“Hey, Donovan. It’s been a while.” Her voice is super weird and flat.
Ouch.Is she salty over how quiet I’ve been the past two days? Why am I dealt with the old Carrie—ice queen supreme? She was the one who suggested we shake things up, not me! If anything, I should be pissed ather.I decide to cut straight to the point.
“You’re gonna be proud of me, Carrie. I’m working hard on my new assignment—I even have a short list of potential girlfriends ready for you.” I flash her a smile. “Good news, right?”
“Music to my ears.”
“Wanna see?”
She blinks. Slowly, she starts unwrapping her sandwich, and I’m waiting for her to say something—anything—but she’s staring at her turkey like it holds the secrets to the universe. I take in the creases along her forehead, her scrunched nose. The tip of her tongue flicking between her teeth, her mouth, those plump lips I’ve yet to taste. I want to kiss her, I realize. Just to taste her—just to see whether she’ll bite back as hard as when we talk.Get yourself together, Don.
She nods her head, like she’s wrapping up a conversation with herself, then she looks up at me, her face relaxed and open.
“Hit me with it.”
I snap back to the present and reach for my phone.
I checked the student directory and took screenshots of potential candidates—and as a Campus Driver, I know most of the faces here.
I pull up the first photo and tilt my screen so she can see. She nearly chokes on her sandwich.
“Is this a joke?”
I grab her napkin and dab at my phone.
“You just spat all over Charisma,” I say sadly. “I was expecting something a little more encouraging. I’m disappointed in you, Carrie.”
“All those girls out there, and you go for Charisma? I’m disappointed inyou, buddy.”
“Tell me more…”
“She’s about as deep as a puddle. If you’re interested in conversations about nail wraps, then be my guest.” Carrie shakes her head. “Jesus. All those hours of work and this is the best you can come up with?”
“I drive her to dance class,” I protest. “She’s a nice girl.”
“Nice?” She scoffs. “You’re pretty easy, aren’t you? If I’d known all my hard-core theory would be for someone like Charisma McAllen, I would’ve kept things lighter.”
“Ooh,burn!”
I shift over to join her on the other side of the table.
“Okay, so what about this one.” I flick over to a fresh photo. “How about Janis?”
My thigh and shoulder are pressing into hers. I watch as she peers at the screen, before shaking her head.
“Nowwhat?” I sigh.
“Well, firstly—the name sucks.”
I laugh, and she snatches the phone from me. She sifts through the profile pics, biting her lower lip as she swipes.
“Lindsey? Okay… That’s a little better…”
“I can sense there’s a ‘but’ coming up…”
“But didn’t you notice the purity ring?” She smirks at me. “Something tells me you’re not the type to hold out for a wedding.”
“Fuck!” I let my head drop into my hands.
