Page 10 of Arctic Titans of Northwood U: Volume 2

When my ears hurt, I realized they were perking so hard that my face was stretching and my lips were…oh god. Am I smiling? Damn him.

If you were a fruit, you know, just hanging out on a tree, which one would you be? I'm personally feeling like a rebellious banana today.

What kind of a question is that?

Duh. Silly me. It’s obvious. You’re a coconut.

I don’t get it. How am I a coconut?

See, if you weren’t a coconut, you would totally understand. But this way, you’re just proving my point. I propose you prove it some more in person. Over a Sauvignon. With the view of downtown Detroit.

I didn’t agree to a date, Reed. And I knew replying was gonna be a mistake.

You wound me. Anyway, what will be the theme song for our date next week?

No.

Oh, I got it. ABBA’s ‘Lay All Your Love On Me.’

Nope. ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You.’

No fucking way!!! Dude. You know ABBA songs? Dude! Also, that’s a fucked up choice. Very pessimistic.

I chuckled under my breath and looked around, trying to think of a response. He beat me to it, quick and witty as he was.

Hold on. You picked our theme song. So, we’re going on a date?

Why do you even want to go on a date with me, Reed?

He wasn’t coming near my bed, I was sure of that. No matter how handsome, I wasn’t going to sleep with him. Or anyone, for that matter. I had to take a step back and figure myself out.

Do I need a secret agenda? It’s a date, Avery. I think I’ll wear a bowtie to impress you.

I bit my lip and closed my eyes. Grayson Reed wearing a bowtie was not something I had expected to be daydreaming about. Yet here I was, imagining him straightening it. My heart clenched and I swallowed the knot in my throat.

“Earth to Avery,” Sawyer was saying. “Are we ordering another one or not?”

“Huh? Oh. Yeah. Sure,” I said, my mind still swirling around the monolithic idea of Grayson Reed in a bowtie, arriving for our date. There had been some commotion around me and Beckett and Caden weren’t around. I didn’t think about them for too long, though, because my thoughts quickly returned to Grayson. If his mission had been to confuse me or distract me the next time we faced each other in the rink, I was afraid he nearly succeeded. I wouldn’t let him, but it was hard to keep this weird, tickling sensation out of my fingertips.

“You’re awfully cheerful, buddy,” Sawyer said.

“Last I checked, it was still legal,” I pointed out.

Sawyer opened his mouth and widened his slanted, hazel eyes. “Are you getting cheeky with me?” He shook his head playfully. “I like it.”

Our drinks arrived and thankfully interrupted my friend’s curiosity. We toasted to our victory and I set my phone aside despite the excruciating itch to check if Grayson had texted some more. It wouldn’t hurt him if I left him hanging for a while longer.

After Sawyer and I returned to our room, we were fairly quiet. Our room had two single beds with nightstands between them. There was a small flat-screen TV mounted to the wall and a coffee table below it. Two chairs were placed around the table. A dresser, a closet, and a mirror made up the rest of the furniture. A small private bathroom was attached to our room.

I expected Sawyer to call Noah for their goodnight chat, but he didn’t.

I lay still, my fingers twined on my stomach, my gaze glued to the ceiling.

Sawyer tapped at his screen while I resisted the urge to do the same. He could wait until I figured out what to do with him. This sudden desire to go on a date with me wasn’t sinking in.

“You didn’t stay out,” Sawyer said casually as he tossed his phone on the nightstand.

I turned my head right to look at him. His legs were tangled in the twisted comforter. He wore a white T-shirt and boxer briefs, ready for sleeping. I hadn’t undressed yet. “Did you want the room?”