“Nope, not busy at all,” I say brightly.
Colten’s eyebrows go up. He looks deeply unimpressed.
Julian exhales a little, clearly relieved.
“Okay. Good. I just—I need a favor.”
Now I’m curious. Julian never needs favors. Julian is the kind of guy who walks into a room and the universe rearranges itself helpfully around him.
“What kind of favor?” I ask. What could I possibly do for him? Practice some drills? Get a kegger? Hide a body?
“Nothing big,” he says quickly. “I’m giving a presentation, and I just need you to…say something.”
I hum. “That sounds vague and ominous.”
“It’ll take like, two minutes.”
“Two minutes is exactly how long my best friend said this PT exercise will take, but it’s already been an eternity,” I say, gesturing vaguely toward Colten even though Julian can’t see me. It’s more for Colten’s sake, really, since he can only hear my side of the conversation.
Colten doesn’t move, but he definitely looks even more unimpressed, which is impressive.
Julian clears his throat. “Right. So, the thing is, I need you to say a few words about Rowan Papadakis.”
I blink. “Rowan Papadakis?”
“Yeah.”
“The guy you left the party with last night?” They were both acting oddly when they left the party together. I don’t evenremember them talking before last night. This phone call was one strange thing after another.
There’s a pause before he cautiously says, “Yes.”
“Are you guys friends now or…something?” I ask.
Another pause, longer this time.
“Just friends,” Julian says, before he quickly adds, “but if you’re busy, it’s fine; I can find someone else—”
“Oh no,” I say immediately. “I’m definitely in. When and where?”
Colten pinches the bridge of his nose.
Julian tells me the auditorium number and the time, which is apparently in fifteen minutes.
I hang up as Colten watches me, lips drawn in a thin line.
“I think Rowan Papadakis is holding Julian hostage,” I announce.
Colten stares at me, not blinking. “...And why would he do that?”
“Why does Julian want me to talk about this guy I know nothing about in fifteen minutes?” I shoot back. “It’s weird, really weird. I’m going.”
Colten frowns for a moment before sighing.
“Fine,” he says. “But I’m coming with you.”
“Yeah?” I grin, glad Colten isn’t just accusing me of skipping practice like he always seems to do lately.
“Of course,” Colten replies, retying his hair back. “In case Rowan is actually holding Julian hostage.”
