“O chim.” I covered my face. “I’m so embarrassed, I’m never using my phone again.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. It was actually kind of cute.”
“Cute?” My voice came out like I’d inhaled helium. “There’s nothing cute about me having a meltdown over text!”
“I disagree. So, what are you up to right now?”
I blinked at the sudden change of topic, my brain struggling to keep up.
“Nothing, just… relaxing and re-evaluating my life. I’m also considering joining a convent.”
“Perfect.” She paused. “I’m outside your dorm.”
I shot up so fast I nearly fell off the bed.
“You’re WHAT?”
“Outside. In the parking lot. You might want to come down.”
“How did you… When did you… How are you here already? Did you teleport?”
“I was already on campus to drop something off when I got your adorable little rant. Figured I should come explain myself in person before you joined that convent.”
I scrambled off my bed, looking around my room frantically for answers.
“I… uh… give me a second. I need to… I look terrible right now!”
“Take your time. I’ll wait.”
The line went dead, and I stared at my phone in disbelief. Marley was here, outside. Like right now.
I couldn’t go down to meet her in my pyjama shorts and a ratty, oversized T-shirt with a hole near the armpit, so I threw on a jacket over my disaster of an outfit, not even caring that I looked like I’d been wallowing in bed all evening, which I had. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to tame it, then gave up halfway and headed for the door.
The elevator ride dragged on, and by the time I stepped outside into the crisp evening air, my heart was beating hard enough to qualify as a medical emergency.
And then I saw her leaning against her car under the parking lot lights, and my mouth went completely dry.
She was wearing a dark grey sweater and black cargo trousers. Her hair was slightly messy, and I could bet she’d been running her fingers through it. When she spotted me, that devastating smile spread across her face.
Good Lord… how was it legal for someone to look that good in just casual clothes?
“There she is,” she said, pushing off from the car. “The girl who sends angry texts and then pretends they never happened.”
“I wasn’t pretending,” I mumbled, walking towards her on legs that felt like jelly. “I was hoping the universe would delete all evidence.”
She laughed, the sound rich and warm in the cold air.
“Come on, let’s go inside. It’s cold out here, and you’re barely dressed.”
“Inside?” I squeaked.
“Your dorm room, unless you want to talk about your feelings out here where everyone can hear.”
The thought of Marley in my room made my stomach do acrobatic moves that would impress Olympic gymnasts, but I nodded anyway.
“Okay. Yes. Come up, but I should warn you, my room is… uh… It’s very small. And I wasn’t expecting company, so I may have stress-eaten crackers in bed earlier.”
“I’ll survive,” she said, following me back inside.
