Page 99 of Palm South University: Season 2

“I SWEAR, I’M GOING TO GOUGEmy eyes out before this semester ends,” Cassie says, flopping her head down on my desk. “Studying is hard.”

I laugh. “Formal is tonight, Little. Just put your notes away and work on it tomorrow.”

“Says the communications major.”

“Hey! I have tests, too,” I defend, but she peeks up at me through her red locks with a smirk. We both know her classes are harder than mine, even if she is a year younger. I toss a highlighter at her. “Whatever. I’m changing my major anyway.” The truth is I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Right now, I’m trying to focus on poker and paying my tuition. The American Poker Club tournament pops into my head again and I let myself daydream about what it would be like to not have to worry about money again.

Could I really win it? Could I really take home the grand prize of the largest poker tournament in the nation?

Part of me thinks I could, but the larger part wonders if I’ll ever be good enough. I’ve stacked my summer with tournaments, some bigger than I’ve ever done before, so I guess the time to show up or shut up has arrived.

At this point, I feel like I’m on the edge of something . . . something I can’t quite grasp yet. I can either keep pushing through the fog to find out what it is or I can stay in my comfort zone and go along like I have been.

I’ve never been one for comfort zones.

Cassie smiles and closes her textbook with a snap, tucking it inside her messenger bag along with the fifty neon-colored notecards she’s been reciting all afternoon. Jess swings through the door at the same time and bounds toward me.

“I just realized you and I are going stag to formal tonight.” She bounces on the bed excitedly. “Girl fucking power, bitch. I packed us each a flask. Let’s get wild!”

“Except I’m not going stag.” I point out.

Jess’ face falls. “What? I thought you and Adam broke up!”

“We did. Which means . . .” I wait for her to fill in the blank.

“Ugh,” she groans. “You’re bringing Bear. Of course you’re fucking bringing Bear.” Waving her hands, she dismisses me quickly. “Fine. More alcohol for me.”

“So because I have a date, I don’t get booze?”

“Your date can buy your booze, hussy.”

Cassie laughs, shaking her head as she pulls her messenger bag over her shoulder. “If it helps, J-Love, I’m going alone, too. I just want to spend time with my sisters. Maybe I can finally take my sister’s advice and stay away from boys.”

“I hear you on that one,” I chime in. The only boy I plan on having anything to do with for quite a while is Bear. He needs me right now after the whole Shawna Shit Show, not to mention his family. For now, my best friend is the only guy I need. No moreSkyler the Heartbreakerheadlines. If I have anything to do with it, those tabloids are going to start to notice me for my talent, not my dating life.

“Wait, what happened to Grayson?” Jess asks.

Her pale fingers fidget with the strap on her bag as her eyes dart toward the door. “It’s complicated. I’m going to go grab my makeup bag. Be right back.”

She’s out the door before I can ask anything else and Jess and I share a glance. “Wonder what that’s about.”

Jess shrugs. “No clue. That tatted up man-bun piece of sex candy is definitely not one I’d let get away easily.”

I cross my arms over my chest and cock a brow. “Funny. I seem to recall you giving up a pretty hot tatted up piece of sex candy yourself.”

“Don’t, Skyler,” she warns, pointing a finger in my direction as she crosses to her closet. She pulls out the clear plastic bag housing her formal dress and lays it across the bed with her back still to me.

“Jess, just call him.”

“And say what? He wants me to be his girlfriend or nothing at all.”

“So be his girlfriend, you idiot.”

She sighs. “He’s my teacher.”

“Was. And technically, he was the Graduate Assistant, which isn’t even the same thing.”

“I don’t do boyfriends.”