***
One night in early spring, after football season was over, the six of us were studying together in the library. There were only a few months left of our freshman year, and I couldn’t believe our first year of college was flying by so quickly.
“What’sshedoing here?” Carrie asked, looking at someone over my shoulder.
I turned to see Aubrey Seeks walking over to our table with purpose, like she was supposed to be there.
“Oh, I invited her,” Harrison said. He gave her a grin and a chin lift. “Hey, Aubs. Glad you could make it.”
He invited her?Aubs? What the hell? I glanced at him sharply, but he didn’t seem to sense my discomfort.
“Guys, this is Aubrey. She and I have a marketing class together this semester. We had a business class together last semester, too. We’re both business majors.” He stood up and gave her a hug that lingered a little too long.
“We know Aubrey,” I said. “She’s in our sorority, and Carrie and I cheer with her.”
“Oh, cool, that’s right. Then I don’t have to worry about introductions. Let’s get right down to studying, then.” He looked at me and motioned to Aubrey. “Hey, we’re going to grab a table nearby, okay? We’re working on a partner project, and I don’t want to disturb the rest of you while you study.”
With that, he gathered all his things and moved them a few tables over. I just stared, trying not to let my mouth hang open.
I couldn’t help but notice they’d chosen a table out of earshot. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. And from the amount of laughing and talking they were doing, it didn’t seem like much was getting done on their partner project. I also didn’t like how often Aubrey was touching him. It was constant. From a hand on his chest to her fingers tracing circles over his arm, she never seemed to stop.
I turned back to my table of friends and saw they were all either watching me or Aubrey and Harrison.
“They seem pretty close,” Melinda said.
“Too close,” Blair agreed.
I looked at Drake, who was Harrison’s best friend. “Do you know anything about them?”
“Not really.” He looked uncomfortable.
Melinda cocked an eyebrow. “Not really? What does that mean?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “All I know is that they’ve gotten to be good friends while having classes together and working on this project. He likes her and thinks she’s funny. And…” he trailed off.
“And?” I prodded.
His face turned pink, and he looked a little miserable. “He, um, thinks she’s hot.”
My eyebrows shot into my hairline. It wasn’t surprising that he thought she was hot; shewashot. But that he’d tell Drake he felt that way? That made me a bit nervous. And it gave me a sick, jealous feeling that I hated.
Later, as he was walking me back to my dorm, I brought it up. “So, what’s the deal with you and Aubrey?”
He looked at me sharply but then smiled. “What do you mean?”
“You seemed close. You had a nickname for her and everything.”
“Ah, yeah. She’s pretty fun.”
We kept walking, but he didn’t say anything else.
“Do you think she’s pretty?” I finally asked. I didn’t want to throw Drake under the bus for telling me Harrison thought Aubrey was hot.
He frowned. “I guess. Kind of.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a sure sign he was uncomfortable. Or lying. “Why are you asking that?”
I shrugged. “Like I said… you seemed close.”
He chuckled. “Are you jealous?” he asked incredulously.
