“I know, I know.” I sighed, risking a glance at Brock who stood with a somber look. His gaze was directed at Fritz’ arm hanging from my shoulder, but I didn’t have time to worry about that. “Brock was helping me. He’s taken this class before.”
“How noble ofhimto help you,” Fritz slurred his words again, sliding across the floor. “Want me to babysit him for you?”
“I’m good. Go to bed.” I pushed him off me and directed him to the stairs. “Go.”
“Yes, Gracie. Only because I love you.”
“I love you too, baboon.” I smiled, getting a huge bear hug from him. “You’re going to hate yourself tomorrow.”
“Do or do not. There is no try,” he said, not making a lick of sense.
I laughed, turning back to face Brock to see his head tilted at me.
“What’s with the face?” I opened the front door, holding it for him.
“Am I an awful guy?” His mouth turned down in a frown, the seriousness of the question combining with my delirium.
I laughed. I laughed really hard, leaning against the door.
His frown deepened, fueling my hysteria.
“Sorry. Oh my. I’m sorry.” I got out between laughs. “It’s just that, yeah. You can be an asshole. We take three steps forward and five backward. Tonight, you took twenty steps forward, but I never know how you’re going to be.”
“I don’t like that answer.” His mouth flattened. It opened and closed again, but he didn’t say anything else. He walked to the door, giving me a curt nod before stepping outside. I went to say goodbye, but he spoke again. “I hope you know I’d do anything for you.”
I gulped and couldn’t form an appropriate response before he waved and left. His words were heavy and made my chest feel a little funny.
* * *
“I have to work now.Go away.” I shoved the earbuds in, hoping Gilly and Fritz would get the hint. But did they? Nope. They took seats at the table the next morning with their own laptops and gabbed about stupid drama. I had gotten pretty good at tuning them out, but when they started talking about Anderson, I paused my music. “You two are relentless, aren’t you? He helped me with a project, like a good mentor. That’s it.”
Gilly put her head on her hands and batted her eyes. “Did you guys do it?”
“No. God.” I hated how my face burned with embarrassment. “Friend-zoned, remember?”
“Slow down!” she said, mocking me as joy filled her eyes. “If he really stayed here that late helping you, it’s a big sign, girlie.”
“He says things that make me question everything, then shuts it down. He told me he would do anything for me. He massaged my back when I was tense.And, he stayed here for hours on end to help me. But, we are just friends.” I sighed, shaking my head. “It’s all confusing.”
“Not that I have any say here, but feelings tend to be confusing until someone admits how they feel,” Fritz said, causing Gilly and I to give him weird looks. He never talked about feelings, ever.
“Wow, Fritz. That was insightful.”
“I’m not just incredibly good looking. I have stuff going on in here, too.” He pointed to his chest and laughed at his own joke before standing up. “You deserve to be happy, Grace. I’ll probably hate any guy you fall for regardless of who he is, but if Anderson makes you happy, then wouldn’t it be worth trying?”
I frowned. “He said nothing would ever happen though.”
“Actions always speak louder than words.” He stood and shrugged. “At least, that’s what I’ve experienced.”
I shared a look with Gilly, and we both snickered at how sentimental Fritz was. She reached out and put a hand on his arm. “You okay, bro?”
“Jazzy. Can’t a guy want the best for the two most important ladies in his life?” He made a pointed face at both of us before heading down the hall. “I’m going for a run. Feel free to talk about how great I am.”
I threw a pencil at him and got a middle finger as a response. “I hate it when he makes sense.”
“I know.” She groaned but her annoyed face changed when she eyed my phone. “Oh, looks like someone is coming over. Again. After staying here all night.”
I quickly yanked my phone from the table and ignored the instant butterflies exploding in my stomach.
