The Sophomore (College Years #2) - Monica Murphy Page 0,32

year. Varsity, JV, fresh and frosh.”

“That’s crazy.”

“I know.”

“Did you ever play volleyball?”

“Only when I was forced to in P.E.” I wrinkle my nose. “I’m not very good at sports either.”

“What are you good at, Ellie?”

“I’m an excellent organizer.” When he starts to laugh, I protest. “Hey, that’s a solid life skill.”

“It is, I’m not disagreeing.”

“I was in leadership all four years in high school,” I say. “I was senior class vice president.”

“That’s awesome,” he says. “I was president of the video game club my senior year.”

I burst out laughing. I can’t help it. “Tell me you don’t play Call of Duty.”

“If I did, that would be a lie.” He laughs too before grabbing his drink and sucking most of it down. “I should probably go. I need to get back to campus. I have to meet my study group at three.”

“I’m glad we got to hang out for a little while,” I say with a shy smile.

“We’ll get to hang out even more tomorrow night. At the movies,” he reminds me, his smile a little bolder than mine.

“Right.” I nod, wishing he made me feel all giddy and nervous and excited for our date. I mean, I’m excited about my date with Carson tomorrow. I like him. A lot.

But if Jackson never came into my life, becoming such a major presence, it would’ve been so easy to be completely dazzled by Carson. He’s the type of boy I would’ve crushed on hard when I was in high school my freshman and sophomore year. Sweet and cute and a little nerdy. Smart. Shy. Boys like that don’t intimidate me as much.

And then I met Jackson Rivers.

That bastard ruined everything.

Eleven

Jackson

I’m chilling at Tony and Caleb’s condo, playing video games by myself. Tony is coming back soon with lunch for us. Caleb is still in class. Eli is too. We’ll all meet up at practice later.

Right now, I’m just kicking it here, when there’s a knock on the door.

Pausing the game, I rise to my feet and go to the door, peeking through the peephole. Shock courses through me when I see who’s standing there, and I unlock and throw open the door as quickly as possible.

Ellie turns, her eyes widening when she sees me. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” I toss back at her.

She presses her lips together, glancing around. As if she doesn’t want to look me in the eyes. What the hell? “Is Tony home?”

“No,” I say carefully. “I’m the only one home.” I don’t bother telling her he should be back in a few minutes.

“You don’t even live here,” she says, her tone accusatory as she brushes a few sweaty hair strands away from her face.

“I may as well, since we’re always hanging out together,” I say, leaning against the doorjamb and crossing my arms. I watch her, noting her messy hair, her shiny face. Her T-shirt looks damp around the neck and I frown. “You okay? You look a little…overheated.”

“I, uh…oh God, this is so embarrassing.” She finally meets my gaze, wincing. “I ran out of gas.”

My mouth drops open. “No shit?”

She nods, her expression miserable. “I walked almost a mile to get here.”

“What the fuck, Ellie? That’s dangerous.” The street Tony and Caleb live off of is busy. Cars always speed down the straightaway, and a lot of accidents happen out there. “Where’s your car?”

“On the side of the road, parked in front of another apartment complex.” She wipes at her forehead. “It’s so hot outside.”

“Come in,” I tell her absently, opening the door wide before I head back into the house so I can turn off the TV and grab my wallet.

“Thank you. It’s so nice and cool in here.” Ellie wanders into the apartment, lifting her hair off the back of her neck. “Think I could grab a water?”

“Go for it,” I tell her. “And then we’ll head out.”

She walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. “Head out where?”

“To the gas station. Well, we’ll need to stop off and buy a gas can first,” I say.

“Wait a minute.” She pauses in the doorway of the kitchen, watching me very, very carefully. “You’re going to help me?”

“I’m definitely going to help you,” I tell her, my voice firm. “You ready to go?”

“Uh, okay.” She frowns, not moving an inch. “You sure you don’t mind?”

“Ellie. Of course I don’t mind.” I pull my phone out and send a quick text to Tony, telling him I have