“Yep, and he needs to be saved from the girls, so let’s go.” She dragged me out the door.
As I trudged down the stairs, the voices in the living room became more audible. I could make out Ty’s as he fake-yelled at one of them to stop whining about something. The tone he used told me he had a good relationship with them, which made me feel better as I rounded the corner of the hallway.
“Finally!” Ty’s voice bellowed across the room as he stood from a chair, his wide eyes imploring mine, their message clear. As he stalked toward me, I took note of the others in the room, their backs to me on the couch. But their heads swiveled quickly as they heard my approach.
One by one, they stood and turned toward me.
One by one, our eyes connected.
One by one, the recognition ignited. By all three of us.
First, the one with light brown skin, whom I had to assume was Macie, stood to her full height as she ran to my side, excited. And Becca was right, she was beautiful with smooth skin, gorgeous light bluish-green eyes, a contrast to her skin. It was a stunning combination.
“Oh my god, Logan! Itwasyou on campus before!” Her piercing yell had everyone staring at us both. Her gaze bounced back and forth between me and the other girl, who had yet to move away from the couch.
She seemed frozen in her spot as she stared at me.
The same way she did about an hour ago.
Like she was looking into my soul.
But unlike before, the warmth was nowhere to be found in those eyes.
It was a cold stare as her eyes bored into mine, yet I found it impossible to pull mine from hers. The only thing that broke the connection was Becca’s voice.
“So, you guys already met?” Her question was directed at me first, then Macie.
“No, we didn’t meet, but he was at the registrar’s office when we were, and we, well, kinda noticed him.” Macie suddenly seemed shy as she reflected on our impromptu meeting earlier. I chanced a look at the other one, but she’d already given up, her attention glued to her phone.
Becca’s eyes went wide with realization.
“Logan,” Becca said, “this is Macie.” She gestured to the girl standing mere inches from me, who had a cute grin on her face. Her skinny braids were tied back into a knot behind her head, and she wore a comfy-looking sweatsuit. A hand with slim fingers and long pink painted nails on the ends extended toward me.
“Hi.” A chipper voice went along with the overly spirited person in front of me and I couldn’t hold back a smile.
“Hi,” I said in return, holding out my hand for her.
She gripped it in hers, squeezing it tight, the other hand coming around and wrapping around the top of our joined hands.
“See, Ava,” she said, turning toward our other roommate. “It was him. I told you it was, but you didn’t believe me.”
We both turned toward her.
But the petite, raven haired “firecracker” had returned to lounging on the couch, leg over the end, her booted foot swaying. She tried to seem engrossed in her phone and completely ignored her friend’s comment.
Becca, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable, unsure of how to read the situation. Ty came to her rescue. He was by her side, sensing she needed his support.
“Logan.” As he said my name, Becca breathed a sigh of relief. His hand began gesturing toward the silent one across the room. “This is Ava. Ava, this is Logan.”
“Hi, Ava, it’s nice to meet you.” Moving toward the couch, I waited for her to maybe get up, or at least look my way. Long seconds passed before she even responded.
“Hey,” she said. But she continued to scroll on her phone without looking up.
And that was it.Hey.
What. A. Bitch.
It was totally awkward. I felt bad for Becca and Ty.
