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My spine stiffens. Great.Idon't need the unwanted attention.
Kai slowly sits up and rubs his eyes lazily. "Sir?"
"Would you please repeat, in ten words or less, what this lecture is about?" Rank crosses his arms over his chest and lets them rest on his protruding keg belly. He looks at us down his nose, and I know what he thinks: dumb-as-a-rock jocks.
To everyone's surprise—except mine—Kai recaps today's topic in nine words. I bite the inside of my cheek, hiding my grin. He may be plastered or passed out most of the time, but what no one outside of his inner circle knows is that Kai has a photographic memory. He looks at the schedule on the first day of the semester and can repeat it verbatim three months later when you wake him up out of a drunken coma. Yes, a couple of us had started doing that for our own entertainment until Kai put a second lock on his door—on the inside.
With a huff, Professor Rank resumes the monologue Kai and I had interrupted, and when I glance to the side, my roommate smirks. Shaking my head, I laugh and pull my phone out of my backpack. I tap the screen: three new messages—two from BK and one from my mother.
Unlocking the device, I read my mother's first. She reminds me to call her to talk about my plans for the holidays. It's the end of September. But ever since I stopped coming home, she starts earlier to make plans—attempts to make plans.
Next, I click on the ones from my last remaining friend from my old life.
BK: If u don't call me back today, I have no other choice than to jump on the next plane and kick you in the back of the knee.
BK: And u know I fucking hate the cold. Call me! LY
My mouth turns up of its own volition. I've avoided her calls since the unwelcome text I received last week. I'm positive she was aware of my ex-best friend, her BFF's fiancé, reaching out—a topic I refuse to discuss, no matter how hard she's tried the last couple of years.
Instead, I replayed theincidentafter TMH over and over in my head. I even dreamed of MOAB Girl Saturday night. I never saw her full face, but why did she look so familiar?
I start typing, then pause. She's going to ask if I got the wedding invitation—the one I burned in our firepit. Do they really think I would simply forget everything and be the best man?
When my jaw starts cramping, I realize I am grinding my teeth—a habit I developed and repeat whenever I'm reminded of why I am currently not at my dream school with a future in the NFL.
I draw in a deep breath and respond.
Me:Call u this week. I could never forgive myself if ur sexy ass freezes to death. ;) LY2
The three dots immediately start dancing on the screen, and I roll my eyes, smiling. Of course, she's been waiting for my reply.
"BK?" Kai asks from the side.
I nod and show him the message. I don't get many texts that trigger the upward motion of my mouth.
"Why did you tell her not to come? I like her ass," he whines jokingly, then adds, "and I'd totally warm her up."
Ignoring him, I focus back on my screen just as another bubble pops up.
BK: U got 24 hrs, or I am on that plane, Sheats. Miss u!
The thought of her getting on a plane makes my pulse accelerate. I miss my friend—the one I didn't sucker punch in the face. I saw her briefly over the summer when she came to visit, but that was not nearly long enough.
Me: Miss u 2, BK.
BK: U better not still have me in ur fucking phone like that. I can't believe u've been referring to me as Bulldog for years. Change it. NOW!
My shoulders shake with silent laughter at her written outburst. I can picture her pissed-off expression perfectly, which is exactly why I've never changed it in my contacts. Riling her up is too much fun.
Me: I would never do that to u, Ms. Keller. ;)
BK: Fuck you, Sheats.
She follows that message with the red-faced cursing emoji, and I reply with a kissing emoji—which she instantly reciprocates. The brief exchange improves my mood until I back out of the text and see Rhys's name three messages below.
Fuck!
I letmy mind wander back to August, two years ago.
