Kiss King - Mickey Miller Page 0,31
and fraternity brother Chris, a good friend, is probably in there and I’d rather finish the conversation out here. “Paints. Brushes. Pastels. Paper. An easel.”
“So…everything one needs to start a painting career?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Of course. May I ask what this is for? Are you starting a new career? Or doing some art therapy so that you don’t get into it with that coach of yours?”
I crack up. “The supplies aren’t for me, Mom. They’re for a friend. I want to surprise her.”
“Oh. Her? Are you seeing someone, Grant? She’s not a Gemini, is she? You’re a Scorpio so that would just be a chase that never ends.”
I chuckle. “No, no. Nothing like that. Just a friend, Mom.”
“You know, your father and I were ‘just friends’ for three years before we even went on a date.”
“I know. You tell me every chance you get. He got you flowers every year for your birthday until you finally said yes. This is a new generation. We’re different. We know we either want something or we don’t.”
“Oh, honey. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Plus, immediate gratification is overrated. Any girl would be silly not to have it for you. You’re a handsome, smart young man.”
“Must be because my mother raised me right.”
“Well, now you’re just going to make me cry.”
“Mom, I’m kidding…kind of. Look, just send me those supplies if you can? And no, I’m not seeing anyone. Talk soon.”
“Bye, honey. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up with my mom and feel a tap on the shoulder.
“Hey, man, you playing?”
It’s Jude.
Great.
“Playing…?”
“Spin the bottle. We’re about to start. Maya wanted me to come get you and Chris.”
Maya wanted him to come get me? Interesting…
“Spin the bottle? Why not, give us a few minutes.”
“Sure thing,” he says, and leans in toward me. “Hey, man, is it true that April’s a virgin?”
Oh, shit. Creep alarm going off.
“What’s that got to do with anything?” I retort.
He looks back at them. “I just want to know, man. I need to know.”
“Actually…” I trail off, noticing that he’s hanging on my every word. “She’s standing right there, so why don’t you ask her yourself and quit being so fucking creepy.”
“Stop fucking kidding me. You’re in a frat, bro. Me too. I’m a Lambda. You’re an Alpha, right? Come on, man. Give me the dirt.”
As much as I don’t like to stereotype fraternities, why is it that the Lambdas have always rubbed me the wrong way? First Jeff—the dude who kept weirdly hitting on Alex freshman year—DJ told me all about him and how he had to lay down the law. And now this joker who is kind of making me want to punch him in the face.
“I’m sorry, I must have missed the part where being in a fraternity means gossiping about women behind their backs. What are you smoking, bro? Some of that Italian shit?”
“Chill out, man,” Jude retorts.
I clench my jaw. “Why are you asking about April anyway? Aren’t you seeing Maya?”
His body language shrinks, and he turns and heads back to where everyone is sitting in the lounge without answering my question. What a fucking tool.
All bark and no bite. Damn. The guy is a grade-A sleaze ball. The crazy thing is, he’s damn charming on the front end, and I can see what Maya saw in him. He’s got this gregariousness to him.
Total creep-O on the back end…so my sources tell me. Yeah, I maybe have asked around with some of my friends who have had classes with Jude. The consensus wasn’t all that great. As much as I don’t want to prod into Maya’s business…I can’t get on board with the guy.
I shake my head, then pound on our door. I could use my key, but I don’t want to break in because I have a feeling I know what he’s up to.
I bellow, “Dude. What are you doing? We’re playing suite spin the bottle tonight. You in?”
“Busy,” he pipes back.
I bang on the door again. Finally, he busts the door open.
“Dude. I’m busy right now,” he says.
“Clearly. How many tabs have you got pulled up, man?” I smirk.
Chris rolls his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How. Many. Tabs?” I repeat.
He looks down and away, and I have a hunch I’ve caught him red-handed.
I bust inside, and he tries to stop me. I can’t help but grin.
Chris plays football and he’s freaking strong. But you know what? So am I.
I do a spin move, pin him to the ground