“You’re killing me. Favorite book?”
“Game of Thrones.”
“You read all of them? Damn.” He laughed and attempted a terrible British accent. “‘You know nothing, Jon Snow’.”
“I read a lot last year. All my friends went away and I stayed behind, alone.” I frowned, hating how miserable I sounded. “It got boring.” I’d read more in last year than I had ever had. Although it had sucked, all the work had helped me get here. “I take it you watched the show?”
“The first season. I never had time and with classes starting…I’m going to be swamped. Wait, I remembered something you said. You play the guitar?” His eyes widened and I grinned with the confidence I grew into.
“Yeah. Greta and I used to be in a band in high school. We sang at events in town. I still play every once in a while.” His mouth dropped open for a second and quickly closed. Guys had told me in the past it was sexy when I played, but I’d never played for anyone besides myself. It was an escape and a passion. That was all.
“Do the other guys know this?”
“I think she told them, but I’m not sure.”
“They are going to die. Seriously, you guys are cool as hell.”
“Says the potential pitcher who could get drafted. But thank you.” I warmed at his compliment and the heat I’d seen on our first day together came back.Uh-oh.
“Okay, you need to tell me something awful about you. Please.” He gave me a tortured look. “I’m not kidding. What’s one of your flaws?”
“I’m terrible at cleaning. I ask questions constantly during movies. I chew gum really loudly. I like to think I know a lot about politics, but really I know nothing. I’m not a quick learner.” I thought about something else, but his frown grew deeper.
“What about your flaws?” I tried to keep the conversation light, because the heat building in those eyes startled and captivated me.
“My foolish past of sleeping around.” He mumbled the words so fast I barely caught them.His past?What did he mean?
He stood up and frowned at me. “I’m trying really hard, Callie, but pretty soon we are going to have to talk about this. This,” he motioned between the two of us, “is going to be something great.”
“Zade, I—”
“I know. You don’t have to explain it again. I’ll head out.” He turned to leave but then gave me a partial smile. “Thanks for breakfast.”
* * * *
I picked up my guitar and tuned it to the key I wanted. I needed the musical therapy, each note more beautiful than the last. Clouds shaded the campus and although the summer heat remained, I welcomed the slight chill. I began with a cover of an old Stones song. I hummed to it and closed my eyes, losing myself in the music. I wanted to escape the paranoia about not making it this year.What if I don’t get the grades? What if I love it here, but my parents make me go back home? What if Zade breaks my heart?
Another guitar joined mine and Greta sat up the couch with her hot pink guitar and our voices harmonized. We sang a song or two, our old covers from high school weaving in and out. We played for a couple hours, the joy indescribable to anyone who didn’t know music.
“Damn, girl. I missed this shit.” She set her guitar on the table and fell to the couch with her legs and arms failing everywhere. “We still got it.”
“Agreed.” I carefully placed the guitar in my old case and smiled at the university logo.
“Is that smile because of Zade?”
“Not at all. I saw the sticker you gave me and realized I feel at home here. I didn’t know how I’d feel, but it wasn’t this.” I joined her on the couch and she laid her head on my shoulder. “Thank you for helping this happen.”
“Anytime, sister. I’m glad you said that. I worried and second-guessed my roommate abilities.”
“Shut your mouth. We’ve been friends for ten years. Living together, no matter how crazy you can be and messy I can be, won’t change that.” I patted her arm and she snuggled into me. Best friends were weird. They were pillows, secret keepers, advice givers, ass kickers and motivators. I would never find another Greta in three lifetimes.
“I’m feeling insecure lately and I hate it,” she whined. “I want you to love it here. I’m crushing on Tanner, but I should be focused on school. I can’t decide on a major. My brother is back at home, again. Zade Willows is after my best friend and I don’t know what to root for.”
“That is a lot of feelings. Let’s start with the easiest. I. Love. It. Here. You are supportive as hell and oddly, I like the rag-tag baseball crew of friends you came with. I told Zade that today actually, before shit got weird. I’ll fill you in later about that. But you can totally crush on a guy and focus on school. Just get your homework done first before doing him.”
She burst out laughing and I felt proud of my use of words. “I like that. I don’t know if it’s two ways, though. We haven’t exchanged heated touches or sexy stares.”
“Real life is not like the movies or romance books you read,” I told her in a pointed tone. “He clearly likes you. He’s protective of you and always watches for where you are.”
