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“Of course,” I murmur. “That’s awesome.”
“Yes, well, it seems he didn’t get the message because he did something to you didn’t he?”
“He tried to lay a hand on me, but I didn’t give him the chance.”
“Good for you,” Lauren says.
I smile. The night is slowly coming around. Maybe Lauren and I will never be friends, or maybe we’re heading in that direction, but I have a feeling we’re going to at least be cordial to one another from now on. Progress.
Maybe my entire life isn’t quire spiraling out of control after all.
At least not yet.
CHAPTER33
I flop onto my bed.Lauren’s on her computer, typing away, but it’s not awkward for us both to be in the room together for once. Now that we aren’t talking, though, my thoughts start to wander, and I can’t help wondering if Rob hasn’t gotten back to me because he’s having a party, and I’m not invited this time. Maybe it’s another one of his parties that’s just him and a girl, solo style.
The thought has me wounded, which isn’t fair because this might all just be stemming from my fear. I don’t want to lose Rob, and maybe the reason why he hasn’t gotten a hold of me is purely because of something unrelated to me or another girl entirely. Maybe he went to see his mom again, or he could be off visiting his father’s grave.
I stand and walk over to the door.
“Going to make new plans for tonight?” Lauren calls.
“I’m going to try,” I murmur.
“Do me a favor?” Lauren asks. “When we’re both twenty-one, let’s head out for drinks. I want to buy you a round.”
“Because of Joey?”
“Damn straight.”
I grin. “That’s a deal,” I say, “but, ah, we don’t have to wait until we’re twenty-one to drink.”
“Oh, I’m waiting,” she says. “I want to be a police officer like my dad. There’s no way I can risk drinking underage. If I were to get caught… No thanks.”
“I get it,” I assure her. “I won’t keep any alcohol in the room either. Not that I drink a lot, and I don’t have any bottles here anyhow, but…”
“Thank you,” she says warmly. “I appreciate that. I thought about saying something to you before, but I never did.”
“No worries. We’re good.”
“Good. I’ll see you tonight… or tomorrow.”
“That depends on Rob.” I hesitate. “Why is it that you don’t like him?”
“I dated a guy like Rob in high school,” she says. “He turned out to be the biggest asshole in the world. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Sometimes, guys can change and grow up and mature.”
“Sometimes,” she agrees, “but sometimes, it’s just an act to get you into bed. If he tries to pull anything on you, break his nose like you did Joey’s.”
I laugh. “If he deserves it, I just might.”
I wave to her, and I’m out the door and heading across campus toward the house where the Grim Reapers live. Along the way, my stomach clenches tightly. I really don’t want to think that Rob is capable of abandoning whatever it is that is brewing between us, but maybe I waited too long, and he’s starting to move on. Can I blame him? He has baggage, but I have plenty of my own, too, and maybe he decided it would be easier and safer even to be with a girl who isn’t quite so emotionally stunted.
I stroll up to the door and knock. God, I feel like I could puke. I really don’t know if I can handle this. Maybe I should just turn around and leave and not look back.
But the door opens. Rob stands before me, and when he sees me, the largest smile ever crosses his handsome face.
