“The biggest mistake of my life.”
“You dated her?”
I dared a glanced in Chess’s direction. “Freshman year. I thought she was perfect. Apparently, she still sees me as a buffoon. An awkwardfarm boy.” I finished my coffee and crushed the paper cup in my fist. “Maybe you think that too.”
Chess increased the pressure on my arm. “Hey. Look at me. I’m not her.”
“But how soon till you will be?”
Her head snapped back as though I’d slapped her. “M’kay.” In one smooth move, she snagged her backpack from the floor and stood. “Thanks for the coffee and the scone.”
I closed my eyes and railed at myself.What the fuck are you doing, man?
But I was too slow.
Without another word, she spun around the end of the couch and was out the door of the lounge before I could drag my ass off the cushions.
“Chess!” I called after her, but she didn’t slow down.
And she didn’t look back.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chessly
Stromboli’s was unnaturallyquiet for a Thursday night. Then again, the Wildcats were starting spring practice tomorrow, so none of the players were in the bar. That meant none of their entourage who seemed to know their every move were hanging out either.
Not that any of that mattered.
Since we knew none of the team would be in the pizzeria, what with two of the four of us dating Wildcats players, we helped ourselves to their designated booth in the back. Piper had picked up Saylor on her way to the dorm to grab Jamaica and me. When the conversation centered on Saylor’s latest to-die-for winter ensemble of a black-and-tan duster, fleece-lined tan lace-up boots, and an off-white beanie with matching gloves, I breathed a discreet sigh of relief. I should have anticipated they intended for that conversation to lull me into inattention, giving them a chance to pry out none-of-their-business info on the state of things between Finn and me.
We’d barely slipped off our coats when Jamaica, the traitor, launched the first salvo. “Finn has been moping around the house all week like someone stole his birthday. Know anything about that, Chess?”
“Couldn’t tell you. Maybe his professor reinstated the daily quizzes and he didn’t study.” I grabbed a menu from the end of the table and pretended to read it.
“Wyatt is worried about him. Says he won’t come out of his room to play video games and barely shows up for dinner,” Piper chimed in.
Ducking my head deeper into the menu, I shrugged. “Like I said, I have no idea what’s going on with him. I haven’t seen him since the weekend.”
Saylor’s stare bore into me. “I think that’s the point these two are trying to make. You haven’t seen him since the weekend, since the epic date he promised you. From your description at brunch on Sunday, the man delivered. What gives?”
“Danny grumbled all evening on Sunday about the noise coming from Finn’s room during your afternoon ‘study session,’” Jamaica added. “From what he said, Finn showed you a good time then too.” Leaning her forearms on the table, she added her stare to Saylor’s. “According to Callahan, since the weekend, you haven’t returned Finn’s texts or DMs on Instagram. Seriously, Chess. What happened?”
Flopping back against the leather booth, I blew a breath at the ceiling. Knowing my friends as well as I did, I had no choice but to give them something or they’d never let up. “We met at the Union Monday afternoon between classes. He bought me coffee and a scone.” A pang zinged my heart at the memory of Finn remembering my favorite beverage and his teasing about me skipping meals only to be starving later.
“Sounds like he royally screwed up.” Piper’s tone was as dry as sand as she shot a massive eye roll across the table at Saylor and Jamaica.
“We were having a nice conversation when this girl walked up and started insulting him.” Closing my eyes against the image of big, strong Finn trying not to turtle in on himself, I forced away another pang. “Turns out, he dated her, and from what I gathered, it didn’t end well.” Shaking my head, I added, “Anyone could have predicted it wouldn’t end well considering how sweet he is and what a fucking bitch he dated. She reminded me exactly of Tory Miller.”
“So what’s the problem? Why aren’t you talking to him?” Jamaica asked, her eyebrows knitted in confusion.
“Because he wrote me off before we even had a chance to see where things might go with us.”
As I said the words, I was working my ass off to stem the tears that threatened to fall every time I thought about his cruel question.“I’m not her.”“But how soon till you will be?”Obviously, Finn thought the same of me as he did every other girl in his orbit. No doubt it would make zero difference if I told him how I saw him. He wouldn’t believe me. So what was the point? Better to cut my losses before I gave him any more of myself than I already had.
“Hewroteyouoff?” Jamaica’s voice climbed half an octave on the question. “He’s been mooning after you since we introduced you on Homecoming.”
“Yeah, well, the second I asked him about his ex, he pushed me away, said I was probably just like her—or I would be.” I leveled my friend with a look. “So yeah. He wrote me off, comparing me to the mean girls he apparently prefers to date.”
