“He doesn’t need an introduction. It’s so nice to meet you,” Faith says putting out her perfectly manicured hand. Her nails are a gorgeous bright red. When Slater doesn’t say anything, Faith pushes on. “So, you’re friends with our girl, Tessa?”
“Yeah,” Slater finally says.
“Tessa, you should bring him to the party tomorrow night,” Felicia adds.
“Party?” I ask, totally confused.
Neither of them even look at me. “The party Sonia is having tomorrow night off campus.” I have literally no clue what they’re talking about or who Sonia is. They close in on Slater, and I take a step back. It’s only at that point that I realize he has a grip on my elbow because I don’t get far. Faith is in the middle of explaining where the party will be when Slater turns to me.
“Tessa will be with me, so she won’t be able to make it.” Then he opens the door and holds it for me. I look back at Faith and Felicia and catch the surprised looks on their faces right before Slater all but pushes me inside my room and closes the door behind us.
“Um, so why exactly can’t I make it to this party?”
Slater looks down at me. “Did you want to attend?”
I laugh. “I have no idea what party they’re talking about and zero clues about who Sonia is. They just invited me because they wanted you to come.” He frowns, and it makes me laugh. “You didn’t have to lie to them about me being with you. I had no plans on attending anyway.”
“I wasn’t lying.”
My eyebrows lift. “I’m going to be with you tomorrow night?”
“Yes.”
“Doing what exactly?” I’m convinced he’s making this up.
“Sunday lunch at our place.” I stare at him, and he continues. “Whenever you’re ready to come over to the house, I’ll swing by and pick you up.”
“You want me to come over to the house tomorrow? With all the guys?”
He scowls. “Withme.”
I study him. “Are you just making this up because you feel bad about Felicia and Faith?”
“I don’t feel bad about them.”
I try not to laugh. “I mean about the party.”
“I’m inviting you because I want you to come over. We have lunch together every Sunday afternoon; Evie comes now too.”
I scrunch my nose in confusion. “And you’re inviting me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He stares down at me and frowns. “Is everything always so complicated?”
I think about it a moment. “Generally, yes.”
He takes a breath. “I want you to come over to the house with me tomorrow for lunch.”
“See was that so hard?” I ask with a grin.
“You’re impossible,” he mutters.
I take compassion on him because I know he’s got to be exhausted. “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to be. Anyway, thanks for a great game and a great day. I’d love to come over to lunch tomorrow. Let me know what I can bring.”
“Just you. Is eleven too early to pick you up?”
