Kiss To Forget (Blairwood University #2) - Anna B. Doe Page 0,26

a date for prom?”

She sighs loudly. “Now you sound like Sienna. Hell, even J.D.’s been nagging me about that.”

If her brother is looking forward to Grace dating, things have to be really bad.

“Grace…” I try, my voice soft, but it only serves to piss her off.

“No, we’re not talking about it. I don’t have a date, and I’m not planning to go to the prom.”

“Okay, okay.”

“I need to concentrate on keeping my grades up, dance, and graduating. Then come fall, we’ll be in the same place again.”

Maybe that’s what she needs. To move away, start fresh in a place nobody knows her. A place that won’t be a constant reminder of all the bad memories.

“Maybe you should come visit. Change of scenery and all that,” I say before I can think better of it. Yes, I have a full schedule, but I’ll find time for her. Especially if it’ll help her take her mind off of things. “My roommate’s sleeping over at her boyfriend’s half the time anyway. She won’t mind lending you her bed for a weekend.”

Grace thinks about the suggestion for a moment. “That could be fun.”

“Right? Talk to your brother, and if he wants, he can call me.”

“Are you going to pick up?”

“Ha-ha-ha. I’ll try my best.” I see the sign for Cup It Up. “Hey Grace, I have to go. I’m just about to get to my job. Talk soon?”

“Promise?” There is uncertainty in her voice that has me stopping for a moment.

“Promise. You think about what I said, okay?”

“Sure.”

We say our goodbyes, and I hang up just as I pull the door to the coffee shop open. I quickly change into my work shirt and get out front to start my shift, all while thoughts of my best friend keep wandering through the back of my mind. Is she really okay?

Chapter Twelve

NIXON

“Fuck this.” I let the book fall into my lap and tilt my head back. Instead of landing on the pillow, I not so gently bang it against the wall. Sharp pain spreads through my skull, but it has nothing on the pain I’ve been suffering for the past two hours trying to study.

Deciding I need a break, and something to eat, I throw the book to the side and get up. As soon as I step into the hallway, I hear somebody shout from downstairs, followed by the sound of slashing metal. “Take that, fucker!”

Taking two steps at a time, I get to the ground floor, where the noise is louder, and go straight to the living room where I know everybody is at.

“You were saying?”

That voice.

The hair at the nape of my neck rises as I recognize it. Soft and husky with just a slight accent to make it sound mysterious and sexy. An undertone of sarcasm that’s all too familiar.

Slowing my step, I stop at the doorway and look inside. The room is filled with people—my teammates, their girlfriends, and friends. Considering our usual parties, this is a small group, but they still take almost all the sitting space and then some.

“Beginner’s luck,” Emmett scoffs as everybody laughs at him. His girlfriend, Katherine, is leaning over the couch and consoling him. “I demand a rematch.”

“Don’t be a sore loser, big guy,” Yasmin teases him, a bright smile on her lips as she high fives Katherine behind Emmett’s back.

“Is there a party, and why haven’t I been invited?” I ask nobody in particular.

Heads turn toward me, Yasmin’s included. Our eyes meet across the room and hold. Time seems to slow down as we stare at each other, but it couldn’t be more than a few seconds. My lips tip in a grin. Her eyebrows rise in a question, but she tilts her head in silent greeting.

Things have been better since the night I walked her home. I’m not sure what changed, but it did. I could feel it. The air wasn’t as tense when we were in the same room any longer. And Yasmin isn’t always scowling at me anymore. Well, not with real irritation anyway.

“Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence! Did you get your beauty sleep, Cinderella?” Prescott taunts, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Sleeping Beauty, asshole. Cinderella is the poor one.”

He shakes his head at me. “There’s something really disturbing in the fact that you know that.”

“What’s disturbing is the fact that you two assholes are even discussing it,” Hayden says from behind me, throwing a beer at Prescott. Caught off guard, the can almost falls