Page 20 of Fragile (Cedar Lakes University #2)

Chapter nineteen

Quinn

“Remind me why I agreed to this again?” Indie grumbles, yanking her arm out of my grip.

Honestly, I don’t even know myself. This party was supposed to be so I could meet guys. Planned in anger when Miles was trying to sabotage my dating life, but now…things are different, I think? Am I off the market? Do I even want to throw this party anymore? My gut tells me it’s a bad idea, but so many people are coming and the people pleaser in me can’t let them down. I’ll just hang around, avoiding all the guys I invited. Yeah, that’ll work.

“Because you’re my best friend and you love me,” I say pointedly. Besides, if I have to suffer through this, all the while wishing I was alone with Miles instead, then I’m gonna need my best friend as backup.

She rolls her eyes, but follows me across the hall to the common room anyway and grabs a string of fairy lights from the box I borrowed from the arts department when I was feeling indignant and determined—which I do not feel anymore. What I wouldn’t give for another movie night with Miles instead. “Fine, but I’m not climbing any ladders,” Indie says, interrupting my wandering thoughts.

“Deal.” I nod, handing her the tape. “Just start hanging these up around the edge of the room.”

Before she makes her way to the corner she turns to me, checking to see who’s around us and lowering her voice. “So, are we going to talk about the fact you shared a hotel room with Miles?”

My eyes go wide and do my own double take around the room. Seb and Miles both managed to tell Coach they would ride back to campus with us, so we haven’t had a chance to talk yet. “We, um, well—”

She gasps. “If he hurt you, I’m ready to go to war.”

“No, no.” I place my hand on her arm. “Nothing like that. We watched a movie and maybe kissed more. He apologized for how it played out and he wanted a do-over.”

Indie conceals a squeal, and I can’t help but giggle. “Oh my god. Did you just kiss?”

I nod. “But we haven’t talked about anything properly. I don’t know if we’re a thing or not. Or if I should ask him.”

Indie twists her mouth, thinking. “So why are we having all these guys over for this party if you might or might not be a thing with Miles? Are you going to talk to any of them?”

Biting my lip, I say, “I’m not going to be rude, but I don’t know…”

“I think you should keep your options open for now. You haven’t made any promises yet.”

I shrug, because is that even what I want? I don’t think it is. But we haven’t exactly figured it out either.

“Wait,” she says, grasping my arm. “What do we do about Seb?”

It’s one of the main questions I’ve considered, but I’m not ready for him to know. “I don’t know. I hate to ask, but…”

She groans. “You’re going to ask me to keep a secret, aren’t you?”

I force a pleasant smile and flutter my lashes at her, my hands tucked under my chin. “Pleeeeeeeease. Only for a little while. I don’t even know if there’s anything to tell yet.”

She frowns at me for a second. “Fine. But you owe me…again. First, this decorating, and now, secrets. I’ll add it to your tab.”

“I love you,” I say, wrapping my arms around her.

“Yeah, yeah.” Rolling her eyes playfully, she moves to the corner to hang the lights.

I turn my attention to the glittering foil curtains that one of my girls, Lily, from the cheer squad brought by earlier today, hoping they aren’t too tangled. Indie fusses with the fairy lights, muttering under her breath about the tape not sticking properly. “Why can’t we just use those command hook things?”

“Because we’re out,” I tell her, holding up the curtain to assess. “Just do what you can.”

She grumbles some more, but goes back to work. I manage to get the foiled curtains hung by the doorway and near the kitchenette entrance, then head over to the snack table to make sure everything is set up. The table is piled high with chips and cookies, while solo cups line the edges, along with several mixers and a couple of bottles of vodka that Lily had from a party she threw recently. Oh, and my favorite gummy worms, of course. But that has a memory playing in my head like a home movie.

“When I’m big and old, like Mom and Dad, if I sell all my toys and buy you a ring, will you marry me?” I ask, chewing on a gummy worm he bought for me at the store. They’re my favorite candy now.

“You’d sell all your baby dolls for me? Even the ones that burp and poop and stuff?” Miles asks with his mouth full. Mom says he shouldn’t talk with his mouth full, but he does it anyway.

“I’d do anything for you. You’re my best friend.”

Miles passes me another candy, the red and blue one, and I smile because that’s my favorite. “You’re my best friend too. You and Seb.”

“Yeah, but you don’t wanna marry my stinky brother, right?”

He shakes his head. “I think I’m supposed to buy you a ring, instead of you buying me one,” he mumbles, shoving too many gummies in his mouth, but it’s okay, because I only like the red and blue ones and he’s eating the other colors.

“So, you’ll marry me?”

“Sure.” He shrugs, swallowing the big mouthful.

“Good,” I say as I reach for another candy. “Because you make my heart beep real loud.”

“I do?” he asks, looking at me strangely.

“Yeah.”

“You’re weird.” Laughing, he stares into my eyes, and my heart thumps so loudly in my chest I want him to hear it so he’ll believe me. “I’ll get us some more gummy worms.”

“Quinn, where do you want these?” Lily asks, snapping my attention back to the room. She’s holding some white and gold balloons.

“Over there by the couch.” I point it out, trying to refocus on the tasks in front of me.

***

An hour later, the decorating is finally done, and the common room looks amazing. I decide it’s time for phase two of the evening’s preparations. I grab Indie by the arm, and this time, she doesn’t try to pull away.

“Quinn, where are we going? Aren’t we staying here?” she asks, confusion in her voice.

A mischievous grin takes over my face. “It’s makeover time.”

“Oh, no way,” Indie protests, digging her heels in. “I’m not getting dressed up. I’m fine in this. I like—”

“Your jeans and your boots. I know. But tonight, you’re wearing the dress that I bought for you. And before you object, it’s black.”

Indie grumbles, but she doesn’t put up that much of a fight. Once inside, I push her down onto my bed and go get the dress I found last week with her in mind. Springing out of the closet, I hold the dress on the hanger, “Ta-da!” I sing-song.

Her eyes sweep over the black minidress, and I catch a flicker of interest in her expression. There's no way this isn't a perfect Indiana Beck dress. It has a black slip underneath with a sheer mesh overlay that resembles an oversized T-shirt. It’s perfect for her. When I see her roll her eyes in resignation, I know I've nailed it.

“Ugh, fine. But just to be clear, this is the only dress I’ll accept, and the boots stay.”

“Noted,” I say, satisfied at how well I know my best friend. She tugs off her t-shirt and holds out her hand for the dress, and I have to suppress a squeal of glee.

While she’s getting dressed, I start working on my own outfit. I also found a new dress when I bought Indie’s, and while I got it originally to catch a guy’s eye, I’m now only hoping it’ll draw the attention of one guy. Nerves swim in my belly as slip off my clothes and into the dress. I think about seeing him and not touching him tonight, and I already don’t like the idea.

Indie clears her throat, and I spin around, having changed too. “Happy now?” she mutters.

“Very,” I say, beaming, squashing all these feelings brewing inside me. “You look gorgeous. Now, let’s do something with your hair.”

“Quinn, seriously, this is overkill.” She groans as I start fussing with her hair.

“Nonsense,” I say, pinning a few strands back of her wild curls. “You’re going to look amazing, and you might even have fun tonight.”

“What is this fun you speak of?” she teases as I lightly tug on a curl. “Hey!”

“Fun, Indiana, is something you need more of.”

She mumbles something I chose to ignore, as I pin back a few tendrils of her golden locks giving her a boho beach vibe. Perfect.

“Come on, let’s go to our party.”

As soon as we enter the room across the hall, the place is filling with familiar faces from class and some of my squad too. “Hey, Quinn, we brought mixers and snacks!” calls one of the girls.

“Amazing, the table is just over there by the door,” I shout back, looking around the room for a familiar set of brown eyes that make me weak.

Suddenly, two big arms scoop me up from behind. I let out a squeal and turn to see Hudson, slapping his chest. “Oh god! You scared me!”

“Did you just call me god?” He smirks as he puts me down.

“Not like that!” I squeak.

“Relax,” he laughs. “The place looks great. You smashed the party vibe.”

“Thanks,” I say, glancing around him, wondering if he’s here alone. “Did you come here alone?” I ask, hoping it doesn’t sound as obvious.

“Jay is on his way. Not sure about Miles and Seb. They were at the gym with me earlier, but I haven’t seen them since,” he says, distracted, looking around, and my good mood sours just a tiny bit. What if he doesn’t come because I told him he wasn’t invited? It was a joke at the time, but now things have changed, and he’s the only one I’d like to see here. “So, any of your squad single?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

Huffing a laugh, I sigh. “There’s no stopping you, is there?”

“Noooooope,” he drawls, then kisses my cheek and runs off into the crowd.

And I try my hardest to pretend I’m not searching the crowd for someone too, whilst secretly praying he actually shows up.