“Oh dear,” I finally groan.
“Right,” Holland says. “Ryse went from sweet to sour. So I explained that Declan brought you over because of the story you were writing about him, and then Ryse just chilled out.”
“Phew,” I chortle and exhale. “My brother can be a little on the overprotective side.”
“Does Declan know he’s your brother?” she asks. “It seemed like he hadn’t made the connection the other night.”
“Yeah, he knows,” I say, not wanting to elaborate. “Ryse already warned him to keep things professional.” I roll my eyes and Holland laughs.
“I didn’t know Ryse had that side to him, so cute. He’s good friends with my older sister, Paris,” she shares.
“Nice.”
“Too bad Ryse shooed Declan away. Declan is picky with the girls, but I thought I may have seen a spark there between you two,” she says, looking hopeful.
“No, just writing the Spotlight on him. I mean, we may be becoming friends but that’s all,” I say. The few times our lips bumped together have been total accidents.
“I became friends with Cole first too,” she says, and she emphasizes the word friends in a really strange way. “In fact, I kept him in the friend zone for most of my pregnancy.”
“That’s a story I’ll have to hear one day,” I say.
“You should totally come over again. I have some girlfriends over every Wednesday night. We drink wine and just hang out. I mean, if you want to. Don’t feel obligated,” she says.
“Actually, I’d love to.” I feel like it’s pretty pathetic for me to say I haven’t made any friends here so I keep that to myself, but I’m definitely stoked about the invite.
“Great,” she replies and she pulls her cell phone out of her back pocket. “Can I get your number? I’ll text you the info.”
I give her my number and then she leans in and gives me a hug. It’s unexpected but nice. She’s a few years older than me at least, but she seems really sweet and I could use some friends. We part ways and I head back to my dorm. Bonnie is already there getting work done at her desk, which is on the opposite wall of my desk.
I say hello but she must be listening to something on her AirPods. I quickly glance at my journal sitting on my bed and my stomach sinks. I have some really personal things in there, even though I’m sure Bonnie would never look through it. I tuck my journal away and then head out to take a shower. When I get out of the shower I put on a pair of jogging pants and a sweatshirt. I sit back on my bed and close my eyes for a few moments when I get a text message.
Declan: What are you up to?
Excitement rushes through me, even though we’ve been texting each other all week. He has such a busy schedule with school and practice four times a week, plus games on the weekend. This weekend the team is heading to Boston to play Harvard. I know this because I spoke to Ryse on the phone last night.
Me: Just taking it easy in my dorm room.
Bonnie gets up from her desk and stretches. She removes her AirPods. “Sorry, I had so much work to do,” she apologizes, maybe for not saying hi when I came in. I don’t really care. We need to feel at ease in our room, this is basically our home now.
“No worries,” I say.
“I’m going to get changed and head out. Some of my friends are having a bonfire on the other side of campus,” she says and she yawns. I don’t know why but I feel a shift in her. I had planned on calling her out on her comment this afternoon at The Gazette when she almost outed my kiss with Declan to Elijah, but she is being weird so I tell myself to save it for tomorrow.
“Have fun,” I say to her as she walks over to her closet to change her clothes.
“Thanks.” She smiles. She is usually more talkative with me or maybe more friendly. Did I do something to offend her?
I receive another text from Declan.
Declan: Are you alone?
His question catches me off guard but it also causes a surge of excitement inside me. I don’t show it on the outside.
Me: My roommate is just about to leave.
My stomach summersaults as I think of Declan coming to my dorm room. Us being alone. Me kissing him with no fear of being seen.
“Any plans for tonight?” Bonnie asks me.
“No,” I answer with nonchalance. After she almost blurted out to Elijah about me kissing Declan, I know she can’t be trusted. Also it kind of hurts that she goes out all the time and doesn’t invite me along, even though I know she doesn’t owe me anything. Maybe it’s that I know if the situation were reversed I would gladly invite her out with me.
After she finishes dressing and freshening up her makeup, she takes her purse and tells me to have a good night. I wish her the same.
Declan: Mind if I stop by?
I don’t want to sound too eager so I wait a few minutes, but I’m so on edge wanting him to come over already. I’m not sure how to answer that question without sounding desperate. It’s times like this I could use a good friend.
Me: Sure.
After I reply, I wonder if that one word is enough or if it sounds weird, but then I decide I just need to get over it. I walk over to my closet and put on a bra. I don’t want him to think I’m waiting for him over here braless. I don’t even know if things will progress to third base. Wait! Is that even third base?
FOURTEEN
Declan
I head down the stairs in running gear and pass some of the guys sitting in the main room. “Where you headed?” Ryse asks. Does he have some sort of brother radar?
“For a jog. I need to clear my head,” I say. It’s not an outright lie. I will be jogging to Poppy’s dorm room, and I do need some peace and quiet to think.
“Okay, I’ll join you. We can discuss some plays,” he offers and he begins to walk to his room.
“No offense, McGuire, but I’d rather just head out alone,” I say.
“If you got something on your mind, I do have ears,” he says like it’s obvious.
“Thanks, man. I just need. . .” To be with your sister. “I want to be alone,” I finally say, not having something better to offer up.
“Fine,” Ryse replies and he walks back over to the couch and steals the video game remote from Evan.
He got over that fast. I head out in a light jog toward Poppy’s dorm. The sun has set and it’s dark out. This time of night there’s less foot traffic on campus, which is good, but I still put my hoodie on my head as I get closer to her dorm. Just in case I get spotted.
I text Poppy that I’ll be there in five and then I pace a little outside her dorm. What the hell am I doing? I’ve taken her first kiss and now what? I have nothing to offer her, but the taste of her sweet lips feels vivid in my mind and I want more. I want to hear what she thinks, how her day was, and I want that sweet body of hers pressed to mine. Fuck. I’m so screwed. Ryse would seriously blow a gasket if he knew the dirty thoughts I was having about his sister. Leaving now doesn’t feel like an option. She’s gotten under my skin.
She texts me her dorm number and I take a deep breath. I can’t turn away now.
I head up to her dorm room and knock.
She opens the door with a smile. Her hair falls over her shoulders, she has her glasses on—which I like—and she’s wearing a sweatshirt and jogging pants. It doesn’t make any sense but her appearance puts me at ease.