Page 10

Liza

“ I ’m dead.” Emberly’s groan echoes through the paper thin walls of our dorm room. Her voice through the wall startles my aching body. I turn over, wrapped in my warm comforter on the twin sized bed, hair fanning across the cool satin pillowcase.

Cupping my hands over my mouth, I yell, “Welcome to the nightlife!”

“Don’t think I’m cut out for it,” she groans.

Chuckling, I sit criss-crossed on the bed. “Come over.”

Footsteps tap against the tile floor until my door cracks open.

Emberly stands in the doorway with an oversized sleep shirt tucked into plaid pajama shorts.

Her jet-black hair is thrown on top of her head, as she rubs sleep from her eyes.

I pat the small space next to me on the bed and she climbs up.

“Last night was awesome, but I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck this morning. ”

I shake my head and smirk. “You didn’t drink much, though.”

“Umm. . .” Her hands raise to her mouth to bite her nails. “That was the first time I’ve ever drank.”

Her cheeks flush pink in embarrassment. It should have dawned on me that Emberly had never drank alcohol before, but where I grew up, underage drinking is common. “What? You should have told me.”

“I didn’t want to be lame. I already couldn’t do my makeup.” Her hands raise to touch her now flaming cheeks. “You’re way cooler than me, and it shows.”

I roll my eyes and look her straight in the eyes. “Stop. None of that stuff matters to me. I really like your company. Don’t be afraid to be your true self with me.”

She lets out a breath and laughs. “That hasn’t gone well for me in the past.”

I reach out to wrap her hand in mine. “What happened?”

She takes a deep breath and swallows before speaking. “A stupid boy.”

“If he made you feel like that, he isn’t worth it.” I open my arms wide to invite her in for a hug. “And I’ve learned that the hard way.”

She leans over the creaky bed and folds into my arms. “I hit the roommate jackpot.”

“Same. Do you have plans today? I was thinking about heading downtown to check out the boutiques and become more acclimated with the area.”

“I don’t. Mind if I tag along?”

I hop off the raised bed. “Duh!”

An hour later, we make it to the downtown shopping scene.

Being single means being more independent, and that starts with doing things I want to do when I want to do them.

Springs U is nestled in the heart of a small beach town littered with locally owned businesses right on the water.

We’ve been window shopping along the cobblestone sidewalk for a few minutes before we catch a whiff of the savory smell of cheese and bread wafting through the air.

I close my eyes and take a deep inhale of the scent. “Mhmmm.”

“I’m hungry,” Emberly says.

Linking my arm through hers, we walk a few shops down before we spot the entrance of the pizzeria. The sign reads that it opened at eleven, so we’re just in time for the first batch of fresh pizza. We walk up to the ordering counter and study the menu printed above.

“What are you thinking?” I ask.

“Doesn’t matter to me. I like anything with cheese.” She chuckles.

The dinging sound of the door to the shop opening rings through the empty restaurant, alerting the cashier of more customers making their way into the shop.

I rattle off our order to the cashier. “We’ll take a large pepperoni with extra cheese.

” I tap my chin before continuing, “Oh, and can we get an order of the cheesy bread with two large drinks, too?” I laugh as I walk away to grab napkins and fill our drink cups.

There’s no way we’ll devour all of this food, but that means more to save for later.

Emberly throws her hands up as she tails behind me. “No arguments here.”

“Long time no see.” A sultry voice hits me out of nowhere, traveling straight through my body from my head to my toes.

I spin around from the drink machine, smacking him with my long hair in the process. His corded arms fold across his bulk chest leaving me staring like a fool. “Hartley. Are you stalking me?”

He chuckles before sticking his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts. He looks absolutely devastating this morning in a worn, gray football t-shirt, hat flipped backward, and dimples out to play. “I wish.”

“Well, if you’re not following me, you must be here for pizza.” Awesome. Way to play it smooth, Liza. Of course, he’s here for pizza.

He reaches around my shoulder to grab a straw. “It would appear that way.”

“Yep.” I rock back and forth on the heels of my feet, not sure what to say to the man in front of me who manages to suck the air clean out of any room he walks into, apparently.

“I planned to take my mobile order calzone to go.” His eyes shift from mine to the order counter where Emberly waits for our pizza, blissfully unaware of my predicament. “But, now I’m inclined to stay and join my new friend for lunch.”

My cheeks flame at the thought of spending a casual lunch with the boy in front of me. “If you don’t mind crashing girls’ day. Then, sure.”

“Not a problem. I’ll grab us a table.” He saunters off across the small restaurant and settles into a worn booth by a window, sunshine reflecting off his golden skin and bright blonde hair.

He pulls out his phone from his pocket and busies himself while I meet Emberly at the counter to fill her in on this SOS moment.

“9-1-1. I repeat, 9-1-1!” I whisper-shout into the shell of her ear.

She’s startled at my quiet approach. “Why did you sneak up on me?!”

“This is serious!” My eyes track from her to where Hartley has made himself comfortable, waiting for us to join him. “Look.”

She follows my eyes and is met with the sight of Hartley waving at us from the booth across the restaurant.

“Aww. He seems nice. Didn’t you agree to be his friend?”

I roll my eyes and regret my words from last night. He does seem nice, but boys who look like that and damaged girls like me are a recipe for disaster. “I did.”

“Okay. . .” she drawls out. “I’m not seeing a problem here.”

“Ugh! I guess you’re right, but the minute I go starry eyed, smack me in the head.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching me?” She laughs as our order is dropped off on the counter. “Let’s go.”

Emberly holds the pizza and cheesy bread boxes while I carry our cold drinks to the booth Hartley selected for us.

“Hey.” He juts his chin out and reaches across the table to help Emberly grab the boxes before scooting in the torn booth. “Thanks for joining me. It would have been embarrassing to sit alone.”

“No problem,” Emberly giggles out.

“Order for Hartley!” The white-aproned restaurant worker slides a to-go box across the takeout counter.

Pushing himself up from the booth, he takes his sweet time to retrieve his order from the counter.

“Lunch with friends is better than lunch alone. Don’t you agree?

” He winks as he slides back into the booth with his food.

I decide to change the subject into safer territory. Preferably one that doesn’t heat my cheeks and release butterflies in my stomach. “So, you’re a football player?”

“Wide receiver.” He cuts the corner of his calzone off and lifts his fork to his mouth as he licks the piece of cheese dangling out of the dough.

My eyes zero in on his tongue, his lips, and those stupid dimples that keep popping up at the worst times.

“What about you two?” He points the fork between Emberly and I. “What brought you all to Springs U?”

“Running away from my problems,” I huff out.

Emberly’s eyebrows shoot up at my response, surprised by my honesty. What she doesn’t know is that Hartley knows more about me than I’d like to admit after meeting him less than twenty-four hours ago.

He stares at me sweetly, a small grin tugs at the corner of his lips. “I’m thankful you ran.”

Such a flirt. I nod and smile. “Me too.”

He directs his attention to my roommate who is now nursing her hangover with her second piece of greasy pizza. “What about you?”

“Oh. . .” She points to herself. “Me? I’m from here.”

His eyebrows raise in interest. “Really? Where’d you go to high school?”

“Springs Valley High.”

“No way! You must know—”

Before he can finish, Emberly cuts him off. “Nope. No. Don’t know anyone.”

Picking up on her discomfort, Hartley shifts the subject away from whatever Emberly is trying to hide. “Sorry. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Thanks.” She tucks a stray piece of her jet-black hair behind her ear. Her eyes bore holes into the table.

“Goldie, what part of the world are you running from?”

Unlike Emberly, I’m an open book. “New Orleans, and before you ask, alligators don’t camp on my front lawn.”

He lets out an uncontrollable laugh. “That’s a good one.”

I take a small bite of the extra cheesy pizza before setting it back down on the paper plate. “We’re trying to become familiar with the area. Any good spots?”

“Tons.” He leans back against the booth and places both hands behind his head, putting his corded muscles on full display. “According to the guys on the team, this is the best pizza in town. If you’re looking for a home cooked meal, Pat’s Diner is the best. I’ll take you.”

“Watch it, Hotshot. We’re friends. Remember?”

He shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair. His face reads that he loves a challenge. “Yeah, Goldie. Friends.”