I grab his empty glass and imagine Wes and me together. But do I want it if I have to scheme with Asher to get it?
Chapter 5
September
The trees on campus are slowly beginning to change color, and the air has a crispness in it today that has me sucking in a long breath, welcoming autumn. I meet Annica and Dani for coffee at our usual spot, the Bean. It’s a quaint, family-owned coffee shop where the walls are lined with bookshelves and the furniture is all thrifted. The best part about it is seeing Annica’s face flinch every time she sits on one of the used couches. “We have no idea where these have been,” she sometimes says.
“What are you guys up to this weekend?” I ask when we’re settled into our corner spot by the big bay window. Three weeks into the semester and we’ve decided to start coming here on Friday mornings to catch up on schoolwork together.
“I have to go back home to Connecticut for my little sister’s dance competition tomorrow,” Dani says. “My stepdad is picking me up today around three.”
I open my laptop to look over my rough outline, which is due in four days. “Ugh, I do not envy you; those drag on forever.”
It’s uncanny how alike my and Dani’s backgrounds are. When we talk about our childhoods, we’re convinced we had the same one. Divorced parents, younger sisters, and moms that are essentially the same person. Annica can never relate. She’s an only child who has never heard the wordnofrom her happily married mom and dad.
“Well, I have a date tonight with Collin, but I’m not doing anything Saturday,” Annica says. Collin, the hockey boy from the beginning of the semester, has been taking up most of Annica’s time. I’m almost surprised to hear that she’s available Saturday.
“What about you, Sloane?” Dani asks me.
“I have no idea, maybe writing?” As if the universe heard me trying to stay on track, my phone buzzes with a text.
It’s been weeks. Are we doing this or not?
Sent from a no-name phone number, but I know it’s Asher. I’ve refused to taint my contact list and save his number for the past three years and I won’t start now.
Don’t be dramatic, it’s only been two weeks. And I don’t know.
I’ve thought about Asher’s offer, and I just don’t know if I can do it. Even standing next to Asher feels wrong in the presence of Wes. Which is crazy considering he has a whole girlfriend. Asher starts to type but then it disappears. Ten minutes later I get another text.
Come to Euros tonight for Power Hour.
It’s just the guys, Marissa won’t be there.
If it's just supposed to be the guys then why would I go?
Wait, you’re a girl?
You’re a dick.
I guess I’ll finish the outline tomorrow.
I leave on the same jeans from earlier and put on a tight black long-sleeve. I grab my bag, ready to leave, when Ade comes out of her room.
“Where are you going?” she asks.
I slip my Converses on, holding on to the frame of the door. “Oh, um, just to Power Hour at Euros.”
“What is that?”
“It’s like a happy hour, but mostly guys go to it. I think it’s just one-dollar beer for an hour and they, like, blast dad rock music in there. Honestly, I don’t really know, I’ve never been.” I wait for a moment, not sure if she’ll say something else.
“Can I come with you?” she asks.
I blink, not sure if I heard correctly. “You want to go? To the dollar-beer-and-dad-rock hour?”
“Yeah, why not. We haven’t been out together in so long. It’ll be fun and I can be ready in like five minutes!” She goes into her room to start digging through her closet and I wait awkwardly bythe door. She comes back out in exactly five minutes, in jeans and a white tank top, with a cream-colored sweater unbuttoned down the middle. The light colors make her skin tone look even more rich, and I just know the boys will have a field day with her.
We walk into Euros right at 8 p.m., and it’s already packed with just about every guy on campus. Adrienne walks up to the bar as I see the group. I tell her to meet me over there before walking away.
