I found out the way I did.”
“Uh, how did you?” Was that too nosy?
Her mouth twitches at the corner, as if the whole thing is somewhat funny. “You’re going to think I’m pathetic.”
Doubtful. “I don’t think I’ll ever think that about you.” Whoa, layin’ on the cheese, but I don’t care. I’m bein’ honest.
She half smiles. “Well, I drive by his apartment sometimes. I don’t know why I do it, but I find myself down that street a lot.”
“That’s not pathetic.” ‘Cause it’s not. I do the same thing to… uh, other people. “You saw her there?”
She nods, her mouth back down in a frown.
“Hey,” I say, squatting down next her desk so we’re kind of eye to eye, “it’s goin’ to be hard for a little while. But it’ll be okay. I promise.”
I know that’s so generic, but I mean it. When someone cheats on you, it’s goin’ to hurt like hell for a long time, probably the rest of your life.
She nods, and her breath hitches.
This is the part where I should touch her, hug her, or squeeze her hand or somethin’, but I can’t. I’m too nervous to do any of that.
Her eyes tear up, and she reaches out and pats my hand. Guess she’s ballsy enough to touch me. “Thank you, Bro.”
I nod and give her a dorky half smile as I stand upright. “Uh, no problem. Let me know if you need me. Even if it’s just to talk or whatever.”
Her eyes flick to the door, and I follow her gaze. Either Hayley left or she’s lightning quick ducking down ‘cause there’s no one in sight.
Before I have the chance to look back at Quynn, she’s in my arms, holding tight to my neck and squeezing like she hasn’t hugged another human being her whole life and she’s been dying to.
She’s never touched me like this. Always been those playful touches that didn’t mean anythin’. And I’m tryin’ to feel somethin’ about this that makes it feel different than any other time she’s touched me, but I can’t even hug her back before she jumps away. Her face looks as hot as mine feels.
“Um, thanks again, Bro.”
“Uh…” Think Brody. Find words to say. “Y-your welcome.”
A sigh of relief explodes from her lips before they upturn into a smile. “Okay, well, I’ve got to head home. Thanks for listening.”
“Uh huh.”
She goes out the door, and I should’ve followed her. Should’ve walked her outside to her car. But I’m frozen in place. Not sure what to think about what just happened. ‘Cause if I’m bein’ honest, it wasn’t as big a deal as I thought it would be.
“So…?” Hayley asks, falling in step with me as we walk down the hallway.
I shrug, still stunned about the unexpected hug. The hug that should’ve felt different, but didn’t. Where did it come from anyway? I didn’t do anything really.
“Come on. Tell me. It couldn’t have been that bad.”
“It wasn’t bad.” I scratch the back of my neck. “Just surprising.” And weird.
Hayley stops and yanks my arm back. “Explain,” she says with a wide smile on her face.
“Later,” I whisper, leaning in and pointing to all the surrounding people.
She nods and zips her lips, but it doesn’t wipe away the smile. My stomach twists a little bit.
“Library today?” she asks.
“How about now? Or do you have to go home first?” Why am I so anxious? I guess I could wait to talk to her about it, but in all honesty, I kind of want to spend time with her. She knows how to relax a situation. And everything in my system is so tense, I’m goin’ to need someone to calm me down.
“I just want to drop off my bag. That okay?”
“Sure, I’m parked out this way.” I gesture to the doors down the hall.
When we get to the Corsica, I open the door for her before getting behind the wheel. She’s bouncing up and down in the seat.
“Tell me now!”
I laugh and shake my head as I start the car. “It’s really nothing, Hayles.” It’s out before I realize I said it—a nickname. But it fits her. If she’s not going to say anything about it, that’s what I’m goin’ to call her.
“Nothing, really?” She cocks an eyebrow. “You look like you swallowed a gallon of way hot coffee.”
Hayles it is, I guess. “I just talked to her. She was upset about my brother. I know, I know, I wasn’t supposed to talk about him, but she brought him