Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,92

away. I pushed the fancy button on my steering wheel and called Rollo.

“Rollo,” he answered.

“What are you up to?” I asked. “Are you busy?”

“I’ve just been laying around waiting for my baby cakes to call me. Now, that she has a stud muffin of a boyfriend, she ignores us little people.”

I snorted. “Stud muffin?”

“Would you prefer if I called him Hot Bod?” he joked.

“You’re full of it, Rollo. I just dropped Karlie off at her ballet studio-”

“Well, aren’t you just mommy dearest,” Rollo chuckled.

“Rollo!”

“Sorry, I had to say it,” he sputtered.

“I’m going to hang up on you,” I informed him.

“Don’t do that, baby cakes. We can work this out,” he purred.

“You are so full of it,” I repeated.

“I’ll be on my best behavior for now on. What did you want?” He asked and I could picture him flipping his curly blonde hair back and forth.

“I wondered if you were free to get coffee and catch up? I’m going to call Piper, too,” I said, already driving towards the dorms.

“Of course I’m fah-ree,” he drew out the word. “Since my best friend has been absent, all I’ve done is homework. I’m a whole week ahead of the rest of the class.”

“Oh, gosh, I’m sorry, Rollo. I’ve been a horrible friend.”

“Nah, you’ve got a man now, and you love him. I’m happy for you, really happy. You deserve that, Katy. I was worried you would never snap out of your funk.”

“He really does make me happy,” I whispered. “I thought I would be scared of men for the rest of my life, but Jared makes me feel safe.”

“What you and Jared have is a once in a lifetime kind of love. Hold it close, Katy, and never let it go,” Rollo spoke fiercely.

“I will,” I told him, suddenly feeling teary eyed. “I better call Piper.”

“I’ll watch out the window for you, it’s too cold to stand outside,” he said and hung up.

I called Piper and she wasn’t doing anything, so we decided to meet at the Starbucks where I had given her the notes during the first week of classes.

I parked at the dorm and a few minutes later, I could see Rollo’s curly blonde head bobbing my way.

“Hey,” he said breathlessly, as he opened the passenger door.

“I’m sorry I’ve been a lousy friend,” was my reply as I backed out of the parking place.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” Rollo said as he buckled his seatbelt. “I was just kidding.”

“No, you were right. I’ve been neglecting you, and that’s not right. You’re my best friend; I shouldn’t let my boyfriend get between us.”

Rollo laughed. “Jare-bear can stand between us anytime, as long as I get to look at his delicious ass.”

I slammed on the brakes causing the guy in the car behind me to honk his horn. I snorted, “Rollo!”

“What? He has the most perfect ass that I’ve ever seen. I just want to cup it and squeeze it-”

“Oh God! I can’t listen to this!” I shook my head back and forth.

“Have you felt it? Please, tell me you have. I need details, woman, details!” Rollo cried.

“No! Of course I haven’t!” I cried, my cheeks flaming.

“What the hell is wrong with you, girl? Feel it!” Rollo cupped his hands in the air.

“I suddenly, really need to get out of this car,” I said as Starbucks came into view.

Rollo chuckled. “Your face is priceless. You never could take a joke, even before. You’re too sensitive.”

“I’m sorry if I don’t want to talk about Jared’s ass with you,” I spat. “You know I don’t talk about those kinds of things.”

“Precisely, that’s why it’s so fun to bug you about it. Your face and chest gets all red and splotchy.”

“You’re mean,” I tugged at my sweatshirt that suddenly felt too tight. I wanted it off.

I parked the car and got out, heading into the coffee shop. I locked the car, not even bothering to see if Rollo had gotten out.

I ordered my coffee and turned around to see that Rollo had made it out of the car in time.

I grabbed a table and waited for my order to be ready.

Piper came in, her long hair tamed back by a cute pink knit hat. She waved at me before breezing by and getting in line.

Rollo sat down across from me with his tea and handed me my coffee.

“Thanks,” I said. I must have missed them calling my order out.

“You know I was kidding, right?” Rollo asked, breaking up the awkward silence between us.

“I