Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,8
for being back here, but luckily Rollo and I made it to the parking lot without incident.
I unlocked the car and was just about to climb in, when I heard, “Are you stalking me or something?”
I jumped and turned. Jared was standing next to a bright blue Toyota FJ Cruiser. He had put on a sleeveless gray top and was wiping sweat off his face with a towel.
He raised a brow, waiting for my answer.
“Oh… um… my navigation system told me to park here…” Wait, what did I just say? Oh dear God, I did not just say that.
He chuckled. “O-o-kay,” he drew out the word. “But I wasn’t asking you why you were parked here.”
My face colored in ten varying shades of red and pink.
“Although,” he leaned against his car, “that would’ve been my next question.”
“Why are you parked here?” I asked, it was the first thing that popped into my head and out of my mouth.
I really wanted to smack myself right about now; of all the questions I could have asked hottie-mc-hot-pants, that shouldn’t have been one of them.
He grabbed a bottle of water from a duffel bag in his trunk and took a long drink before answering.
“My dad owns the place,” he said with a shrug.
“Dan is your dad?” I questioned. They looked nothing alike, so I was a bit surprised.
Jared looked down at the ground and kicked a pebble with his tennis shoe. “In all the ways that count,” he muttered under his breath. “So,” he said, louder this time, “you never answered my first question.”
I rattled my brain for what he had asked.
“No, I’m not stalking you, promise.”
He put his hand over his heart. “I’m hurt, Katy. Here I thought you were interested in me.”
“Yeah… um… no… I think I better just… go,” I backed against my car.
He chuckled, and the sound sent warm tingles down to my toes. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to. “Katy, you’re a tough nut to crack, but I’m thoroughly going to enjoy trying.”
My eyes threatened to pop out of my skull at his words. Everything he said seemed to shock me.
With a grin, he hopped in his car and was gone.
I stood there, and watched his car disappear down the street. I couldn’t seem to get my feet to move.
“Get your ass in the car, Katy!” Rollo yelled. “I have homework to do!”
I shook my head and got in the car.
As I drove away, I wondered why Jared’s words hadn’t frightened me.
5
IF I DIDN’T GET THIS STUPID PAPER DONE, I WAS GOING TO RIP MY HAIR OUT. I think the sole purpose of a professor’s job, isn’t to teach us anything, it’s merely to torture us.
I groaned and slapped the lid down on my laptop. I needed a break.
“I take it, it isn’t going too well in there,” Rollo called from the living room.
I shoved away from my desk and stalked out to the living room. I plopped down beside Rollo and crossed my arms over my chest.
“I don’t know why you don’t just move in. You practically live here, anyway.”
“Because, baby cakes, you only have one bed and you’re not my kind of snuggle buddy.”
I eyed the bowl in his hand. “And you’re eating all my cereal.”
“I was hungry,” he pouted.
“Then get your own cereal,” I took the bowl from him.
“Hey! I wasn’t finished with that!”
“Too bad,” I said, and took a bite.
Rollo gasped. “Oh no, Katy! Now you have Rollo germs! Are you feeling feverish?” He put the back of his hand to my forehead.
I swatted his hand away and he used the distraction to take the bowl back.
“You know,” I laughed, and stretched my legs out onto his lap, “if you’re going to continue to eat my food, I fully expect you to contribute to the weekly budget.”
“Oh please,” he rolled his eyes, “I know mommy dearest gave you that shiny credit card that has no limit, so you can buy groceries and other shit.”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Buy groceries and other shit,” I mimicked him, “for myself. Not you.”
“Oh please, your mother loves me and would be more than delighted to feed me.”
“My mother loves you because you’re a suck up,” I flicked a piece of lint at him.
“Bitch please, it’s ‘cause I’m fabulous,” he flipped his blonde hair around.
“You wish,” I muttered.
He laughed and finished his cereal. He tipped the bowl back and slurped down the milk. Once the bowl was empty, he put it on the coffee table.