I fix my gaze on Becca. I’ve done nothing wrong. It’s not like I’ve betrayed him, or anything. But still—I can’t stand watching her make fun of Donovan like this, and it must be written all over my face, because her laughter trails off.
“Oh, cut me some slack, Carrie! This isexactlythe kind of thing you would usually find too funny. Didn’t you used to say he was a total egomaniacal moron?” She rolls her eyes. “You did. You said he had big-dick energy, and not in a good way.”
“Big-dick what now?” Hope perks up.
“Okay, guys.” Lois raises a soothing hand. “Take it easy.”
“Ineversaid that,” I correct, but Becca is on a roll.
“Wearetalking about the same guy, right? Don-fucking-Wolinski?”
“People change, Rebecca. You know—they grow, they gain a little maturity…”
“And experience,” Prudence adds.
This evening just gets more surreal by the minute.
“Holy shit!” Becca jumps to her feet. “I don’t believe this. She’s falling for him!”
“What?” I ignore the finger she’s jabbing in my face. “Who is?”
“You! You’re actually falling for him! Carrie’s in love with a Campus Driver!” she crows.
“Shut up!”
“The end of the world is nigh, ladies! Hold on to your panties—shit is about to get real!”
Lois laughs. “Becca, seriously—you need to chill. Your face is all purple.”
Detective Rebecca sits back down, and I glare at her.
“I think it’s cool you guys are hanging out.” Lois smiles. “You make a nice change from the usual fangirl.”
“You say ‘usual,’ but think about it—when was the last time you actually saw him with a girl?” Becca grins.
“Some charming young woman in particular must have caught his eye, then,” says Hope.
“Even the flightiest of men end up coming home to roost,” Prudence agrees.
“It’s so weird,” continues Becca, “don’t you think? He’s not had a single hookup since school started. None of the usual Wolinski situationships. Care to explain why, Carrie?”
“None of your business,” I snap. “And anyway, how am I supposed to know what Donovan does in his spare time?”
“Lewis told Lane that when he’s not hanging out with you, he’s busy reading erotica,” Lois pipes up.
I gasp, offended. “Hey! It’s noterotica, okay? It’s romance!”
“So, just to recap—SHU’s resident womanizer is now your boyfriend,” says Becca. “Oh—and he reads books now, too.”
The girl is relentless.
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s not even myfriend,” I hiss.
Not my friend?
I have no idea what I’m saying now. I’m normally pretty good at lying to myself, but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore what’s happening between us, and I have to be honest—no matter how weird it is, there’s definitely something there. Something that goes beyond our teasing, something more than just hooking up. I thought I could use him to scratch an itch, but it isn’t working—or more like, it’s working too well.
“Oh my God.” Realization dawns over Becca’s face. “They slept together!”
