“How long before you were going to tell us about this turn of events, huh, girlfriend?”Chessly asked.
Jamaica shrugged.“It only came together in the past few days.”
Turning sideways in my chair, I stared Chessly down.“What big news do you have to share with the class?”
“Nothing.I’m headed back to Harlo to work in Dad’s store for the summer, and to study for the MCAT I’ll be taking in December.”
“What about Finn?”Jamaica asked.
“He’s spending the first half of the summer on his dad’s ranch before fall camp starts in July.”From the way Chess picked at her croissant, I could tell she wasn’t excited to be away from a certain defensive end this summer.
Interesting.
Chess changed the subject to finals, and we all groaned and commiserated over being college juniors who should be more experienced about the end of the semester than we apparently were.All while drinking far too many mimosas on a Sunday study day the week before finals.
I was sitting at my desk, my eyes crossing from staring at my computer monitors as I worked on color-correcting my group’s final project for Film Studies 301.As the editor of our short film, color-correcting was part of my job.The final edits were due to my director by noon tomorrow, and I was so close to finished.It was also pushing midnight after I’d started the day drinking champagne, and I was wiped.
When my phone pinged a text, I almost ignored it, thinking it was my director being a pain.He’d already checked in on me twice today.But the number was one I didn’t recognize.The first words beneath it jolted me upright in my chair.
Unknown number: You free this Thursday night?I have the perfect first date planned.
Cash.
Wow.The man did not waste time.
Me: My last class finishes at six.
While the dots floated across the bottom of my screen, I tapped on his number to add it to my contacts under “TH,” (“Too Hot” for my peace of mind).My little brother had a bad habit of hacking my passcode and snooping on my phone if I happened to leave it out whenever I was home.I didn’t need Mason asking who “Cash” was if he managed to break into it while I was home the first week of summer.Especially not if he managed to do it when my parents were around.
TH: Perfect.Meet me at the small screening room at the Union at 6:30.
Me: Why?
TH: I promised you an awesome first date, and I always deliver on my promises.
Me: I told you I’m on scholarship for making movies, right?
TH: Yep.
He followed that syllable with a winky-face emoji.
Me: Sort of not seeing the awesome here.
TH: You will.Bring your swimsuit and a towel.
Me: What does swimming have to do with movies?
The dots floated again, thenTH: Good night Saylor.Dreamwell.
Dream well?What the heck did that mean?
TH: No doubt you will if you’re dreaming of me.
He followed that up with a another winky-face, kiss-blowing emoji.
His flirting made me laugh.
Me: You’re full of yourself, you know that?
