“It’ll be so good once you get it off the ground, Jo.”
“I know.”
“You’re so good at what you do. Everyone says it.”
“Thanks.” She doesn’t sound like she believes me, but at least she’s smiling. “So I heard you and Mitchell are dating?”
“What?” I let out a laugh. “Let me guess, Mom told you.”
“She did.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. I laughed and laughed some more.” My sister smirks at me. “You know you’re going to cave, right? You’ve been ignoring him and fending off his advances for a while, but now? Forget it.”
“Forget what?” I shoot her a look. “I am single and enjoying the heck out of it.”
“Right. Until you’re not.”
“I don’t see that happening in the foreseeable future.”
“Okay. I’ll quote you on that.”
“Okay.” I stick my tongue out at her.
“So . . . ”
“So?” I frown at my sister’s cat-ate-the-canary face. My heart stops. “Don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”
“What?” She starts laughing, then points the camera at Jagger, who’s driving her.
“Hey, Jag.”
“She’s not pregnant. Yet,” he says, raising an eyebrow.
“Not for a while.” My sister shoots him a stern look, then looks at me in the camera again. “Jag and I are on our way there.”
“What?” I squeal. “Really?”
“Yep.” She smiles wide.
“Jo invited herself over to your parents’ house this weekend,” Jagger says.
“Why would you do that?” I frown. “You didn’t even want to live there when you were in this town.”
Jag chuckles. “That’s what I said.”
“Am I not allowed to miss my family?” she asks. “Besides, you ditched the plan to come see us this weekend.”
“I didn’t ditch the plan. Mav ditched it. He said his scheduled moved.”
“Well, go to Mom’s house,” Jo says.
“Tomorrow. At what time do you get here? Maybe you can come to the party, or are you too cool for that now that you’re a college graduate and shit?”
“We’re tired. Besides, Jag needs to lay low.”
“This is a Duke party. No one cares about Jagger.”
“Oh, that’s fucked up, Misty,” Jagger says. “They cared about me when they went home crying after I kicked their ass my last game.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I roll my eyes. “But come to the party. I’ll text you the address.”
“I’m tired, but maybe,” Jo says. “I’ll text you when we get to Mom’s.”
“‘Kay. Love you guys. See you tomorrow, and hopefully tonight.”
“You should’ve just packed a bag,” Soleil says beside me. We’re sipping on seltzer drinks as we people-watch from the sidelines. The party is pretty crowded thus far. “My place is much closer than yours. We can walk from here. My roommate is out of town anyway.”
“All the more reason for me not to stay over. Archer’s coming tonight, you know.” I wink.
“Oh stop. Stop trying to make something out of nothing.” She blushes.
“Is it nothing, though?” I raise an eyebrow.
“It’s less of a thing than you and Mitchell.” She raises an eyebrow right back.
“I hate everyone in my life.” I sigh, drinking. “Mitchell and I are nothing.”
“Hey, Mistyyyyy,” a familiar male voice says. I look over in time to see Kian from . . . one of the classes I had last semester though I’m not sure which. I only remember his name because he introduced himself to me on three different occasions.
“Hey, Kian.” I smile. “How are you?”
“Doing well. I heard you’re working with traitors.”
“Oh God. Here we go.” I laugh because the rivalry never ceases to amaze me. “Where did you hear that?”
“Oh, you know. Word travels.” He winks. I smile, but stop when my phone buzzes in my crossbody.
“Sorry, this is probably my sister.” I pull out my phone with my free hand as Soleil and Kian start talking. I frown when I see that it’s a text from Mitchell.
Mitch: He’s lame.
My head snaps up. I look around the room and find Mitchell standing directly on the other side of the house, by the kitchen, leaning against the wall as women flank him and his friends. My heart stutters. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. In an effort not to focus on his face, I look down at his shirt. My mouth falls open and I go back to my phone.
Me: You wore a UNC shirt to a Duke party!?!?!?!?!?!
Mitch: Lol yup.
Me: Wow.
I look back up at him, shaking my head. He’s staring at me, but still typing. My phone buzzes a second later.
Mitch: Lose the guy, come get with me.
My heart comes full stop. And then starts again. I focus on breathing and my response and realize I have no response. After another second, I look up at him and start typing on my phone.
Me: You’re the one with a gaggle of girls.
Mitch: None of them are you tho.
Me: You seriously need to give up flirting with me.
Mitch: Why would I when you’re so close to falling?
I laugh so loud I wouldn’t be surprised if he can hear me over the music and talking.
Me: Dream on.
This time, I put my phone in my bag. I chance one more glance in his direction and catch his eyes once more before one of the women next to him throws her arms around his neck and beckons his attention. I’d be lying if I said the sight of it didn’t bother me, but I looked away and continued talking to Soleil and Kian anyway. Later, Soleil goes to the bathroom and I walk over to where the drinks are and find Archer there.
“Hey.” He smiles at me and looks around.
“She’s in the bathroom.”
His shoulders drop slightly and he exhales like he’s relieved.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just. I don’t know where we stand right now.” He takes a sip of his newly open beer. “Did she say anything to you?”
“About what?”
“I think I messed things up.”
“How?” I frown, then turn to the table and grab another seltzer, opening it and taking a sip. “She seems like she likes you.”
“I kind of assumed she was inviting me in when I dropped her off the other day, so I made to walk inside and she stopped me. I don’t know. Maybe I’m reading into it because I’m so embarrassed for even thinking that.” His light eyebrows pull in, making him look like a Precious Moments doll.
“Arch.” I touch his arm. “I bet you didn’t mess up at all. She’s looking forward to seeing you tonight.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” I raise my eyebrows. “Would I lie to my boss?”
He chuckles. “I don’t know about your boss, but I hope you wouldn’t lie to a friend.”
“That too.” I smile.
“Austin told me you two decided to remain friends.”