“I’ll think about it. It probably depends on how long you’ll be gone and what week it is.” Or I probably wouldn’t think about it.
“I’ll walk you down, Els,” Grayson offered. Which was nice, but maybe too nice.
“Ok. Bye, Becks!” I called over my shoulder and got a grunt and a half wave in return.
Down in front of my car, Grayson looked me over trying to read something again. I crossed my eyes at him, hoping he would stop but he just smiled at me like I was an entertaining child.
“I have something I want you to give to Hunter tomorrow,” Grayson instructed once I had my keys out.
“I probably won’t see him.” Complete lie. My pants were about to start on fire.
“Don’t you have class?”
“Well, yes.” This felt like a trap.
“Then your chances of seeing him are greater than my chances. He’ll be around campus, just find him, give him this,” he held up a white, sealed envelope, “And then you’ve done me a favor. I’ll owe you.”
“Oh great,” I enthused dryly. “Can’t wait to cash in on that.”
He ignored my sarcasm, “Will you give it to him?”
“If I can find him,” I agreed and then snatched the envelope from his hand.
“Ellie,” Grayson started and I knew it was going to be serious because “Ellie” was basically my first, middle and last name to Grayson who only ever called me “Els.” “I don’t think he’s the guy that Beckett thinks he is.”
He let that sink in until I was forced to finally say, “Ok.”
“But from what I know of him, he’s not good enough for you either.” His tone was so solemn, so sincere that I had to agree with him.
“Ok.”
He studied me for a moment longer and I fought not to cringe under his intensity. “See you later, Els,” he finally said and then pulled me into a bear hug.
“Yeah, later Gray.”
----
I turned my phone on as soon as I got home. I had it shut off the entire weekend just on the off chance Fin would happen to text while I was with my mom or brothers. That would be hard for other people, not being connected for several days in a row, but it was easy for me. I liked hiding out, not answering texts or phone calls. It was freeing.
Besides, Britte had been holed up all weekend studying and she was the only one I cared about hearing from anyway.
The texts started pouring in as soon as my phone had a chance to warm up.
I waded through Britte’s study break gibberish and random Biology facts and ignored the two from Colton. I could only imagine what he had to say to me. There was one from Beckett about lunch earlier, but I guess he figured that out and one from my dad telling me how much he wished he could have come down with mom this weekend. There was even one from Lennox with another offer to pay my rent.
I texted back to that one. It said: middle finger.
And then there were the ones from Fin….
Friday he said this:I hate how we left things yesterday. I’m not that much of a jackass.
Then Saturday afternoon, I got all these spaced several minutes apart:I took Regionals in 400, 800 and 1600. 4X4 made it too.
Nothing?
I wasn’t bragging….
I’m looking more like a jackass every sEcond, huh??
