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Delaney and Drew laughed, then Delaney answered for me. “She’s a big time harpist—that’s the right word, right, Emmy? She may have forgotten to mention her boyfriend when we talked over the summer, but she definitely mentioned the harp.”
I laughed and blushed. “That definitely sounds like me.”
Drew’s brows rose. “Oh, you have a boyfriend? Does he go to school here, too?”
I shook my head. “No, he’s older.”
“Yeah—older, mysterious, and super intense,” Delaney said, making dramatic hand gestures with each word.
“Is that right? Well, then the guys on this campus aren’t going to impress you much. They’re mostly immature assholes,” Drew said.
Delaney jabbed him with her elbow. “You know you’re a guy on this campus, right?”
“Present company not included, of course,” Drew said jokingly as he slid an arm around Delaney’s waist.
We all laughed. I felt like they probably wanted to be alone, so I grabbed my purse and walked to the door. “I’m going to give you guys some time to hang out. Just text me when the coast is clear.”
“Emmy, you don’t have to leave,” Drew said, frowning. “This is your room, too.”
“Thanks, but it’s okay. I have to meet up with my sister anyway.”
That wasn’t really true because Hannah and Nikolai were out of town for the weekend at Lake Geneva. They were upperclassmen and lived off campus, so they didn’t have to be here until classes started. Instead, I planned to wander around the student bookstore, maybe grab a coffee and something to eat to kill some time.
I briefly wondered what they were going to be able to do with most of Delaney’s wardrobe on her bed. I hope they kept their activities on her side of the room.
No luck. I grimaced as Drew nodded and sat down on my bed. Delaney, clearly very happy that I was making myself scarce, waved me out the door. “I’ll text you!” she said, rapidly shoving her clothes off her bed onto the floor as I sighed in relief.
Grinning at her eagerness, I waved back and shut the door. I walked around campus, Ivan’s words ringing in my ears. He just told me today to call him if Delaney needed the room. I reached for my phone, but hesitated, remembering the awkward way he left—no fled—my room. Though I wanted to see him, and he’d literally made me promise to call him, I didn’t want to feel like such an imposition.
After killing an hour checking out the student union, the library, and the student bookstore, I texted Hannah on the off chance she had returned early.
Emmy: Hey, are you guys back?
Hannah: Not yet, probably not until late tonight. Why?
Emmy: I wanted to give my roommate the room bc her boyfriend is over, but I don’t really have anywhere to go. I checked out as many public spaces as I could, lol. No worries, I can go get a cup of coffee or something.
Hannah: Should you be by yourself??
Guilt pinched me at her words. Not really.
Emmy: It’s only going to be for another hour or so. That should be fine, right?
The pause was long enough that I was certain Hannah was asking Nikolai about it. I knew what he’d say. The same thing Ivan would have said if he were here—hell no.
Hannah: I don’t know - where’s Ivan??
Emmy: He was over earlier helping me unpack, but he left. I feel like I’ve taken up enough of his time for today. Btw, we’re going to have a long conversation breaking down that interaction!
Hannah: Ugh, I so understand what you’re feeling, but I don’t like the idea of you out there by yourself. Just go back to the room, okay? Your roommate will understand if you don’t want to roam around campus for hours at a time - It’s your first day there!
Emmy: Okay, I’ll walk to the cafe on campus, get a drink and something to eat then head back. Does that put your mind at ease?
Hannah: I guess.
Emmy: I suppose it’s too late to tell you not to mention this to Nikolai?
Hannah: Sorry, sis, def too late.
