“Have you started your essays yet?”
“I finished a rough draft of my first one this morning,but that’s barely scratching the surface. My adviser and I finally settled on me applying to five programs.”
We sit down on a concrete bench outside the gym entrance. “That’s a lot of essays for a girl who’s almost guaranteed to get in wherever she applies.”
“Hardly. All but one of the programs are extremely competitive.” Her brow wrinkles. “And honestly? I’m getting nervous about how I’m going to handle next year.”
“Since when? You’ve had one foot out the door since sophomore year.”
“I’ve realized I’m terrified of a long-distance relationship. And by the time Cam knows who he’s playing for, I’ll have already committed to a program. We could be a short drive apart or three thousand miles.”
“What part are you worried about?”
Lenni waits until the group of girls approaching the doors has gone inside. “Not seeing each other enough. Both of us being insanely busy and stressed. Distractions.”
“You know I’m no one’s relationship cheerleader,” I start.
“Yeah, you’re rooting for a Santa and Mrs. Claus divorce.”
“She could do so much better. But, seriously, if I had to pick one couple to make it, it’d be you and Cam. He’d do anything for you because he knows if he ever screwed up, he’d never find anyone who’s half the girl you are.”
She shoots me a doubtful look. “He could have any girl on campus. Next year, that expands to the entire country.”
“Let it expand to the entire world; he’d still be shit outta luck.”
Lenni bites her lower lip to hold back a smile. We both know I’m right. “There he is,” she says, looking past me. “And look who’s with him—your new bestie.”
I turn around. Cam’s walking toward us, Reeve at his side. That moment when we kissed comes back to me in a rush. I canfeel it on my lips—the heat, the taste. His self-assured posture and that pale-blue T-shirt stretching across his broad chest wallop me with a memory of how powerful his body felt pressed against mine.
Quickly, I turn back around to Lenni. I wasn’t prepared to see him until work in a few days. I glance back again because maybe he’ll just ignore me. But he’s looking right at me, his smile subtle but screaming out loud and confident:That kiss, right?
I feel a rush of excitement, but not the good kind; panic, I think. I’m not ready to deal with him yet. Cam greets us as we stand, then wraps Lenni in a hug and murmurs in her ear something that makes her laugh. She takes his hand and they turn to go.
“Still want to do breakfast at eight?” Lenni asks me.
“Like you two will be out of bed by then,” I say, trying to prolong the conversation. I keep hoping Reeve will say his goodbyes and go.
“I’ll be there,” Lenni assures me.
Cam gives me a nod. “See you, Jade.”
“Actually,” I say, falling into line next to Lenni. “I’m going the same way. I’ll walk with you.”
“Hey, Jade,” Reeve says behind me. “Let me talk to you a minute.”
There’s a brief and painful few seconds of silence in which I want to kill Reeve. Everyone knows he and I are the last two people who’d voluntarily engage in a friendly chat. I turn around slowly. “Now?”
“Yeah.” His eyes flicker. “Now.”
“Um. Sure. For a minute.” I glance around. Lenni looks surprised, while Cam looks anything but. I swear, if Reeve told him about the kiss, he’s dead.
“Okay, well, see you guys,” Lenni says, eyeballing us as she and Cam start down the street.
I try to look casual until she turns her back; then I scowl at Reeve. “What?” I demand through clenched teeth.
He’s totally unfazed by my death glare. “Let’s walk,” he says, heading in the opposite direction as our friends. “You hungry?”
“Not even a little.”
