“Yeah?” She shrugs.
The guy tugs on one of her curls. “You free sometime this week?”
She looks up at him. “I’m actually crazy busy, but I’m sure I can make time.”
“Nice glasses, by the way. They new?”
The pair of them exchange smiles, and I glance back and forth between them. I’m so confused right now. They seem to know each other super well. I do not like this guy swooping in and stealing my tutor from under me like that.
He straightens. “Gotta run. Catch you this weekend? I’ll call you!”
He pinches her nose affectionately and gives me a quick wave before striding back across the library.Asshole.
“How come he’s allowed to call you?” I frown.
“We’re from the same town. I’ve known John practically my whole life.”
“You sleeping with him?”
Shit.The words just came spilling out of me. She widens her eyes.
“I am not having this conversation,” she says curtly, playing with her glasses.
“So, yeah—you’re sleeping with him.” I snicker. “Don’t be such a pearl-clutcher,Wolinski.” I stretch my legs out and fold my arms behind my head. “I can’t believe you have the same last name as me.”
“Oh no!” She brings a hand to her chest. “Tough finding out you’re notspeshul?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked.”
“Right…”
I guess she’s got a point—I barely know anything about her. I’m so used to hanging out with extroverted girls, I’m only just realizing how little Carrie has shared about herself. And that suddenly makes me feel uncomfortable.
“Have you got family in Poland?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “By the time my grandparents came over, there was nobody left.”
“My grandma is still in Rybnik. Sometimes my dad flies out to see her.”
“I’ve never been. I heard Poland’s beautiful.”
“It’s been a long time since I visited, but I plan on heading back there for a few days once I’m done with school. You should come!” I beam. “I could show you around Warsaw. I bet you’d love it.”
She bursts out laughing.
“What?” I protest. “We could make it into a Wolinski road trip!”
“Sure we could.” She laughs again. She seems to think this is some kind of joke.
Slowly, her smile fades. “Wait, are you serious?”
“What? No.” I force a laugh. This is so awkward. If she thinks I was just messing around, then fine. “You can relax.”
She’s right—what was I even thinking?
She dives back into her book, looking relieved, and I sit there staring at her, wondering why the hell I opened my mouth in the first place. The truth is I’ve been getting a little too comfortable around her, and that’s starting to feel… dangerous.So yeah—thanks for the reality check.
