“Here,” I said, my voice so low even I had a hard time hearing myself.

Georgia lowered her cup and leaned forward. “I’m sorry. What was that? It sounded like you said ‘here.’ ”

“I did. I brought him here.”

Pepper and Georgia both stared at me in stunned silence.

“What?” I snapped. Taking another bite of my scone, I took turns staring at each of them.

“Well, you hardly ever bring anyone here.”

“Like never,” Pepper agreed, nodding, her wild mane of hair moving around her like some fiery nimbus.

“Well, I did.” I wasn’t about to explain that he gave me little choice in the matter. “Not that it’s going to become a habit or anything.”

“Tell me more about this Shaw.” Georgia got that narrow-eyed, considering look. I thought of it as her “parent” look. Which was okay considering my parents didn’t really care one way or another about the company I kept. It was nice knowing she had my back. Even when I didn’t want her there.

A business major, she was the pragmatist among us. Steady as the tide, she never flip-flopped her majors. It was like she knew who she was, where she was going, and with whom. As much as I didn’t like Harris, I couldn’t help thinking how comforting it must be to be with the same boyfriend since you were sixteen. To have that kind of familiarity. To know that you can drop your guard around him and be yourself. To have that trust.

I shrugged. “He enlisted after high school. Served two tours. What else do you want to know? He lives in a lake cabin his grandfather left him. His mother remarried and is living in Boston.”

“So what’s he do now?”

“Reece said he works in a garage,” Pepper answered. That he’s an awesome mechanic and he’s saving up to start his own custom shop.”

I looked at her, unable to hold back the question even if it revealed my interest—and how little I still didn’t know about him. “He is?”

“Apparently he’s really into bikes.”

Maybe that’s what he was doing at Maisie’s then? Rubbing elbows with a potential clientele?

“So he sounds interesting . . . ambitious,” Georgia said, nodding again.

I couldn’t stop annoyance from pricking at me. I didn’t need Georgia’s approval of a prospective boyfriend. Not that he was a prospective boyfriend. He wasn’t a prospective anything as far as I was concerned despite his confidence that he and I weren’t finished.

“Why does this feel like an intervention?” I asked before taking another sip.

Pepper blinked and pressed a hand to her chest. “When did best friends talking get reduced to being labeled an intervention?”

“Yeah. We just want to hear about your new—”

“He’s not my new anything,” I cut Georgia off quickly. Setting my half-eaten scone down, I scooted off the bed. Holding my cup in one hand, I approached my closet and pulled my robe off the hook.

“What are you doing?” Georgia asked.

“I need a shower.”

I felt their eyes on me as I gathered up the rest of my things. When I turned to face them, I sighed. “Oh, c’mon. Why are you guys looking at me like that?”

“Wow.” Georgia shook her head. “You’re actually running away rather than talk about a guy with us. I’ve got to meet this Shaw.”

“I knew it.” Pepper grinned like she had just won some prize. “You like him.”

“Wrong. I just need a shower. I still smell like a bar.”

“We’ll just be waiting here when you get back.” Pepper snuggled down into the beanbag chair like she was settling in for a good long stay.

“When I get back I’m going to the library to study.”

Georgia made a sound that was halfway snort and halfway laugh. “Oh. I know you’ve got it bad now. You’re running to the library.”

Pepper’s eyes rounded. “Do you even know where the building is?”

“Oh, now you’re just being shits.” I grabbed my shower caddy and yanked open the bedroom door. Their laughter followed me, but so did the knowledge that they weren’t entirely wrong.

I was running. Not just from them though. I was running from myself. From the echo of Shaw’s voice in my room. The only problem was that even away from my room, I could still hear his voice.

Chapter 10

I HELD TRUE TO my word and went to the library. I actually had a paper due in Medieval Art History the next week, so I was able to knock out the first draft, which left me feeling totally guilt free when I surfaced.

It was dark by the time I emerged from the building. I walked down the snow-powdered sidewalk, wrapping my cashmere scarf several times around my neck, shielding my mouth from the wind. My phone vibrated and I dug it out of my bag.

Pepper: Where r u?

Me: Headed back to room. Where r u?

Pepper: At Mulvaney’s w/ Reece. Join us?

My fingers hesitated over the keys. Crash their date? No thanks. I typed back.

Me: Think I’m just staying in.

Pepper: Kidding?

Shaking my head, I glanced up to make sure I didn’t walk into someone. Or a wall. The sidewalk stretched before me. Not a soul out.

Me: I’m fine. Just tired

Pepper: U need 2 eat

Me: I ate

The lie seemed easier. I would just grab a granola bar or cook up some popcorn in the microwave.

Pepper: Ok. Walk to class together in the morn?

Me: Sure

I didn’t bother to inquire if she was sure she would be spending the night in her dorm or even be around to walk to class together. The answer seemed obvious. She spent almost every night with Reece. I wouldn’t be surprised if he put a ring on her finger before graduation. Yeah, she was young, but there was something about them . . . about her and Reece together that made me believe they were in it for the long haul. The real deal. For some people it happened, I guess.

As happy as I was for her, it also hurt to know that nothing would ever be the same again for us. No late nights munching popcorn. No me dragging her away from studying to watch TV or go get a pizza. Those days were gone.

Pepper hadn’t brought the subject up, but we would have to put in our rooming requests for next year. I wondered if she wanted to even room with me and Georgia again. Since she and Reece hooked up, she practically lived at his place. Why not save the money and make it official by moving in with him? Pepper wasn’t like me with a father paying her way. She was forging her own way on a combination of student loans and scholarships. She worked, too. Babysitting gigs and part-time at a local daycare. Why should she waste money on a dorm room she hardly used anymore?