Holt nods over. “No more taking her back to your place.”
“What?” Bryson’s eyes bulge out like hardboiled eggs.
Holt holds up a hand. “I’ll have Izzy talk to Annie.”
That perennially pissed look returns to Bryson’s face. “Dude, there are five hundred girls out there right now willing to bed you. Why the fuck are you messing with our sister?”
“First, I’m not messing with your sister. And second, I’m in love with her.”
The Sound of Music
Annie
Just before Digital Studios begins, I get a text from Kaya.Guess who’s coming out for Thanksgiving? Can you handle five full days of this noise?
I gasp when I read it.
Everything okay?Tristan signs.
More than okay.I show him the text.She’s my best friend.We went to Quincy together.
Nice.He pulls out his laptop and gets situated for the lecture.Is she as cute as you?
Last I checked she had a boyfriend or twelve.I’m sure Kaya would fall into insta-love with someone like Tristan. It would be easy to do. He’s more or less handsome, generally speaking, and he’s nice in every capacity.
The lecture gets underway, and my mind starts to wander. Kaya is going to meet Blake. I can hardly contain myself at the thought. She is going to flip when she sees that glossy dark hair, those marbled sage-colored eyes. And when he smiles it’s as if the whole world has shifted its attention to you. I’m sure Kaya will have no problem declaring her love for both Tristan and Blake. It’s easy to fall in love with Blake. I did.
A breath hitches in my throat. Wait a minute. I glance around the room a moment stunned at my own revelation. Oh. My. God. I love Blake. I’m in love with him.
The uncontrollable urge to giggle comes over me, and I struggle to swallow it down. This is happening. It’s already happened. I fell in love so seamlessly I didn’t even notice. I need to tell him. And, as soon as class is over, I’m going to do just that.
The hour speeds by without me paying any attention to the notes Tristan dutifully shoots to my laptop. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to review them for next week’s midterm.
Thanks for everything.I scoop up my things and scoot past his seat.I’m sort of in a hurry.
Let me know if you want to join that study group in trig,he signs quickly.I’ll probably be going.
Will do.I traverse my way down the narrow aisle, hoisting my book bag over my shoulder. A leg pops out straight in front of me at the last minute and sends me flying down the stairs that lead to the exit. My books and notes scatter everywhere. My laptop rolls to a thud, landing next to me. I glance up in time to see Courtney with a horrified look on her face. But Johanna manufactures a look of surprise as she mouths,I’m so sorry!
Yeah, right. I bet she’s real sorry. Before I know it both the professor and Tristan help me to my feet. A few other students are kind enough to gather my things and stuff them into my bag. I go to pick it up, and my shoulder pinches enough for me to cry out in pain.
We’d better get you checked out. Tristan takes my things for me.
So much for declaring my love to anyone.
I glare at Johanna for a moment. Right about now I’d much rather declare my hatred. She did that on purpose. And as much as I do want to hate her for being so ridiculously cruel, the only real emotion I can muster for her is pity. She’s used to getting everything she wants, and I have a feeling what she wants is what I already have, Blake Daniels.
After a brief, yet effective, visit to the campus clinic, I convince Tristan to drive me to the body shop where Blake works. He pointed it out once as we drove by with its oversized sign out front that reads Joe’s Automotive. It’s about twenty minutes from campus, so in exchange for hauling me out here, I promised Tristan I’d talk Kaya into going on a double date with us when she comes to visit. Kaya is a bit boy crazy, so already I know she’ll be the last to mind.
I glance down at my arm wrapped in a sling because, no thanks to Johanna’s violent jealous streak, I seem to have sprained my shoulder. But I swear it feels fine, just a little pinch here and there.
Tristan pulls into the lot, and I spot Blake under the wheel-well of a bright red sedan.
Thank you, I see him.
Tristan leans over the dashboard to get a better look at the garage.Why don’t you find out when he’s off? If he has a few more hours, I’ll buy you a burger, and we can get a head start on that paper for Lit.
That’s nice of you.
