I rack my brain, but I can’t picture a face.
I turn back to Becca. “What makes you think she could help?”
“She has this big-ass collection of books. She basically spends her whole life reading romances—if anyone can help you figure this out, it’s her.” She snickers. “Plus, she’s probably the only girl on campus to not get a hard-on for you Campus Drivers guys.”
“And that helps me how?”
Becca is doing her best to stifle a laugh. I frown. She thinks it’s all one big joke. But what Becca doesn’t know is that tomorrow I literally plan on hunting down her roomie for a crash course in becoming the perfect boyfriend.
3CARRIE
I hear footsteps thundering down the stairs behind me. No matter how hard I try, I can’t run fast enough to shake him off. Part of me wants him to catch up, even though I hate him for leading me on.
“Mel, wait! It’s not what you think!”
Sure it isn’t. I was stupid to think he would ever change for me.
By the time I make it to the sidewalk, the pain is searing. I stare straight ahead and press on, blind to the headlights sweeping over the asphalt.
I’m right in the middle of a pivotal scene in my romance when some genius decides to stand over me and clear their throat. I ignore them, quickly turning the page.
Over the screams flooding my head, shattering the silence of the night behind me, I hear the blaring of a car horn and the screeching of tires. I turn to see light coming at me—too bright, too fast.
My muscles tense, bracing for impact, but before I know it, I’m in the air. A soft mass breaks my fall; strong arms closing around me. We roll down the shoulder, and when finally wereach the bottom, we lie there, perfectly still. My eyelids flutter open. It’s Jonas—his eyes bright and gleaming with fear, brimming with feeling I never thought I would see.
Another, more insistent throat-clear makes me reread the same line twice. Oh my God, I’m gonna lose it.Whoever you are—read the room.
“Mel,” he moans, covering my face with kisses. “Mel, I lo—”
I honestly thought my mental “Get lost” command had worked—right up until a giant hand slides in front of my book and waves around. Atthemost crucial moment possible. Right between me and the long-awaited release for Jonas and Mel. Talk about a cliff-hanger.
“Hello?”
I take a deep breath in, fighting back the urge to bite a chunk out of the thumb wiggling in front of me. I look up.
I recognize this guy. I narrow my eyes. He’s drumming his fingers on the table, a coy grin plastered across his face, so casual you’d think we were friends.
“Hey, Cassie!”
Cassie?Major red flag. I’m neither surprised nor offended, though.
“What’s up, Donald?”
His smile dims. “Donovan. As in, Do—No—Van.”
“And I’mCarrie.” I beam, stressing my name, too.
I can practically see the light bulb flickering on.
“Okay.” He slides a chair out. “Let’s call it even.”
“Let’s not.”
I slam my book shut and fix him with a steely gaze as he stretches out his legs, then grunt when his sneaker smacks my bare toes.
“Having a good day?” he chirps.
I swivel in my seat, glancing from left to right, trying to figure out what this guy is doing at my table. What have I done to deserve this? We’re surrounded by empty seats, so why me? I catch sight ofthe other Campus Drivers at the back of the dining hall, which freaks me out even more.
