Page 20 of Hard Rock Sin

When my summerclasses finally started, I was too busy with schoolwork to keep track of how often I saw Cameron.

The study schedule was rigorous. We were given our readings and assignments to complete on our own, and attended day-long seminars once a week. The arrangement allowed students to continue working summer jobs while also getting ahead on first year credits.

My goal was to take English 101, Philosophy 101, and Psychology 101 so I could fit in more art classes in my freshman year. That meant I had three full days of seminars every week. It kept me busy.

On the days I didn't have class, I spent my time reading Shakespeare and Descartes, taking copious amounts of notes, and highlighting what seemed like every other sentence in my textbooks. I also tried to fit in as much work on my art as I could. I didn't want to get rusty.

If my brother wondered whether I spent all my time having fun at Cameron's crazy parties, he had nothing to worry about.

In fact, Cameron hadn't thrown any parties since I'd moved in. I'd thought perhaps he was doing it for my benefit. I hadn't been able to ask him though. I'd been too busy studying to track him down. We hadn't seen each other since that afternoon in the pool.

I'd said something that had made him run off. I didn't know what it was. Something to do with his parents. It must have been a sore point. I had made a mental note to not bring the subject up again, but it didn't matter. I'd hardly seen Cameron at all over the last week.

That was why I jumped and squeaked when I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I hadn't expected anyone to interrupt my study time — I looked down at the doodles I'd been sketching instead of working — what was supposed to be my study time, that is. Cameron was the only other person in this place.

My heart was still racing when the bedroom door swung open.

"Shit, did I scare you again?" Cameron gave me an apologetic smile. "I heard you yelp."

"It's okay," I said, still breathless. "I told you, I'm easily startled. I didn't think anyone was home."

I had been sprawled on my bed, lying on my stomach, surrounded by books, papers, and pens. No tablet for me. I was old school that way.

I'd nearly rolled off the bed in my surprise and found myself sitting on the edge, facing Cameron.

"Do you need me for something?" I asked him.

Cameron's eyes narrowed for a brief second as the beginnings of a smirk crossed his face. His lips twitched as he seemed to force it down. My insides fluttered as I wondered what thoughts he might have had to cause that smirk.

"I'm ordering Indian take out," was all he said. "Just wondered if you want some."

I wondered why he'd finally broken his silence and asked me to eat with him after acting like a ghost for days. I decided not to question it, and just be grateful he wasn't ignoring me.

"You're ordering spicy food in this heat?"

"I like to live dangerously."

I laughed. "I'll pass."

"Something else, then? Pizza?"

That was more like it. "I can always go for pizza."

"Hawaiian okay with you?"

I grimaced. "Fruit doesn't belong on pizza."

"A purist, are you? I can do plain cheese and pepperoni."

"I like broccoli and spinach."

Now it was Cameron's time to blanch. "You're one ofthosepeople?"

"Let's do half and half."

"I can live with that." Cameron pulled out his phone. He didn't make a call, just tapped a few buttons. "It'll be here in twenty minutes."

"Only twenty? That's fast."