slowly drags itself into the hazy transition of slumber—the point where I don’t know what sounds are real and which are fabricated in my dreams—something vibrates against my chest.
A text.
U will never guess what I just did.
It’s 3:30 in the morning. Must be the wrong number.
My phone buzzes again.
BTW, this is Ran.
Seriously? Ran’s never texted me before. Why would he choose this hour of the night to send his first one?
Me: What did you just do? (And why do you feel the need to share it with me at 3:30 in the morning?)
Ran: We just transported a 5 yr old that ate his pet goldfish.
I chuckle quietly and my student lounge sleeping partner shifts in his too small seat. His book clatters onto the floor.
Me: Is he OK?
Ran: Yes. His older bro told him it was sushi.
Me: That’s a mean older brother.
Ran: That’s an awesome older brother and even more awesome prank.
Me: You are cruel. Does that really warrant a trip to the hospital?
Ran: Yeah, seafood allergy.
I bite back the smile that’s edged onto my lips and force myself to breathe when I notice I’ve stopped doing so while waiting in between texts.
Ran: I haven’t told you the best part.
Me: And that would be?
Ran: That I stopped by PetPalace earlier today (2 for 1 special) and had an extra goldfish in the front cab of the ambulance. So I gave it to him. Made his night.
Who is this guy?
Me: That’s awfully nice of you, Ran.
Ran: IS THAT COMPLIMENT #5?!?!
I roll my eyes and my fingers tingle as I punch the letters on my phone.
Me: Don’t flatter yourself, you stalker.
Ran: Dang it, Maggie. You keep deducting them.
A ten second pause.
Ran: Why am I a stalker?
Me: Because you showed up at my house and just texted me without me giving you my number.
Ran: That doesn’t make me a stalker. That makes me resourceful.
Me: Kidnapper, Hostage Holder, Ransom Demander, and now Stalker.
Ran: Shoot Maggie. I’m just going to count those each as 1/4 deductions since they were in the same text. You’re going to be in the negatives soon.
Me: Really? Don’t get me too excited.
Ran: I’m sure I can get you excited.
My body goes instantly hot.
Me: Shut up.
Ran: I forgot to tell you I downgraded your 5 compliment award to just a kiss, no licking.
Me: And what if I don’t want to?
Ran: At the rate you’re going, Insult Queen, you’re not going to get the chance ;)
My heart twitches inside my chest. He must be drunk. That’s the only thing that makes any sense in this scenario.
Me: Are you drunk?
Ran: No.
Me: You sure?
Ran: Pretty sure you have to drink alcohol to get drunk, and since I don’t do that, I can say with certainty I’m not drunk.
Me: Ok.
Ran: Are you? If so, you’re an angry drunk.
I groan under my breath and the glasses slip from my new friend’s face as he rotates over again in the armchair.
Me: No, I’m not drunk. Just tired.
Ran: Get some sleep. Talk tomorrow.
Me: Is that a threat?
Ran: No, it’s a promise.
CHAPTER NINE
“That is one hot text exchange, girl.” Cora tosses my phone onto my bed as she tugs a cowl-neck sweater over her head. My bed is still unmade from last night, and it reeks of cheap cologne and musty boy sweat. I don’t know how she does it, but Cora always manages to have the guys sleep in a different bed after their PG-13 make out sessions. Since there are just two beds in our room, that bed ends up being mine. She says that sleeping in the same bed all night leads to sex, but I think actually sleeping next to someone is likely much tamer than rolling around lip-locked on the mattress for hours. Whatever. It seems to work for Cora and I’m not sure how, but she’s found a lengthy list of guys that have been willing to comply with her prudish demands.
I push off the desk and wrap my fingers around my phone. “It’s not hot, it’s annoying.”
“Oh yeah, it’s really annoying to get middle of the night texts from gorgeous guys saying they want to kiss you and get you excited.”
“Cora, that’s just wrong.” I grimace. “And that’s not what he said he wants to do.”
“Umm, yeah it is.” Cora eyes me from her reflection in her full-length mirror as she coats her lips in a shiny pink gloss. “Working on your paper all day?”
I nod and flip through the stack of books I’d checked out at the campus library earlier this