us. “I bought her a really nice scented candle. It smelled like citrus, like her perfume?”
“Have you seen it since?” Cal asks.
Snagging her lip between her teeth, Adrienne shakes her head.
“Sorry,” I say, blowing out a breath. “I’m not much of a candle person.”
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t get you the fabulous Christmas gift I had planned,” Ricardo says, eyes sparkling.
“Shut up. You didn’t have something planned.” Did he? We had just started talking then, after Kenneth dumped me, so it’s unlikely that Ricardo actually had a gift in mind for me. But pleasure moves through me anyway at the suggestion he was thinking about me, even then.
“Okay, I didn’t, but I do today.”
Huffing, I shake my head. “Doesn’t anyone understand the phrase, ‘No gifts necessary?’” My eyes turn to the doorway, waiting for Gul. Mom was pleased I had invited her, for diplomatic reasons, but I’m actually hoping she’ll show up. It’ll give me an opportunity to corner her and ask her why she was lurking around the classrooms late at night during Christmas break.
Even more interesting?
Ricardo and I spotted Professor Rook leaving the classroom wing minutes later.
The question is, were Gul and Professor Rook meeting? If so, why?
As far as I know, she’s never bought drugs from him before. She didn’t have a telltale dot next to her name in his files. Which leads me to wonder if there was something else going on between them. Maybe she was outside that fateful night to meet him, away from the prying eyes of everyone on campus? Maybe she was cheating on Grady with the professor? I bite my lip, chewing on the thought. If so, sucks to be Grady.
Honestly, Gul doesn’t strike me as the cheating type. She’s a gossip hound, but she’s conversely intensely private about her home life, personal relationships, and those sorts of things. Cheating on a boyfriend with a professor would be both underhanded and bold. Not qualities I attribute to Gul’s personal relationships. But what do I know? We aren’t exactly besties.
As if I’ve conjured her with my musings, Gul walks into the room wearing a gold lamé dress that skims her knees. Beside her, Grady adjusts his tie.
I grin. I’ve always wanted to have a dressy birthday party, and eighteen seemed the perfect time to do it. Having everyone wear cocktail attire was a stroke of genius. We all look amazing under the soft light of the antique chandeliers. Plus, we’re going to have a blast putting the dance floor I rented to use.
The sight of Kenneth entering the room puts a damper on my enthusiasm. He looks uncomfortable, with his hands in his pockets and his eyes on his shoes. I’m regretting asking him, but when he wished me a happy birthday this morning, I felt bad and told him about the party. It was a total pity invite, which he should have had the sense to decline.
Ricardo sets his eyes on my ex and tenses. An air of awkwardness permeates the room.
Ms. Poppin interrupts as she enters from the staging area to tell us that dinner is ready if we’ll be seated.
Perfect timing.
The food looks amazing, despite the fact that the chef had to figure out how to make Thai food without peanuts. A certain Pakistani girl is allergic, and I can’t have anyone croaking at my birthday party.
Despite the motley assortment of people gathered around the long table, conversation is going well. Kenneth is seated all the way at the other end of the table, and I put Grady and Gul down there with him. They seem to be engrossed in conversation about something, but I can’t hear any of it. I’m too busy listening to Adrienne and Genevieve chatting about an online vintage clothing auction site they found.
I lean toward Ricardo to ask him to pass me the noodles. He surprises me by burying his nose in my hair and taking a whiff. “God, you smell good.”
Laughing, I meet his eyes. “You’re too much.”
“I don’t think so.” He hesitates. “Are you happy?”
My brows knit together in confusion. “Am I happy? Why wouldn’t I be?” I gesture toward the food and the company to make my point.
“But you’re happy, with me?”
My lips part in surprise. Reaching up to run a hand along the side of his face, I smile. “Of course I’m happy.”
Ricardo grins at this, and we go back to eating.
I chew my food, unsettled by his question. Why did he ask me that? Putting it out of my