At least school gave me a good excuse to hide out in my room away from my roommates, who hadn’t let up about that show I’d put on for Saylor Saturday night.Their razzing about my rendition of “Barbie Girl” wasn’t what bothered me: it was their invasive questions about what was going on between Saylor and me.Mainly because I didn’t have a fucking clue what was going on between us.
After I’d politely extricated myself from some girls who’d gathered around me like groupies at a rock show, I caught up with her in the kitchen.Something about her walking away after my little performance had worked its way under my skin, and no way was I letting it go, especially after all the hot looks and naughty innuendo we’d shared as we watched flip-cup.She’d made sure to hold her cup in the hand I wanted to hold, so unless I wanted to make a scene, I had to settle for resting my hand on her lower back.Not that it was a hardship, but the stiffness of her spine told me somehow, by holding up my end of the bet, I’d pissed her off.It made zero sense.
While we danced a couple of times, she kept herself aloof.When I tried to ask her what the problem was, she pulled a face and asked, “What problem?”before heading out to the back yard to play cornhole, where she flirted with the other football players as much as with me.
We’d tossed bags through about two more beers before Piper showed up and asked Saylor if she was staying—shooting me a conspiratorial grin over her shoulder—or if she was riding home with Piper.Much to my everlasting disappointment, Saylor had gone home with Piper.
My woman was indeed an enigma—one I was determined to figure out.I at least wanted to get to the bottom of how things had gone from sugar to shit in the space of one stupid pop song.All of which meant I didn’t have answers for my nosy roommates, two of whom were her frat brothers.I didn’t need any complicating rumors making their way over to the SCR house, so I did my best to avoid my roommates.
On Friday afternoon when I walked out of my anatomy final, I made tracks for the Film building across campus.I’d overheard Dalton and Taco in the kitchen yesterday afternoon saying something about a finals party at SCR, so my plan was to catch Saylor before she headed to the house.
The late spring sunshine warmed the air, and by the time I’d jogged to the Film building, I’d built up a bit of a sweat.Bending over to wipe my brow with the hem of my T-shirt, I heard her voice at the top of the steps to the building.She was talking to another girl on the landing, so I leaned casually against the railing at the bottom and waited for her, admiring the view.
She was wearing a white halter dress that flared out from the tight bodice, landing right at her knees.On closer inspection, I saw tiny hot-pink and orange flowers dotted over the white background, the colors serving to show off her golden-tan skin.The neckline plunged exactly enough to hint at her cleavage, while the back remained chaste by only baring her shoulder blades.The ties on her wedge-heel sandals wrapped around her ankles in a sexy way that gave me ideas about kissing those ankles as I took my time loosening the ties.
Damn, this girl was so fine.
“Are you stalking me?”she asked with feigned alarm as she dropped down the stairs to join me.
“Nope.I heard you talking as I was walking by and thought I’d say hello.”I might have crossed my fingers behind my back as I told that little lie and fell into step with her.It wasn’t time for her to know exactly how into her I was.Our pace was casual as we headed in the direction of the off-campus student parking lot, which gave me hope she wasn’t going to blow cold on me again.“Taco and Dalton said something about a post-finals gathering over at SCR.You going?”
“Yeah.After having to deal with Barry for the past two hours, I need a beer—or six.”She sighed.
“What does Barry have to do with you taking a final?”
“The first hour was the exam.The second hour was the final post-mortem on our project.After the way he threw the rest of us under the bus when we had our showing, my group mates finally wised up and stopped massaging his ego.We’re all going to lose a letter grade over the way we didn’t gel as a team.”Hitching her messenger bag further up her shoulder, she let go another sigh.“It’s not fair since everyone in our group worked together fine.Barry was the problem.Since he was the director who made the choices for who’d be on his team, though, his evaluation carried weight with our professor.”After a pause, she added quietly, “I’d better have aced that test.”
“Saylor!Hey!”
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, she glared up to the skies.“Great.Talking about him has conjured the devil himself.”
By the time he’d reached us, the man in question was breathless from a half-block jog.
“Saylor.I asked you to wait after class.”
His entitled tone set my teeth on edge.Apparently, Saylor’s too.
“The semester’s over.I don’t need to follow your direction anymore.”
A cloud dropped over his features before he visibly shook it off.“I was wondering if you’re signed up for Film 401 in the fall.If not, I can change my schedule to the spring.You’re such a talented cinematographer.I thought we could work together again.”
“Here’s the thing, Barry.You’re not a talented director, so no, I won’t be working with you again.”
Ouch, man.But I hid my grin.From what Saylor had told me, the guy deserved the set-down and then some.
“Excuse me?”This time Barry didn’t try to hide his indignation.“Do you know who my father is?”
“Someone who should counsel you into changing majors?”Saylor asked, her tone dripping sugar.
Barry puffed himself up to his full 5’9” and looked down his nose at my girl, oblivious to the way my hand had curled into a fist.“Gerard Brown is a renowned financier.”
“Good for him.Youare not,” Saylor snapped back.“In case you missed it, our cohort roundly panned your directorial choices.You’ll be lucky to find anyone even among the first years who’ll work with you next year.”
“You will if I choose you.”
I took a step, but Saylor laid a gentle hand on my forearm.
“I’m already scheduled to direct in my section next year.”When he started to open his mouth, she plowed on.
