Chapter 32
Renee
“Ithink this creativewriting class I’m taking is the least creative class I’ve ever taken in my life,” Jami complains as we walk together down the school’s building corridor. “I mean, I love writing, but this isn’t a writing class. I'm pretty sure the professor is just trying to make our lives as miserable as possible because her life is as miserable as possible. Honestly, I am over it.” She stopped talking to take a deep breath and leaned into me, nudging my arm with her own. “You okay there?”
“I’m great,” I tell her with a grin, but it sounds and feels fake even to me. Jami’s eyebrows shoot up, pulling me to a stop and leading me to one of the empty study tables so we could sit down. I felt like a zombie, so emotionally exhausted that I couldn’t resist her antics even if I wanted to.
“Alright, then,” Jami said with a huff, falling in the chair across from me as she rested her elbows on the table to stare in my direction. “We need to get this boy thing figured out because I am bored with my shell of a roommate, okay? I miss you.”
“Shell? I am not a shell. I’m a whole person.”
“Could have fooled me.” Jami shook her head and looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Then she lowers her voice. “I’ve been thinking ....”
“Uh-oh.”
“Shut up.”
“Fine. What have you been thinking?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Jami continued, a sly smile spreading across her features. “You know those books Carly reads? The romantic ones? What are they called, harem, or something like that?”
“Yeah, something like that. Why?”
“Well, think about it.” Jami leaned back in her seat, deep in thoughts, arms folded across her chest as she considered whatever she was thinking about. “If one guy could have a bunch of girls fighting over him, why couldn't a girl do the same?”
“Jami,” I groan. “What are you even talking about?”
My friend swallows and lowers her voice again, as though she was telling me some deep, dark secret that no one else but us should know. “Reverse harem,” she whispered. “Matt, Aaron, Jake ... be with all of them, don’t just choose one.”
“That’s the dream,” I said with a chuckle. “Three men to bend the knee, right?” I laughed because I honestly didn’t know how else to react to that.
Jami leans back in the chair, glaring at me. She didn’t see the humor. “It would solve your problems,” she said instead. “Not to mention, all three of these men are crazy about you, Renee. They might just consider it.”
“That’s weird, James.”
“It’s only weird if you make it weird,” Jami insisted. “For all you know, they could be totally down for it.”
I shook my head and reached for my backpack, ready to get up and start walking again. Then I pause and look at Jami. “Or I could forget all three of those guys and find someone else entirely,” I tell her. “That’s the easy route to go.”
Jami is about to get up and follow me when a familiar face walks past. Two, actually, and they both stopped when they saw Jami and me at the table.
“Long time no see,” Jason said, resting the palms of his hand on the tabletop as he smiled at me. Beside him is, who else, Carly.
“Hi, guys,” Jami said, always a friendly face. Although Carly has technically moved back into the house with us, this is the first time I’ve seen her since the unfortunate event a few weeks before.
“Hi,” Carly said, refusing to look at me. Jason didn’t seem to notice the tension. I wonder why they’re even together; I didn’t remember them being friends.
