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I’m such an asshole. After that goodbye, dots bounce until they disappear. Of course, what is she going to say to gotta run?
When we arrive at our rink, the bus comes to a stop, and Coach asks to see me. Everyone departs, and it’s just Coach and me on the bus. He squeezes my shoulder. “Put some ice on your face.”
Chapter Ten
BROOKE
The Campus Café is dead, giving me too much time to think about Reed abruptly ending our text conversation but also the insightful and thoughtful questions he had written in his notes.
As I fill the salt and pepper shakers on each table, the bell sounds. When I look up, Reed’s roommates file in. Adalee and Harper are bundled up with coats and hoods, while Logan and Hagan have on long-sleeved t-shirts. Guys like these two have nothing to prove, so why not put on a coat?
“You can sit anywhere,” I say.
Logan takes the big booth in the corner.
“Oh hey, Brooke. Can you join us?” Hagan asks.
“I’ve already eaten but thank you.”
Harper interrupts, “Are you in a sorority?”
Technically, once a Chi O, always a Chi O. But I’ve taken a hiatus. “Not anymore.”
“Oh, us either. But we’re having a fundraiser for kids with cancer in a few weeks, and we would love for you to come. It’s the First Annual Evy Brown Cheer-Off. I’m a med student and volunteer at the children’s hospital and we met Evy there. She was a bright, courageous and…she passed away.” Harper takes a deep breath. I notice her tugging on her shirt. “The Greek sororities and fraternities are choreographing cheer routines to perform at the downtown theatre. I thought if you were in a sorority, you could put together a cheer routine.” Logan strokes Harper’s hair who is obviously still grieving her little friend.
Logan and Harper have made multiple social media posts about Evy before and after she passed away, and I love that they’re putting their energy behind helping the families pay their bills while they’re off work.
She slaps the blue vinyl, and I sit beside her. “I’m so sorry for your loss, and I would love to come if possible.”
“Are you and Reed studying today?” Harper asks.
“I don’t think so. He texted me late last night and said he couldn’t then… well, he said he had to go.”
Harper rolls her eyes and mumbles, “Good Lord. I’m going to kick him in the…”
“Don’t take it personally. He should be home soon,” Hagan speaks as if he’s redeeming Reed, but it does the opposite.
Naturally, someone like Reed wouldn't be home from partying so early on a Sunday morning. Given his attractiveness, it's likely that he brings a different woman home each night, subjecting them to the same treatment he inflicted upon me—robust orgasms. A knot forms in the pit of my stomach thinking about how many women are thinking about him right now. Hoping he’ll call them. Longing for the stroke of his tongue.
Instead of responding, I push to my feet. “I better get back to work. This isn’t my section, but I’ll get your waitress.”
Logan asks, “Okay, but do you mind getting Harper some orange juice? Her sugar is low.”
“Of course.” I rush back to the counter and pour a large glass from a pitcher. “Here you go.”
My coworker takes their order and when we drop off their breakfast, I notice that Logan and Harper always eat whatever, but Hagan and Adalee always order poached eggs and avocado toast. I guess because Harper’s pregnant.
“Reed’s home,” Hagan speaks loud enough for me to overhear their conversation. “But he says he’s going to sleep until at least three, so don’t wake him up.”
Harper feigns innocence. “Me?”
“Yeah, you.”
As they depart, my thoughts linger on Reed.
The cafe is so sluggish that my supervisor allows me to leave ahead of schedule. I decide to spend the extra time at the library. Regardless of Reed being here, I still have to cram for my test tomorrow. Now I have an additional hour before I need to pick up Caleb.
I read through my notes for history of theatre class. When I’m finished, I plug my earphones into the laptop and have the Read Text function read my notes to me. The more ways I receive the information, the easier I retain it.
