"I'm not hooking up with anyone besides you and I'm not interested in changing that anytime soon." That seems to surprise her, because her eyes widen a little.
"Okay, but you're not the only one who lives here. What does Logan think about this?" she fires off, and I smile before shouting my friend's name. The blond mane appears in the doorway seconds later.
"Was I summoned?"
"Yes. Charlie wants to leave," I say, and he frowns, coming closer quickly and sitting on the other side of the bed.
"And why would she do something that dumb? You're going to stay at the Gamma with your cousin and that pile of stinky males?"
Charlie sighs before answering him.
"I'm not leaving today. And definitely not to the fraternity. I was just telling Ethan that Maddie and I are going to start looking for a cheap apartment to share," she explains again, and Logan makes a dismissive gesture.
"And why not stay here and save up to get your stuff back?"
"That's what I told her!" I back him up, and Charlie laughs in disbelief.
"This is ridiculous. I'm not going to stay here getting in your way, and definitely not without paying anything."
"Do you drag furniture around in the middle of the night?" Logan fires off, and she looks at him, confused.
"Of course not, why would I do that?"
"Are you a hoarder who's going to turn our place into a public calamity?"
"What? No!"
"Are you crazy and going to try to steal my hookups from me the next morning?"
"No? Unfortunately I'm not attracted to women, I've tried. My toxic trait is liking men, honestly."
"Do you have a bad-boy lover you're going to bring over at night who'll steal even our boxers?"
"No, you idiot," she answers, and by this point she's already got her arms crossed and a fixed little wrinkle between her eyebrows. My friend isn't fazed one bit.
On the contrary, he grabs her foot and breaks into a big smile.
"Then you're not going to get in our way at all. And we don't need help with the rent, we've covered it on our own for a while. Your dear Ethan here's dad owns a textile factory, did you know? Has a ton of money," he says, and she darts her eyes to me for a second, asking for confirmation, and I shrug in a "yeah, that's right." "And my mom is a renowned artist. Each of her sculptures pays for a year of rent."
"Oh my God, am I surrounded by spoiled rich kids?" she exclaims, alternating between looking at the two of us.
"Just about. But to sum up: we don't need you to pay anything. And you won't be in the way. Same goes for Maddie," I insist, and Logan nods, agreeing.
"No. That wouldn't be fair! I can't accept it."
"But we're not going to take no for an answer, kitten," I assure, and she rubs her face again.
"That's right. Your options are: stay or stay."
"Ugh! You two are terrible!" she complains and gives each of us a smack on the shoulder.
"Never said otherwise," the other player reinforces, and I laugh.
"I'll think about it. And talk to Maddie again, but I doubt she'll go for it!"
"Fine. But let her know we can be pretty persuasive," I say, and Charlie rolls her eyes.
"Okay, okay. Enough of this craziness for today! The college let us know we'll be able to get into Lovelace today to grab some things. Can you two come with me?"
