which is a shame. Hot baths are the absolute best.
I don’t like sleeping with wet hair, so I do a quick blow-dry and then rummage around in my dresser in search of my warmest PJs. I settle on plaid pants and a thin long-sleeve tee with the Briar University logo on it. Basements tend to be cold as a rule, and my apartment is no exception. I’m surprised I haven’t come down with pneumonia in the seven or so months I’ve lived here.
As I get under the covers, I pop my phone out of its charger and find a missed call from Summer. I have a feeling she’ll call again if I don’t respond, probably five seconds after I fall asleep, so I preemptively ring her back before she can ruin my good night’s sleep.
“Are you mad at me?” is how she greets me.
“No.” I curl up on my side, the phone balanced on my shoulder.
“Even though I set you up with Jules and vouched for him?” Her voice ripples with guilt.
“I’m an adult, Summer. You didn’t force me to say yes.”
“I know. But I feel terrible. I can’t believe he didn’t show.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not the least bit upset. If anything, I dodged a bullet.”
“Okay, good.” She sounds relieved. “I’ll find someone even better to hook you up with.”
“You most certainly will not,” I say cheerfully. “You’re officially relieved of your matchmaking duties—which you bestowed on yourself, by the way. Trust me, babes, I have zero issues when it comes to meeting men.”
“Yes, you’re good at meeting them. But dating them? You suck at that.”
I’m quick to protest. “Because I’m not looking to date anybody.”
“Why not? Having a boyfriend is awesome.”
Sure, maybe when your boyfriend is Colin Fitzgerald. Summer is dating one of the most decent guys I’ve ever met. Intelligent, kind, astute, not to mention hot as fuck.
“Are you and Fitzy still obsessed with each other?”
“So obsessed. He puts up with my crazy, and I put up with his dorkiness. Plus, we have the best sex ever.”
“I bet Hunter loves that,” I say dryly. “I hope you’re not a screamer.”
Hunter Davenport is Summer and Fitz’s roommate, and he was recently rejected by Summer. She agreed to go on a date with him, only to realize her feelings for Fitz were too strong to ignore. Hunter didn’t take it well.
“God, you have no idea how hard it is to try to be quiet when Fitz is doing his magical magic to my body,” Summer says with a sigh.
“Magical magic?”
“Yes, magical magic. But if you’re worried that Hunter is lying in bed listening to us and weeping inconsolably, don’t be. He’s got a different girl over here every night.”
“Good for him.” I snicker. “I bet Hollis is green with envy.”
“I’m not sure Mike’s even noticed. He’s too busy mooning over you.”
“Still?” Dammit. I was hoping he was done with that.
I briefly close my eyes. I’ve committed some asinine acts in my life, but hooking up with Mike Hollis is high on that list. We were both drunk out of our minds, so all we did was share a sloppy make-out session and I fell asleep while giving him a hand job. It definitely wasn’t my finest moment, nor was it all that memorable. I have no idea why he’d want a repeat.
“He’s smitten,” Summer confirms.
“It’ll pass.”
She giggles, but the humor dies quickly. “Hunter is being a jerk to us,” she admits. “When he’s not screwing anything in a skirt.”
“I guess he was really into you?”
“Honestly? I don’t think it’s about me. I think it’s about Fitz.”
“I can see that. He wanted to fuck Fitz,” I say solemnly. “I mean, who doesn’t?”
“No, you brat. Fitz straight up lied when Hunter asked if he had a thing for me. Hunter views it as a betrayal of the bro code.”
“The bro code is holy,” I have to concede. “Especially among teammates.”
“I know. Fitz says there’s a lot of tension at practice.” Summer moans. “What if affects their performance in the semifinals, Bee? That means Yale will move on to the finals.”
“My dad will straighten them out,” I assure her. “And say what you will about Hunter, but he likes to win hockey games. He won’t let a beef over some girl—no offense—distract him from winning.”
“Should I—”
A buzz in my ear mutes her question.
“What was that?”
“Text message,” I explain. “Sorry, keep going. What were you saying?”
“I was wondering if I should try to talk to him again.”
“I don’t think it’ll make a