“That’s kinda personal information.”
“I overshare.”
“Apparently.” He chokes out a laugh. “Wanna grab coffee and we can work on our homework together? I-I know you have that modern civilizations’ paper deadline looming—” He clears his throat. “I-I just mean, you know, the tutoring thing, like you said, um, yeah.”
Pursing my lips, I study his abashed expression. That he can’t catch my eye makes me think of the worst.
“Did Dr. Morris ask you to tutor me?”
“No, but I happened to see the last grade she gave you…”
“How did you see that?”
“I was in the row behind you.” He shrugs. “It’s fine if you don’t want to, but I always ace history. It’s just Langton that doesn’t know how to grade papers.”
“I’m not acing anything.” I shove my own laptop into my bag then sling it on my back. “College sucks.” I pull a face. “Okay, that’s a lie. College wouldn’t suck if I could do the courses I wanted.”
“Which would you prefer?”
“PR all the way, baby. Comms and marketing. If not that, then full humanities core.” I release a wistful sigh. “But my dad nixed that idea when I didn’t get a scholarship.” Rather than head out, I plunk my butt down on the seat I just left and stare up at the ceiling. “You ever wonder what your purpose is, Callan?”
“That’s a very intense question for a conversation when both of us are due in other classes, Denver.”
Doesn’t stop him taking a seat next to me…
“Lately, I’m thinking about it all the time.”
That and all kinds of strange things.
Like why am I even in college when I suck at everything?
I’m not dumb. At least, I didn’t think I was. Until I came to college.
When did my best friend get hot enough to be a distraction?
Sure, Zach’s always been cute. Butthiscute?
Why are Mom and Dad so fixated on me not getting into Pi Beta Epsilon?
It’s not like my tomboy self belongs in a sorority. Honestly, I’d fit better into a frat house!
These are the things keeping me up at night right now.
“Can’t you pick up some more classes you enjoy?”
“Wanna know something ironic?”
“Sure.”
“Philosophy is one of the few classes I picked formeand I’m fucking that up by being my dad’s daughter.” I roll my head to look at him. “You’re easy to talk to. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t know that, but I’m picking up on this character flaw—” When my cheeks tinge pink and I surge upright in embarrassment, he grabs my arm. “I didn’t mean you.” He tugs me back down. “I was talking to the dean before class?—”
“The dean!” I sputter.
“Yeah. It doesn’t matter why, but he was telling me about his kidney stones.” He gags. “Like I needed to know about them.”
“Why was he talking to you in the first place?”
