouldn’t you be unpacking?”
“I’ll do it later. I’m just not feeling it right now.” Her gaze flits around my room, her eyes looking everywhere but at me. I watch her for a few beats, knowing something is bothering her. She goes on a cleaning spree when she needs a distraction from her problems.
But I don’t push her to talk about it. It’s fruitless because she’s so stubborn. She’ll tell me when she’s ready.
Nostalgia hits me again as my eyes scan my room. My bare mattress sits in the center, my nightstand beside it, and my oak dresser occupies the length of one wall. It feels so… empty. Lonely.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Shoving those thoughts away, I see Vanessa’s face light up when she spots a bag of shoes. She immediately starts rummaging through it, squealing as she holds up one black, strappy heeled sandal and a brown heeled bootie.
“I can’t believe your footwear expanded from flip-flops and sneakers to sexy heels and boots.” Vanessa waves them in the air. “These are awesome, Irelynn. Great date night shoes.”
Shooting her a dark look, I frown. “Vanessa. I’m not sure about dating.” Giving her a teasing grin, I change the subject. “I’m sure you will be borrowing them soon enough.”
But she’s not deterred. “What’s not to be sure of? Meet a cute guy. He asks you to dinner and pays. Or he buys you a drink at a bar and you go home with him for the night.”
“Uh, no. That’s not what I do, girl. I’m not into one-night stands.”
Vanessa’s lips pull into a smug grin. “I didn’t say youhadto have sex with him. But there’s nothing wrong with a guy buying you a meal and serving you some drinks at his place. And if he’s hot and you wanna fuck him, do it. You’re single, girl.” She wiggles her brows flirtatiously.
Rolling my eyes, my lips press together from irritation. “After the way last semester ended, I think it’s best I take a break from guys.”
“Sweetie, don’t judge other men based on Ben.” Her hands curl into fists, her face darkening with anger. “Goddamned cheating asshole. I’m still pissed at him.”
Grimacing, I turn away. Ben was my first serious college boyfriend. I’d only dated casually my senior year of high school, after being stalked by an obsessive narcissist for two years during my sophomore and junior year at Anderson Academy High School.
Turning back to her, I cringe. “I sure hope most menaren’tlike Ben.”
“Yeah, he was an asshole who pretended to love you, then fucked one of your so-called friends in your bed.” Vanessa’s green eyes move to my ceiling, and she puts her hands together beneath her chin. “May they both experience hellish torment from a yet to be identified STD that causes his dick to fall off and her nether regions to itch and burn incessantly.”
“Vanessa.” Overcome by giggles, I fall onto my bed, a sweater in my hands. Once I’ve gotten myself under control, I sit up, my eyebrows raised. “Your ability to come up with the perfect punishment for cheating is unmatched.” Standing, I give her a slight curtsy. “Hats off to you, babe.” I’m still giggling as I move to my closet and hang up my sweater.
