She studied me carefully, not saying anything. The silence was killing me.

“I’m not stupid,” I snapped. “Besides, he’s not my type. We’re just friends. I don’t feel like explaining why.”

She put her hands up in defense. “Okay, if you say so. Just saying, people saw you two together, and with his history . . .”

“What?”

“People are making assumptions. If you say you’re not romantic with him, I believe you, but you should know that people already think you guys are a thing. Or at least were a thing last night. All night.”

Blood rushed to my face and I ground my teeth. The last thing I needed was people gossiping about me more than they already were. Jeez, I couldn’t catch a break. All I wanted to do was blend in at school and I somehow got involved with a super notorious cage fighter who apparently had a reputation for sleeping with any girl he wanted. Fuck my life.

“Well, we’re not. I’m sure it’ll pass.” I waved my hand dismissively. “God knows I have experience with people talking shit about me.”

Daniela grimaced. “Lorrie, I know it sucks when people are gossiping about you, but you’re at Arrowhart—gossip headquarters—and that was a super-crazy story. It’s hard to blame them.”

“I just want to be a normal student. Why is that so hard?”

She smiled slightly. “This is getting closer to normal, right? Boy-girl drama is what college is all about. Well, also studying but that’s less important.”

I looked at her for a second, but then I started giggling. It was all I could do, really. As crazy as my situation was, she was right about the drama. “I guess that’s true.”

“Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to have to kick that guy’s ass.”

I nodded, smiling. “After watching him fight last night, I’m sure you could take him.”

She flexed and we laughed. Maybe this was a little closer to normal.

That night I laid in bed, staring at my poster of a Japanese drawing of a wave and thinking things through. My first week back at school had been more eventful than I’d wanted, but all in all it had been good. Rumors aside, I was glad to have some connection with Hunter as a friend. It was like what I’d told Daniela: this semester was about getting myself right. I couldn’t get too involved with anyone else’s feelings. My best friend reminding me that the guy I had just become friends with was a huge player would only help with that.

I rolled over and closed my eyes. A friendship with Hunter could lead to trouble, but all I had to do was avoid getting into a romantic relationship with him. Although his romantic interests in me were clear, he wasn’t overly aggressive in pursuing me. So I wasn’t too concerned about him pushing things further than I was comfortable with. I just had to avoid developing feelings for him, myself.

Although I was used to feeling numb, being around Hunter made me feel alive. I could see how that would make it difficult to resist developing feelings for him. But I was strong. Dad had even said so in his letter. I was dealing with the tragedies in my past and moving on with life. Compared to that, how hard could it be to stop myself from developing feelings for Hunter?

Chapter Seven

ICE CREAM

I spent the next week settling into a groove with my classes. I stayed awake during psychology class and even took good enough notes that I didn’t need to borrow Daniela’s afterward. My drawing class was already a lot of fun; I was starting to think that maybe it could be my major. Daniela had been right, there were some rumors about me and Hunter, but the looks I was getting from people weren’t too much different from what I had already been experiencing.

In fact, they might have been better. It wasn’t pure pity anymore; these looks were more curious. What’s going on between that girl and Hunter? I could hear them saying. That was a lot better than wondering about what it would be like to have both parents die from unnatural causes.

If people would have actually had the guts to talk to me and ask me what was going on between me and Hunter, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them anyway. He didn’t call me all week. I tried not to be disappointed, since I had made it clear that we were just friends. Obviously he wasn’t going to pursue me as hard as if he were trying to date me—the rules of dating didn’t even apply. We were just friends. Friends hung out whenever.

Friday rolled around, and this time I had no plans. Daniela had a cold and was going to stay in, and Kate and Petra were out at some date party. I had no one else to go out with. It was surprising how much this bummed me out. I could always entertain myself watching more Grey’s Anatomy but I knew there would be loud, drunk people coming back to the dorm at two in the morning, and they would make me feel bad for missing out on a lively night.

I was sitting on the common area futon after an early cafeteria dinner thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my evening when my phone buzzed. My heart raced as I checked to see who it was, and then it began pounding in my ears when I recognized the name: Hunter.

“Hey,” I said, a little too breathlessly.

“Hey Lorrie, what’s up?”

His voice was smooth, like we’d just casually run into each other around campus. The fluttering in my nerves made me realize how much I’d missed hearing his voice all week. I tried to steady myself so I didn’t sound too needy. “Not much, just ate dinner.”

“Have any plans for tonight?”

My heart rose. “I was actually just figuring that out,” I said. “Daniela and I were going to go out, but she’s not feeling good, so now I’m free.”

“Great! One of my buddies bailed on me, so I have an extra ticket for the hockey game tonight. Do you wanna come?”

I didn’t know much about hockey, but hanging out with Hunter sounded more fun than hanging out with Meredith and McDreamy. “That sounds like fun! When’s the game?”

“Game’s at seven, but I like to get there a half hour early to get concessions, watch the guys warm up, and all that good stuff. Want to meet me at the arena at six-thirty?”

It was already a little after five, and I had no idea how far away the hockey rink was. How long did that give me to get ready? What did someone wear to a hockey game, anyway? I’d have to figure this out fast. “I can do that,” I said, my mind racing.

“Do you know where the arena is?” he asked.

I stood up and started walking to my room to look it up. “I think so. Otherwise, I can figure it out. I’ll see you then.”

“Alright. Let’s meet me out front. I’ll see ya in a few.”

I walked into my room and threw my phone on the bed before racing to my closet to figure out what to wear. I settled on a school sweatshirt, and threw that on my bed before racing to my laptop to look up the location of Barton Rink. It was at least a twenty minute walk across campus. I’d have to rush.

It took serious power-walking skills, but I made it to the area at six-thirty sharp. The people filtering into the arena were all dressed in red and white school gear: sweatshirts, hats, and even baggy hockey jerseys. I gave myself kudos for a good fashion choice. So far, so good.

I scanned the crowd looking for Hunter’s short, brown hair and dark gray eyes for several seconds before we saw each other at the same time. He was standing by the doors and wearing a red and white hockey jersey that covered up his tattoos, but still hinted at his wide shoulders and huge chest. Even dressed in a baggy hockey jersey, he looked like someone you didn’t want to mess with—in a fighting cage. A bed would be different.