“I’m not an idiot, Hads, and do we really need to have this conversation again?” It’s like Groundhog Day sometimes.
“Yes, we do.” My stubborn bestie glares at me before biting into her burger.
I finish the food in my mouth, dabbing the sauce at the corner of my lips with a napkin before I speak. “It’s not really about Mom getting pregnant so young and having to give up her dream career although I definitely don’t want that to be me. It’s more how she invests so much time and energy in every guy she meets only to be let down over and over again. I have mopped so many tears as she cried over some asshole who failed her. Why would I willingly put myself through that?”
Mom is an eternal optimist and a true romantic. No matter how many times she gets her heart broken, she keeps putting herself back out there, and she hasn’t given up hope of finding “the one.” I can’t decide if she’s incredibly brave or stupidly foolish.
“Not every guy is an asshole. There are good guys out there. And I invest energy into relationships, but you rarely have to dry my tears.”
“You’re abnormal. Sometimes I wonder if you’re even human,” I joke, wanting this conversation to be over.
“I worry you’re missing out on the best years of your life, babe. College is a time to have fun. To date guys. Fuck guys. Have your heart broken. Break a few hearts yourself. You won’t know when Prince Charming lands in your lap if you haven’t dated a few frogs first.”
“It’s not part of my life goals right now. There will be time for guys and relationships later.”
Hads eyes me skeptically. “Tell me about this guy.”
“Why?” I dunk more fries in the sauce, shoving them in my mouth and hoping that will end this line of interrogation.
“Humor me. Did you even like him?”
I chew slowly as I contemplate whether I should lie. But I can’t do that to Hads. That’s not how we roll. “Yeah, I did. There was chemistry, and he’s hot. He even has dimples and a killer smile.”
“And you turned him down? I think I should have you committed.” She takes another chunk out of her burger as I finish my fries.
“He’s a stranger.”
“That’s what dates are for. Duh.” She rolls her eyes. “What harm would it do to go out on one date with the guy?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say Garrick paid you to hassle me. You sound like his clone.”
“It sounds like he’s talking sense.” She pulls out her cell. “What’s his last name?”
I consider not giving it to her for like five seconds. “Allen,” I reluctantly supply before diving into my burger.
Her fingers fly over the phone as I eat. “Woah. Holy fuck. He is smoking hot, and you’re legit insane for rejecting him.”
“You go out with him then.”
“He didn’t ask me out.”
“This conversation is over.”
“For now.” Hads jabs her finger in my direction as she points at me. “But I’m not letting this go. Not this time. Someone needs to talk sense into you, and that someone is going to be me.”
Chapter Three
Garrick
“Sup, dude?” I ask, lifting my head from the screen as Will walks into the living room of the house we share with Noah and Cohen. We all lived in the dorms on the same floor last year and became firm friends in no time. Noah is majoring in family enterprise too, and we share most of the same classes. “Did you stay at Ellen’s place last night?”
“Yeah.” Will drops down on the leather couch beside me. “I really like this girl.”
“Good for you, dude.” My fingers fly over the game controller as we talk.
“How did the gig go?” he asks, watching me kill a few rogue militants on the screen.
“It was good.”
“It was more than good,” Cohen says, jumping over the back of the second couch and landing spreadeagled across the cushions. “Manford said you killed it.”
Noah wanders into the room, holding a large bowl and shoveling cereal into his mouth. Dude is addicted to the stuff, eating it at all times of the day and night. He has commandeered one entire cupboard for all his cereal boxes, and I think he single-handedly keeps Kellogg’s in business.
I jerk my head in acknowledgment as Noah settles his butt on the arm of the couch Cohen is sprawled all over. My eyes meet Cohen’s. “Your cousin is cool, man, and I appreciate him putting a word in for me with the boss.” I return my eyes to the screen in time to witness my demise. “I appreciate you vouching for me too.”
“Anytime, broski.” Cohen gives me a two-finger salute before turning his attention to Will. “Are we still on for dinner?”
I finish the game and toss my controller down on the coffee table.
“Affirmative,” Will replies. “But Stevie can’t make it, so I’m not sure if you and Noah still want to come.”
Sitting up straighter, I turn my head to look at my buddy. “Hold up there a sec. Who’s Stevie?” Is it the same Stevie who has transfixed my mind and wrapped soft fingers around my heart? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the redheaded beauty since our paths crossed last night.
“Ellen’s boo, bestie, and roomie.”
“What’s with the dinner invite?” I rest my ankle over my knee.
“We were planning a little matchmaking because Ellen says Stevie never dates and she needs a nudge in the right direction.”
“Cohen doesn’t date.” I state the obvious as my friend smirks.
“I’m aware.” Will shrugs before scrubbing a hand over his smooth jawline. “We were giving her different options.”
“My invite must have gotten lost in the mail.”
“Dude, you know I would’ve invited you if you weren’t heading home tonight.”
It’s got to be the same Stevie, and there’s no fucking way I’m letting Will set her up with Noah and especially not Cohen. Don’t get me wrong. I love both guys like brothers, but if Stevie is being set up with anyone, it’ll be me. I can’t believe Will would even consider setting her up with Cohen anyway. Dude is a legend, and he’s always got my back, but he’s a dirty dawg, and he rotates through girls like they’re a dying breed.
Cohen has no business putting his hands on a girl like Stevie.
I doubt she’d let him anywhere near her anyway.
She had no trouble standing her ground and declining my dinner invite last night, and I’m not a player.
“She wouldn’t happen to be a tall, hot redhead with legs for miles and stunning green eyes?” I ask.
Will’s brow puckers. “Yeah. That sounds like her. I met her this morning, and she’s a sweetheart.” He cocks his head to one side. “How do you know her?”
“She was working at the bar last night. I asked her out, but she turned me down.”
Cohen bursts out laughing. “This is fucking priceless. Has the notorious Allen charm deserted you?”
I shove my middle finger up at him. “She confirmed she doesn’t date, and I got a stubborn vibe from her.”