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Chapter

Fourteen

HADLEY

Jasmine: Are you coming to Movie Monday tonight? You haven’t been in forever!

Hadley: I don’t know… Is it still the Lord of the Rings extended versions?

Jasmine: Haha, no, we finished those, you’re safe. We’re back on a Marvel kick.

Hadley: Whew! Okay, I’ll stop by.

Hadley: Mind if I bring Kendall?

Jasmine: Sounds great!

I’m not exactly sure how the tradition got started, but Mondays are movie night at my brother’s apartment.

All the guys show up, plus Jasmine, Natalie, and other hockey players and friends.

It’s usually sci-fi themed, because Jasmine and Cooper have a thing for that.

I like a superhero movie as much as the next girl, but four hours of orcs, wizards, and walking to Mordor?

No thanks. I was conveniently busy during that stretch, but if we’re back to Marvel, I’ll make time.

It’s not because I’m hoping to see Jonas. We’re friends. We text. But we haven’t hung out much lately. I cheer him on at hockey games, but I haven’t been alone with him since that night we danced together. He’s wrong for me, and entirely too tempting.

I’ve enjoyed the boy buffet that college offers with Kendall, who’s single again.

But lately I can’t get excited about anyone I meet.

I hooked up with a guy named Ryan at a frat party, and had a booty call with Jacob, who lives in my building.

He’s cute, but it was nothing special. There was no real connection.

Maybe the timing is not right. I thought I wanted no-strings-attached sex, but it’s starting to get a little meaningless.

I love sex. In my opinion, it’s part of a healthy lifestyle, like working out or eating fruits and veggies. I’ve met some college guys who score top marks, too, which I appreciate. But tonight, I’m in the mood to be with people who know me.

“So I know they’re not your thing,” Kendall says, bringing me out of my musings, “But do you have anything against me hooking up with one of these hot hockey players?”

She and JaShawn have parted ways. They’re still friends, I think, and probably still booty call buddies, but not exclusive.

We get out of the elevator on the third floor, and I toss my hair. “Most of them are taken these days.”

“Aw, that’s too bad.” She pouts and fiddles with the string of her Harrison hoodie.

“Evan’s cute and always up for a good time. I bet he’s great in bed.” He’s like a brother to me, but I try to be objective for her sake. “How do you feel about blonds?”

“Eh. Could go either way.” Kendall scrunches her nose as I type in the code on the keypad outside their door.

“Baby Sister!” Hunter greets me with a wide smile when we walk in and hands Kendall a sparkling water.

I roll my eyes. “Brother Dearest. Thank you so much for that lovely nickname.”

“Of course. I know how much you appreciate it.”

“Be nice.” Natalie elbows him and gives me a hug. I scan the room, hiding my disappointment when I don’t see Jonas.

It’s fine. Keeping our friendship over text is safest, so it’s probably best he’s not here tonight. But the guys are pretty faithful about this ritual—what would be so important he would miss it?

I can’t ask, because then it would look like I’ve noticed he’s not here, that it’s important to me. So I have to bite my tongue and hope it comes up naturally.

Grabbing some popcorn and a White Claw, I get a spot on the floor in front of the TV. Kendall plops next to me and we chat with Jasmine until the movie starts.

I try to lose myself in Chris Hemsworth, but my mind keeps straying to Jonas. What if he’s out on a date tonight?

That would be fine. I dated Devon for a month, and I go home with whomever I want, whenever I feel like it. I have no claims on him.

So why does my stomach roil at the thought of him with another girl?

I picture him out to dinner with someone— brunette, quiet, smart like him.

They probably met in one of his nursing classes and she definitely doesn’t faint at the sight of blood.

He stares at her across a candle-lit table, his eyes glowing like they do when he’s truly content.

He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and she?—

“Can you get me some more popcorn?” Kendall asks, nudging me with her foot and snapping me out of it. What’s my problem?

“Sure.” I needed an excuse to stand and shake that off, anyway. While Thor swings his hammer and yells, I head to the kitchen, draining my White Claw as I go.

“What’s up, Hadley?” My brother opens the fridge for me. He holds my gaze steady, like he cares what I have to say. I take a deep breath—but I can’t tell him what’s on my mind. He’d freak.

“Not much.” I gesture towards the living room, a few feet away. “I’ve missed this.”

He tugs me close and ruffles my hair. “Missed you, too.”

I shove his shoulder playfully, careful of his booted foot. “Not you. Your friends. And your fridge full of booze.”

Hunter shakes his head. “I know what you really mean.”

The sad truth is, I’ll miss him next year. It’s been awesome to be on campus with him these eight months. I need to soak up the rest of our time together.

I clear my throat, aiming for casual. “Hey, speaking of missing someone. Where’s Jonas tonight?”

Please don’t say date, please don’t say date.

Hunter shrugs, oblivious to my mental pleading. “Dunno. He didn’t say.”

“Oh.” Grabbing a second can from the refrigerator, I tilt it towards his. “Cheers.” I give him a weak smile, refill Kendall’s popcorn, and sit.

I could text Jonas and ask where he is. That wouldn’t be weird. But if he’s on a date, I don’t want to interrupt. Or do I?

As I’m sliding my phone from my pocket, the front door opens. Like I’ve conjured him, Jonas walks in, sets his backpack in the entryway, and gives me a twinkling grin. My heart flips in my chest, and I tamp down the smile that was spreading across my face before I registered it.

And oh my gosh, he’s wearing glasses. Freaking glasses. He adjusts the black frames on his face and my stomach drops to my toes. How is it possible for him to be any cuter?

The crowd in the apartment choruses hello and he gives a quick wave to everyone before ducking into the kitchen for snacks. He settles next to me on the floor like it’s as natural as breathing.

“What’d I miss?” he whispers, and I hold my body still so I don’t lean in closer.

“In the movie?” I ask, my mind suddenly blank. I guess I should have been watching and not envisioning scenarios starring Jonas. “Where were you?”

“Study session.” He points to his book bag by the door. “Library.”

Oh. Duh. That makes sense. The weird pressure around my chest lessens.

“Um. How did it go?” I say, under my breath. Kendall’s eyes are on me, but I ignore her.

“Good. Fine.” He shrugs, then turns his megawatt smile on me again. “But I would have rather been here.”

My heart decides to take up aerobics and does jumping jacks in my chest.

“Hunter is here.” My words come out in a low hiss.

“Yeah, I know. He lives here.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Hunter doesn’t exactly know Jonas and I have been texting. Obviously, there’s nothing going on, but he’s so protective. It’s easier if he thinks my only friends are girls and all we do is braid our hair and paint our nails.

“We’re friends.” Jonas lifts a shoulder. “No big deal.”

Why does my stomach sink when he says that?

“Yeah. Of course.” I clear my throat. “Since when do you wear glasses?”

His nose scrunches up, and it’s so adorable, my breath catches in my throat. “Since the fourth grade.”

“I’ve never seen them before.”

He raises a brow at my accusing tone. “I wear contacts for hockey and working out, and most everything, really. But my eyes were tired tonight.”

I should feel sympathetic or something, but I’m grateful that this exists. I’m not sure I’ll ever get the image out of my head. My phone buzzes with a text and I shift, pulling it out of my pocket.

Kendall: You are so screwed.

Why is she texting when she’s literally right beside me? I shoot her a glare, and she gives a pointed glance back to her phone.

Hadley: Why? What are you talking about?

Kendall: You like that boy.

Hadley: Do not.

Kendall: Uh-huh. Sure.

Kendall: But tell me again why it would be such a bad thing?

The problem is, I’m having a hard time remembering myself.