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Sunday had been a wedding discussion marathon. I’d talked with Alexis, my parents, and everyone in our extended family, who called to analyze my sister’s engagement and ask if there was a boy in my life.Alexis says Daniel has a handsome cousin…but don’t you have a serious boyfriend already?
Fidgeting in my seat, I adjusted my short skirt. I’d dressed up for tonight. I’d spent an hour getting ready — shaving, exfoliating, getting my makeup just right. Subtle and tasteful, nothing overtly sexy except the dark plum lipstick.
At my feet, my tote bag bulged with a change of clothes and a fucking toothbrush, in case I dared visit the Kappa Sig bathroom. No pajamas or nightgown.
I had no idea what would happen on the other side of Patrick’s door. Or, I had just enough of an idea to put me on edge.
“Christina, you okay?” whispered Allison from my study group, who was on the university affairs committee. “You seem…distracted.”
“I’m fine,” I whispered back. “Just antsy.”
She held out a pack of mints. “Have some. They help me focus.”
I took one. Wintergreen rushed my tongue. I bit the mint and tasted sparks.
“Thanks.” I hurried to catch up with typing notes. “Khalil needs to wrap up this proposal already.”
“No shit.” Allison rifled through the papers in front of her.
I’d been distracted all day. I couldn’t afford to zone out in class, not with last semester’s grades. So I’d drunk too many mochas and popped an extra Adderall. Just for today.
In Victorian Lit, Marcus and some other guy kept arguing about an obscure point that no one else cared about. Finally, the girl on the other side interrupted.
“If this isn’t puttingherto sleep—” she pointed at me, “It’s definitely puttingmeto sleep.”
Everyone laughed. I did too. But when Marcus glanced back, his gaze fell on my tapping fingers and restless hands.
Don’t take more than the recommended dose.
I’d flashed him an innocent smile, and he turned away.
At a pause in the Senate meeting, I looked up from typing to make sure no one had asked me a question. Nope; Khalil was searching for information on his phone while everyone waited.
But a pair of dark eyes lingered on my crossed legs — Dexter. When he noticed me looking, he gave me a mournful smile from across the room.
Dexter and I had met here sophomore year. I’d noticed him around the business school before that. He was lean and pretty, with soulful eyes and the thickest eyelashes. I was used to seeing him in collared shirts and preppy slacks, carrying a briefcase through the B-School halls.
But one night, his band played on campus, and I watched him grasp the microphone in both hands as he sang. His loose tank top flashed a glimpse of the peacock tattoo on his shoulder, and his chest glistened with sweat.
Our eyes locked, even though Sydney blew him a kiss, gorgeous as Alexis in her own, entirely different way. I shrugged, figuring she’d reel him in
Guys wanted to fall at Alexis’s feet and worship her; they wanted to get Sydney back to their rooms and do her. There wasn’t anything subtle about her mane of blonde hair, wide brown eyes, year-round tan, and tall curves. Maria, Ashley, and I were cool with being the orbit to her sun. When that sun went dark or imploded, I was the one who picked up the pieces and helped her put them back together.
Sydney needs mewas the refrain that ran through my head.
But in Student Senate, Dexter and I got to talking after meetings. We walked around campus, stopping for coffee and frozen yogurt. He had ambitions, and he’d liked it when I said I was always trying to improve.
Can I ask you out?he’d finally asked.Or are you out of my league?
It had not been an easy breakup.
“Any final announcements?” asked Khalil from the front.
“No,” Allison muttered.
“I make a motion to adjourn this meeting.”
Voting was unanimous. I checked my watch. Ten minutes after ten. I was late.
