“What happened then? Specifically. Hailey’s too rational for something like this?—”
“Apparently not.” He folds his arms across his chest. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this. I just want pancakes, candied pecans, and bed.”
“Coming up, bud,” Zach tells him, but his hand settles on my knee and he squeezes it.
I know what that means—he wants me to back off.
With a heavy sigh, I do, but there’s something going on with Hailey for sure. I just wish I were close enough to her to help figure it out.
FORTY-ONE
LET THE MAESTRA-MIND WORK
“Where were you, dude?”
Callan yawns. “Wanted to do some research on the man of the hour. Fell asleep at my desk. Sorry, Denny. How did the party go?”
I make a face. “It went.”
Zach frowns when Wynter, Victoria, and Shay drop into the booth around us. Now Callan’s sitting opposite us and with Lex flittering back and forth because she’s on shift, add in the others and the whole gang’s in Dopie’s.
The only people here are a couple of upper classmen who don’t give a fuck about sophomores and their woes.
“We need to exchange numbers. Now that we’re friends. You know?” Wynter blushes. “Sorry, didn’t mean to blurt that out.”
“Who actually are you?” Pecan studies her in bewilderment. “Who are any of you?”
“They’re the cavalry.” I hide a smile. “Don’t be offended. I swear Pecan has that face blindness thing.”
“I know someone with the exact opposite.”
“Huh?”
Wynter reaches for a packet of sweetener that she pours into her coffee once Lex places it on the table. “She remembers every face she’s ever seen.”
Pecan gapes at her. “No way.”
“Yup. Every. Face. Anyway, sorry, didn’t mean to derail the conversation.”
With Pecan distracted—Wynter deserves a gold medal for that alone—I clear my throat. “You’re sure about helping me, right?”
Victoria frowns. “Of course!”
Shay simply nods.
Wynter chortles, “I still think we should go to the dean.”
“Wynter!” Callan goads.
Zach squeezes my knee again. “100%, D.”
“Sure thing!” Lex calls out from the counter where she’s squeezing whipped cream into Victoria’s hot chocolate.
“You know it,” Pecan agrees then groans. “But do we really have to talk about this tonight?”
“I needed some time to concoct a plan and as much as I’m sorry about Hailey, we’re all heading home for the holidays soon. We need to get organized.”
“Fine,” he grouses.
