Next Man Up (Making the Score #2) - Tawdra Kandle Page 0,20

into the first cookie. “You’re the best roommate in the world.” Her eyes closed as she chewed. “I take back everything. You don’t have to be nice to Tuck. You can keep ignoring him, and I won’t make a peep. Just promise me you’ll always share your cookies with me.”

I laughed at the rapturous expression on her face. “You got it, doll.”

Quinn didn’t bring up the subject of Eli Tucker again, which was good, because I wasn’t sure that distracting her with chocolate chip cookies was always going to work. Just to be on the safe side, I began to be more subtly intentional about avoiding him; I made up excuses if Gia and Quinn wanted to go hang out in the boys’ room or meet them both at the dining hall or student life center.

Since it was nearly impossible for them to reach our rooms, given that the older dorms like Gibbons had not yet been made accessible, at least I didn’t have to worry about Eli showing up in my own room. I was grateful for that small blessing.

And I almost made it entirely through the remainder of our freshman year without having to face Eli Tucker again.

Almost.

Chapter Four

Tuck

“And . . . bam.” I closed my laptop with a sense of satisfaction. “One more final down . . . one more to go.”

It was hard to believe that my freshman year of college—something I’d longed for, something I’d been afraid I’d never be able to experience, something I’d once thought I wouldn’t live long enough to see—was nearly over. I’d just finished and turned in my second-to-last final, a take-home essay for American history. Now I only had sociology left. That exam was on Monday, which meant I had tonight and tomorrow to do some serious last-minute studying.

The book I needed was on my desk, next to my bed. Tired from all of the recent exams and preoccupied with a whole shit-ton of other things, I didn’t think twice about leaning over to reach for the book. My fingers grasped it, but as they did, my body suddenly remembered that nothing moved below my thighs. I teetered off-balance, the heavy book crashing to the floor, where I might’ve joined it if I hadn’t been sitting squarely on the bed.

As it was, I saved myself with my arms, gripping the edge of the mattress until I got my equilibrium back. And then I hoisted my useless body more securely against the pillows and stared balefully at the fucking book in the middle of the fucking floor.

The door to the adjoining bathroom opened, steam pouring out. My roommate Nate had just finished his shower, so I waited until I heard the sound of his uneven footsteps before I called out.

“Hey, Wellman. Give me a hand here, will you?”

He emerged from the bathroom, rubbing a towel over his short dark hair. “Sure. What’s up?”

I pointed to the book. “I was being stupid and lazy. I went to grab the book without thinking about it, and it was too far out of my reach. I dropped it.” Giving a head jerk to the side of my bed, I added, “Guess I should’ve just gotten the chair, but . . .”

Nate grunted as he bent to pick up the book and toss it onto my bed. One of the things I liked about him was that he never made a big deal about my ability or lack thereof. He didn’t fuss over me. He just helped if I asked, and then he went on with life. As it should be.

“Thanks, man.” I flipped open the book and cleared my throat. “One more final, then I’m done.”

“I got two more.” Nate paused for a second, and I knew he was finding his balance before he tugged a T-shirt over his head. “Are you excited about going home?”

That was the million-dollar question. “I’ll be glad to be done with classes. Going home . . . not so much.” Frowning, I sat back against the pillows behind me. “Coming here gave me freedom, you know? At home, my parents hover. And they worry. They try too hard. My dad is constantly trying to make my life easier, like if he figures how to build the perfect ramp or widens the door just right, everything will change for me.” I dug my fingers into my thighs, staring down at them, marveling absently for the thousandth time that I felt nothing. It was as though I was gripping