Page 8

Thea

Reaching across the cold marble countertop, I grabbed one of my oranges. Thankfully, the only fruit Jackson liked to steal were my grapes, which I put down to an inferiority complex.

As I relaxed against the stool, I palmed the orange, taking it in with a smile. Yeah, I bet Jackson wished he had balls as big as this.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

I jumped and narrowed my eyes on my phone. Who’s texting me so early?

Sliding the phone closer, I pressed the screen, making it light up as I peeled my orange.

Covey Connections: New Message

My body flushed, and I couldn’t deny there was a little excitement at the thought of someone messaging me on there. I’d only logged onto the college dating app a couple of times since I joined, always ending up bitterly disappointed no one seemed interested in talking to me.

Had my luck changed?

After pulling away a section of the orange peel, I unlocked my phone and opened the app.

1 Unread Message: Brandon Gold

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d heard it. It was only after squinting at the tiny profile picture that I recognized his obnoxiously white and wide smile. It was the guy with the pizza from the other night. Was he asking me out? From the way he looked at me while I was sitting on the floor, I thought he hated me.

Instead of wondering what he said, I clicked open the message.

Brandon Gold: Hey, Thea. I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m that guy who lives above you. Me and my buddy Henry bumped into you when you were coming back from your furry party.

This might sound like a weird request, but I was hoping you could help Henry out. You probably heard us talking about his issues getting a date, and I was wondering if you’d be interested in being a good neighbor and helping him out.

Before you say anything, I am NOT asking you to actually go on a date with him. I’m merely asking if you’d be able to message him. Maybe tell him you thought he was cute and that you’d like to see him again. No need to follow through, just you know, build his confidence a little.

I frowned before rereading the message multiple times. There was so much wrong with it, I didn’t know where to begin. First thing, he thought I was furry, and that didn’t put Henry off?

I squared my shoulders, smiling as I eyed the empty kitchen. With no one around to high-five, I pulled out a segment of my orange and popped it into my mouth as a form of celebration. I couldn’t have looked too bad in my outfit, then.

Clicking through Brandon’s profile, I found Henry’s, immediately confronted with his dark hair and deep-blue eyes. So deep I’d think they were brown if I hadn’t seen them in person. Had I been so focused on the pizza that I’d ignored how good-looking he was? Flicking through more pictures, I found one where he was playing with a cute dog while on the ice.

My brows furrowed as I took in each picture. Why did he seem so familiar?

Jackson’s door creaked open, and I groaned at how we’d left things. Not only did he ogle my tits last night, but I had to wake him up because he was yelling in his sleep. The schedule was doing little to stop me from seeing him, which was frustrating.

When he walked out of his room, his hair was a mess and his eyes were wild. It looked like he hadn’t slept in days. With his lips loose, he gave his head a shake like he was a wet dog, and I cringed.

“Ah, Baseball Cap. Sorry to see you’ve graced me with your presence this morning.”

After checking the time, I flipped my phone over so he couldn’t see what I was looking at. It was nearly midday, and I hadn’t heard a sound from his room since I’d woken him up at seven.

He snarled as he stomped his way into the kitchen, barely acknowledging my existence. Odd. Usually, he’d be ready with an immediate retort. He walked around the island and scratched his belly, and I couldn’t deny checking out his abs. How could I not? They were so defined and muscular, and if he didn’t want me to, he’d at least wear a shirt.

“Recovered from your nightmare yet?” I asked with too much glee. Finding Jackson sweating and uncomfortable in bed had brought me bounds of joy because it proved he wasn’t as perfect as he liked to make out.

He opened the refrigerator door and scoffed. “I’d hardly call it a nightmare,” he grumbled.

“I beg to differ. You were tossing and turning in the bed, calling out for someone.” I crinkled my brows, thinking back to the memory, knowing it would be one of the fondest I’d have in college. “Leah? Mia? Who exactly were you running from?”

He shook his head, ducking farther into the fridge. Who knew what he was doing in there; I just admired his ass while he did it. Like I said before, the guy was nice to look at, he was just terrible to listen to.

After what felt like years, Jackson emerged from the fridge holding a carton of milk and looking at it precariously. I knew what he was thinking.

“I hope you’re getting a glass for that, Baseball Cap. Don’t want you spreading any of your germs.”

His smile cut to a smirk as I popped an orange slice into my mouth, and the citrusy tang exploded against my tongue. I closed my eyes at the sour taste, and when I opened them, Jackson’s face had drastically changed.

He was frowning while watching me chew, and I suddenly felt a little self-conscious under his glare. After swallowing, I said, “Are you going to get a glass?”

Still staring, his eyes dilated. Wait, was Jackson on drugs? It would explain how he was able to stay up so late to play his games, but it didn’t seem very Jackson-like.

“Are you okay, Jackson?” I tilted my head, and he jumped. I’d only ever seen his face like that one other time, and it was this morning after I woke him up from his nightmare.

He cleared his throat before walking over to get a glass. “I’m fine.”

As I pulled another segment from the orange, I could feel Jackson’s glare on me. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

Orange slice in hand, I pointed in his direction. “Like I shouldn’t be eating this. It’s fruit. You can’t judge me.”

“I wasn’t.”

Rolling my eyes, I brought my attention back to my phone, flipped it over, and was instantly met with Henry’s face. I still hadn’t decided if I would message him.

“Who are you texting?” Jackson asked, his voice a little huskier than usual as he peered over the counter, trying to get a better look at Henry.

I plucked the phone from the counter and stuffed it into the pocket of my sweatshirt.

“If you must know, I have a date,” I quipped, masking my anxiety over lying with smugness.

“A d-date?” His lips parted and his eyes went wide. What an asshole.

“Yes.” There might not actually be a date yet, but Jackson didn’t need to know that.

“With who?”

“None of your business, and don’t bother texting my brother about it. He already knows, so you don’t have to worry your pretty little head about me tonight … or even tomorrow morning.” Was I reaching? Yes. Did I care? No.

Jackson’s brows furrowed before it all clicked in that tiny little pea brain of his. “You mean you might not come home tonight?”

“If things go well, who knows,” I said, bluffing my way through this conversation like it was my job. I was one hundred percent coming home tonight. I still hadn’t figured out where I was going, but it was nice to keep him guessing.

Jackson cleared his throat, forcing me to bring my attention to him as I popped another orange slice into my mouth.

“Um, Thea?” He sounded choked, and I pushed my chair back.

“Jackson, are you okay? You look a little pale.” I might not like the guy, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see him dead on the floor. Although, if the thought of me going on a date caused it, then maybe he deserved it.

He let out a long breath before shaking his head again and chuckling awkwardly and loudly.

“What is going on with you?”

“With me?” His voice cracked and was noticeably higher than usual.

“Yes. You.”

“Nothing. I’m absolutely fine.” He brushed past me, leaving his almost full glass of milk and rushing back to his room. “I’m just late for a gym session with Matty.”

Well, okay, then.

That was weird.

“I think I’m in love with you,” the lady with the highly inappropriate shirt for such blistery conditions said. Her incredibly toned and equally gorgeous costar sighed and squinted as he leaned in. He was about to kiss her, and my toes curled in excitement, but then he turned away, looking to the sky with a sigh.

“I’m not sure I can love anyone as much as I love chasing tornadoes.”

I frowned, huffing as I knocked the extra-large popcorn next to me and nearly toppling it to the floor. Thankfully, the guy on the other side caught it.

It was dark in here, but I was able make out his classically handsome features with the light from the screen, so I let out a giggle. “I’m sorry about that,” I whispered as seductively as I could.

“You’ve got the potential to make more mess than that tornado.”

Whoa. Was that a line?

I opened my mouth, ready to say something but fell short. I didn’t know what to do when someone openly talked like that. It was only when I saw the feminine hand slink across his knee that I realized he was just being polite.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, grabbing the popcorn and putting it on my lap. Had I put it on the seat next to me to pretend it was reserved for my date. Maybe. We were nearly at the end of the movie now, so everyone knew I was being an ass and saving the seat in a full movie theater for no one else.

The pretty actress cried as the hero got in his truck, leaving her behind and following his dreams of chasing that tornado. I shoveled some popcorn into my mouth until my cheeks were filled, and watched the end credits. The hero was smiling, his face full of awe, and I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. I only wished someone would look at me like that. Who was I kidding? I’d just be happy for someone to look at me as my own person instead of as Tanner’s twin.

Thank goodness Jackson couldn’t see me right now.

Sitting here in the movie theater on my own after I waltzed around the apartment pretending I was going on a date was peak desperation, and the longer I sat waiting for the theater to clear so I could leave, the more annoyed at myself I got.

Maybe I should have gone upstairs and asked Henry out. From the sounds of it, he’d be desperate enough to say yes. Then at least I wouldn’t have been lying to myself over this date. It would have made Jackson’s perplexed face worth it too.

I laughed to myself, remembering how pissed he was that I was going on a date, proving his whole unlovable thing wrong, then I remembered it would soon be just him and me left at Covey U.

Tanner would be gone, and although Aster would be finishing her master’s, she’d be gone most weekends to see my brother. Even Britt and Matty would have graduated. They might have a beautiful beach house, but Britt didn’t know which team she was interning with Chally Sports, so they could be based anywhere across the country.

Which meant it would only be Jackson and me.

Was this really my life?

Living together. Hating each other.

I wasn’t sure how we’d survive.

As the couples next to me were taking forever to move, I decided to open the Covey Connections app and have a look at the message from Brandon again.

Was I desperate enough to message Henry? It seemed like Brandon only wanted me to help him build some confidence, but would it be that bad going on a date with him? Maybe it would help build my confidence too.

As Henry’s face smiled up at me, I thought, Fuck it. What did I have to lose except my self-respect and dignity?

I clicked the little blue message beside Henry’s face and started typing.

Thea: Hey Henry, it’s me. Hi. I’m the girl who was wearing the fuzzy purple thing from the other night and stared a little too long at your pizza. This is probably a little forward, but you seemed like a nice guy, and I was wondering if you maybe wanted to hang out some time.

I sent it and started to put my jacket on. Not even a minute later, my phone dinged with a message from him.

Henry: Thea. Hey! Of course I remember you. I’ve got to admit, I didn’t expect you to message me.

Henry: I’m happy you did, though.

I smiled, feeling good about the message, albeit he seemed a tiny bit desperate.

Henry: I’d love to go out. I’m free tomorrow, the day after, and on Saturday.

My lips pulled into a frown. Was this why Brandon wanted to build his confidence? So he’d stop acting so overeager? Brandon said I didn’t have to, and I hadn’t expected Henry to respond so quickly. So desperately …

I tucked my phone in my pocket, not sure if I wanted to go through with a date. I’d need to think about it.

“Umm, I’m sorry, ma’am, but we need to clean the popcorn under your seat.”

Surprised to be surrounded by movie theater employees holding brooms and glaring down at my feet below, I followed their gaze. Yeah, there was a lot of popcorn all around me.

“Whoops.” I smiled, picked up all my things, and shuffled around one of the employees as I mumbled out a small apology. Walking through the foyer, I felt a certain sense of anxiety seeing the darkness outside. I’d never liked going out at night, but the feeling of dread whenever I was walking home on my own only happened after the incident.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that the movie theater was only a five-minute walk from my apartment. There were plenty of people walking in the same direction, so someone would hear me if I screamed this time.

Following a couple I recognized from the movie, I took in my surroundings. I couldn’t describe the sense of relief when my apartment block came into view.

After slipping into the building, I skipped up the stairs and opened the door.

Jackson jumped from the couch, dropping his remote as he stalked over to me, glaring like I’d burned all his baseball hats.

“Thea,” he gritted out, and my pulse spiked, so I did the only thing I could. I walked backward and shut the door in his face.

“What the?” Jackson said from the other side of the door before opening it again and looking at me with furrowed brows.

I smiled.

“Why did you shut the door?”

“Because you were acting like I just walked in on you naked.”

I glanced down, happy to see his pants were on and there were no questionable stains on them, so that was a win. Then I pushed past him, looking for any drug paraphernalia he might’ve left out.

“You’re back.” The statement was strained, and I realized it was because I’d teased him with the potential of having this place to himself tonight.

I flitted my hand over my shoulder so he could see it, then dropped my bag onto the kitchen counter. “Yeah, well, going all the way on a first date would be pretty bold of me. Figured I’d make him sweat until at least our second date.” The lie was getting more and more complicated. I hadn’t even been on a first date with this random mystery man, yet here I was, planning to sleep with him on the second date. I could only hope his dick wasn’t as imaginary as the rest of him.

“That’s good to hear.” Jackson’s voice was so wistful, and I couldn’t help but wonder why he sounded like a lover who had waited a hundred years for me to return. Also, why was his face just as strained? Confused, I checked each corner of the room to see if there was a hidden camera around. None of his reaction made sense.

“Why do you care?”

“Because—”

He stepped forward, but I raised my hand, not allowing him to finish his sentence. “I know. I know. Tanner’s probably texting you constantly, checking up on me.” I rolled my eyes at the thought. This lie was getting too big not to make it a reality now. “Maybe I should just text him my minute-by-minute itinerary. That will calm him down.”

“It’s not that,” Jackson said with a little croak in his voice. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked a little tired. There was definitely something going on with him, and I wasn’t sure I cared enough to look into it. “It’s … I don’t know. A little fast. Don’t you think?”

The surprise on his face only riled me up more. Seriously? He was going to act like there was something suspicious about being asked out on a second date? I wanted to wring his neck for always having the ability to make me feel so ugly without even trying.

“Well, Jackson, I know you think no one can stand to be in my presence, but some people like it. Some people even want to date me. Even more surprising, they want to have sex with me.”

He cringed at my tone, and I pushed past him, heading to my room and locking the door once I’d slammed it shut.

“Thea, wait—”

I stalked over to my bed, throwing my headphones on and blasting my favorite Bailey Hill album so I didn’t have to listen to an idiot like him anymore.