Page 37 of Hard Rock Desires

“You didn’t take your eyes off her the whole night.”

“Was the party really so boring?” I asked. “The only thing to entertain you was watching me chat up a girl?”

“You weren’t subtle about it,” she said. “You ignored everyone else. There were some hot ladies present, and you didn’t give them a second look.”

I couldn’t deny it.

“She left the party without saying a word to me,” I replied. “And then she did it again a few days ago.”

“It sounds like that upset you,” Kaylee said.

“It didn’t upset me,” I said. “It’s just that girls never walk out on me.”

“Mm-hm,” she said. “Why don’t you take a seat and tell me about it?”

I scowled. “Don’t play therapist with me.”

“Fine.” Kaylee punched me in the chest. “You’re being an emo dick. Just go talk to her, you idiot.”

“She’s more trouble than she’s worth,” I repeated.

Kaylee grinned at me. “Since when are you afraid of a little trouble?”

I opened my mouth. I closed it.

Kaylee took something from her pocket and jingled it at me.

“How did you get my car keys?” I asked.

“I have many talents,” she said solemnly.

I swiped them and brushed past her as I headed out of the bedroom and down the stairs to my car.

I’d missed the beginning of class, but I figured if I took a few shortcuts I could get there before it was over.

By the time I’d parked and walked briskly to the classroom, the place was almost empty. The only person left was Grace. She was cleaning up her station, wiping down the counter with a fresh cloth. She rubbed at the same spot absentmindedly, her eyes unfocused and distant like she was lost in thought.

“Hey, Grace,” I said.

She seemed alarmed when she looked up. I didn’t know whether that was because I’d scared her by showing up out of nowhere, or whether my very presence was alarming to her. I hoped it was the first one and not the second one.

“You missed class,” was the first thing she said.

“I lost track of time,” I lied.

“We made soufflés,” she continued.

“How did it go?”

She looked down at the cloth in her hand.

“Not very well,” she said. “It deflated. And I burned it. And I made a mess on top of all that.”

Now I felt like shit for not being here. I knew she was hard on herself when it came to this stuff, although I didn’t really understand why. If I had been here I would have been able to turn the whole thing into a joke, something to laugh over. As it was, she looked pretty downcast.

“I’ve got a favor to ask you,” she said.

“Anything,” I replied without thinking, then mentally kicked myself. Way to play it cool, Weston.