“Wait for me. I’ll walk with you.” Grady does a double take, obviously sensing Dani’s curious gaze. “Oh, hey. You work at Offside.”
“I do.” She smiles and sticks out her hand. “Dani Hill.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Grady.” He shakes her hand while pointing at me. “You know our boy, here?”
“Yeah.” She nods. “Tyrell and I go way back.”
“Nice.” He studies her face while obviously trying not to ask a million questions.
“Flash, let’s go,” Carson barks from his place in the line. “I’m not paying for your ass again.”
“Get me a double shot!” Zander calls from the door, holding up two fingers before going back to his phone call.
“See you around, Dani.” Grady gives her a light pat on the shoulder before falling into line next to Carson, and I feel obliged to explain who all of these people are.
“Cap.” I point to the door. “His real name’s Zander. Quarterback. Carson and Grady.”
She glances at each one before smiling back at me. “Roommates?”
“Yeah, we live at a house right near Greek Row.”
“Nice.” She keeps nodding.
“How about you?”
“I’m living with Tobin Evans. Do you remember him? He was my neighbor growing up.”
I scour my brain but have to shake my head.
“That’s okay. Anyway, I live with him and his boyfriend, Jed, and we have another roomie, Nix. She’s a sophomore this year. I don’t know if you’ll know her, but she’s a real pocket rocket, that’s for sure.” She starts to laugh, and I’m glad she’s living with good people.
“Sounds like a cool place to be.”
“It is. I love our apartment. It’s got a great vibe.” Her voice trails off, a sad frown sweeping over her face.
“What is it?”
Her shoulder hitches, her nose wrinkling. “I just found out last night that Tobin and Jed are moving to New York. Jed’sbeen offered a great job, and Tobin’s been accepted to a college in Manhattan, so he’s all buzzing. I’m really happy for them both, but I’m kinda sad that things will be changing soon. I feel like I’ve only just arrived, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to this awesome living situation, you know?”
“Yeah,” I murmur, totally getting it. I’m gonna miss Football Frat big-time after I graduate.
Shit, it’s just around the corner, and I’m so not ready.
“Here you go, guys.” A young woman with a bright smile places our coffees on the counter.
“Thanks,” I murmur, passing Dani her cup and wondering when I’m gonna see her again.
I’ll probably notice her all the time now that my brain knows she’s in Nolan.
But it feels weird to just walk away from her, and I did promise Atlas last night that I’d keep an eye out, right?
Talking to her just now hasn’t been soaked in sadness.
If anything, there’s been a comfortable nostalgia floating around us. It hasn’t been all bad.
“Well, thanks for the coffee.” She lifts her take-out cup and looks ready to walk out the door.
“Hey, um…” I pull my phone out of my pocket. “Should we swap numbers? You know, just in case you need anything. I mean, I know you have your roommates and you’ve been getting on just fine without me. I just… Is your old number still the same? I have you in my contacts list, and I?—”
