He lets out a shocked laugh. “Are you kidding? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
“But you’re acting like you want to hide me from your friends. And your father, too.”
“That…” He huffs roughly. “My dad isn’t a person I’d want to introduce to anyone, especially someone I like. As for Will… Like I said, just because we’re rooming together doesn’t mean we’re friends.”
Grant’s explanation sounds like the truth—and is what I want to hear, like how he regards me as somebody he likes. But I still don’t know why that means he doesn’t want me to meet his dad. I loved introducing Grant—i.e., somebody special—to my grandparents. And I agree that being roommates doesn’t make you friends. Just look at me and Sadie. But Sadie has what she considers to be legitimate grievances against me, including my refusal to swap rooms with Bronte. Will actually seems to like Grant. People aren’t generally friendly with those who overtly dislike them.
Before I can open my mouth to voice my concerns, Grant threads his warm fingers through mine and brings my hand up to kiss the fingertips.
“Trust me,” he says between tender kisses that make me feel like the most precious thing in his life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Grant
When I step into the dorm room after taking Aspen to Howell Hall, Will jumps up from his couch. “Okay, so what was that all about?”
“What?” I say curtly. He’s the last person I want to talk to when I’m trying to figure out how to gracefully bury the stupid bet. Aspen was still looking at me funny when I carried her suitcase up the stairs to her room. All because I was short with her in the car. I don’t think I was snapping at her, but that kind of tone isn’t what I want to use when I speak with her. I just panicked when Will brought up the stupid wager.
“You treated me like shit back there. Were you showing off for her or something?”
I wave away his outrage. “No. Look, I didn’t want you blabbing about the bet in front of her.”
He looks confused. “Why? You think she’s going to take a sledgehammer to your car?” He laughs. “Don’t worry about it. Remember Becky Malone? She tried to trash her boyfriend’s car for cheating on her, but couldn’t even lift the damn hammer.”
“Yeah, but then she got her new boyfriend to do the honors.”
“Ah, come on. That’s what insurance is for. And the police. Toss her in jail.”
Heath comes out of the shower with a towel around his hips. “Is it true you won?” he demands.
“I told you I saw,” Will says.
I rake my hair. I can’t lie about having slept with her, not when I want to continue seeing Aspen. Time for Plan B. “Okay, look. Number one, yes, I slept with her. Number two, the bet was stupid. So let’s call it off. You guys don’t have to streak or do anything dumb.”
“No,” Heath says, pointing a finger in my direction. “My word means something. I’m doing it.”
What the hell? He thought nothing of grabbing Aspen before, and now he wants to be honorable?
“I’ve got integrity,” he adds.
Will nods. “Exactly. Bros before hos.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me.“It isn’t about integrity. I have something good going on, so stop trying to fuck it up.”
“You’redatingher?” Will’s eyes are huge.
“Yes. Perhaps you’ve heard of the concept?”
Heath says, “So what? Us doing what’s right won’t fuck anything up.”
What’s his deal? Does he have an exhibitionist fetish? “You can keep your integrity and do the right thing because I’m telling you—as the winner—thatI’m okay with you not streaking.”
Heath looks at Will. “No. We’re paying up.”
“Exactly.” Will doesn’t sound convinced, though. He’s just going along with Heath for some reason.
This is…weird. And infuriating.
