“That sounds right. Anyway, she told everyone that she and Ryan slept together after a party or something. The details are a little blurry now.”
I nodded quickly. “Continue.”
“Turns out, he was a rather enthusiastic lover. A little too enthusiastic. She told everyone he might have had a big package, but he barely lasted five minutes. This was after everyone thought he was rather experienced in that department after another rumor about the girls he had messed with in high school.”
How many rumors was Ryan involved in? How had I missed them?
“That all has to be a lie.”
Vadika shrugged, not leaning one way or the other. “Just something I remember. I kind of thought you knew. Good to know, if you plan on moving forward with your little crush on Ryan Gardner.”
How she sang his name, I didn’t bother correcting her.
“He’s probably gotten a bit more practice by now, of course, so I wouldn’t be too concerned on that front, if it bothers you.”
“It doesn’t.”
“All right.” She hesitated. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything.”
“I don’t plan on jumping his bones, Vadika.”
“The fact that you phrased it that way makes me believe otherwise.” My friend stifled a smile as she stood back up. “Now, let me finish this up, and we can get dinner, okay?”
* * *
Vadika was textingunderneath the slightly sticky cafeteria table in between bites of al dente broccoli and talking to me about going to the homecoming game or the events and cookout beforehand. Eating a burned cheeseburger and chugging a cheap and grossly warm beer in the parking lot alongside alumni attempting to relive their youth was still one thing she had to knock off hercollege experiencelist. Her eyes widened, and then she grabbed her things, stuffing them all back into her colorful cloth backpack.
“Oh, man, I have to go.”
“You never answered my question.”
“You’re totally coming with me to homecoming unless you have other plans with a certain someone.”
I forced myself not to roll my eyes. “That wasn’t my question. Who were you texting?”
Vadika blinked. The fact that she hadn’t heard me made me want to smile, but my curiosity was piqued.
“You have a secret new friend I don’t know about?”
“No. It’s no one important.”
It certainly hadn’t looked that way.
“A project partner or …”
Vadika shook her head with a soft smile, like I was telling her a funny joke.
Was Vadika talking to someone? Like someone,someoneafter she promised herself that she would never find anyone until she received her PhD, even if her aunts still tried to set her up any chance they got?
“Vadika.” I tilted my chin down, studying her for any tells.
She tucked a thick strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll talk to you later, okay? I have class, and then I’ll probably head to the lab for a bit if you’re free then and want to stop by.”
“Have fun in class.” I waved her off, gathering up the rest of my own things.
“You know I will.” With a blown kiss, she was off.
“I still want to know what is going on with you!” I called.
