Wait for you

Closing my laptop, I jumped up, deciding that a coffee date with Brit was a million times better than going through the slush pile of my email.

#

At lunch, Jacob was acting like a cracked out jack rabbit because we didn’t have classes Thursday or Friday due to Fall Break. He and Brit were excited about going home. I was happy for them, but also a little disappointed. Four day weekends were what life was made of for college students, but for me, it meant four days of doing absolutely nothing but bouncing off of walls and nerding out by reading ahead in my classes.

But their mood was contagious and I found myself laughing as Jacob tried to convince a guy at another table that if a zombie bit a vampire than it would become a zombie vampire while the other guy was convinced that it would become a vampire zombie.

Brit looked like she was hoping a zombie would crash through the Den and bite them all. “So what are you doing for break?” she asked.

“Just staying here,” I said, and then added my ready made excuse. “It’s just too far to travel for four days.”

“Understandable.” She picked up a rolled up napkin and tossed it at Jacob’s back, but he was in way too deep with his zombie/vampire fetish. “I’m leaving after my last class today.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Me too.”

“You’ll be bereft without me.”

“I know.”

She sat up, eyes glimmering with excitement. “You know, you could always come home with me.”

“Oh, Brit…” I wanted to hug the girl or cry. The offer seriously meant a lot to me. “Thank you, but that’s your time with your family and stuff.”

“Well, think about it. If you change your mind between now and three, text me and I’ll zip you away.” She took a drink of her soda. “What’s Cam doing? Is he going home?”

Good question. Before I could respond, Jacob whipped around like someone had yelled his name. “What about my fantasy husband?”

Brit laughed. “I was asking Avery if he was going home for break.”

“Is he?” he asked.

Tucking my hair back, I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Jacob’s brows lowered. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“Um, I just don’t know. He hasn’t brought it up.”

The two of them exchanged a look and Brit said, “I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t said anything to you about it.”

Confusion rose. “Why are you surprised.”

Jacob shot me a duh look. “You guys are like attached at the hip—”

“No, we’re not.” I frowned. Were we? “No.”

“Okay, do I need to list how often you guys are together?” Jacob raised his brows. “I think it would be safe to assume that you knew about his plans and the size of his cock by now.”

“Oh my God.” I dropped my face into my hands.

Brit giggled. “You’re making Avery blush.”

He was.

Jacob snickered. “I think you’re having a closet relationship with him.”

“What?” Lifting my head, I stared at him. “I am not having a closet relationship with him. Trust me, he’s asked me—” I cut myself off. “We’re not.”

“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” Jacob practically fell over. “He’s asked you what?”

“Nothing.” I sat back, crossing my arms. “He hasn’t asked me anything.”

Jacob looked at Brit. “Is it just me or is she just not that smooth to pull off a lie?”

“Not that smooth,” Brit commented, twisting toward me. “What has he asked you?”

“Nothing!”

“Bull poop!” She punched me in the arm. “You’re lying!”

“Ouch! I—”

Jacob shook his head, looking like he was seconds from falling on the floor. “We are your friends. It is the law of friendship that you tell us things you don’t want to tell us.”

My mouth dropped open. “What? That makes no sense.”

“It is the law.” Brittany nodded solemnly.

“What has he asked you?” Jacob persisted. “Did he ask to eat more of his cookies? Did he ask you to be his baby mama? How about marry him? Or to just warm his bed every morning, afternoon, and evening? Did he—?”

“Oh my God!” There was no way out of this. I knew Jacob. He’d just keep going until the whole Den thought I was getting married and having baby. “Okay. I’ll tell you if you promise not to freak out and scream.”

Jacob made a face. “Ah, I don’t know.”

“He promises!” Brit shot him a glare. “Or I will physically maim him.”

He nodded. “I promise.”

I exhaled harshly. “Okay. It’s not a big deal. Let’s get that established first. Everyone understand? Good. Alright, so Cam has kind of been asking me out—”

“What?” Jacob screeched, and several heads turned.

My shoulders slumped. “You promised.”

“Sorry.” He crossed his heart. “I just… wow. Got excited.”

“I can tell,” I said wryly.

Brit’s hands were clasped in front of her chest. “He’s been asking you out, like in the plural sense?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve said no each and every time.”

“You’ve said no?” he shouted, and I shot up and smacked his arm. He gave me a bright smile. “Sorry. Sorry. Don’t hit. Bitches be scary when they hit.”

Sitting back down, I eyed him. “Yes. I’ve said no.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“And he keeps asking?” asked Brit at the same time.

“Yes, he keeps asking, but it’s like a… ru

Brit tugged at her hair like I was stressing her out or something. “How do you know he’s not being serious?”

“Come on.” I raised my hands. “He’s not serious.”

“Why?” Jacob was stu

“Gee, thanks.”

“What I’m trying to say is how do you know he hasn’t been serious?”

I shook my head. “He’s not.”

“Get back to the important question,” Brit said. “Why would you tell him no?”

“Why would I say yes?” Could a hole open up and swallow me? Please? “We barely know each other.”

“Oh, what the fuck? You guys are like soul twins right now. And what do you think the purpose of going out on a date with someone is all about?” Jacob rolled his eyes. “It’s about getting to know someone. And you do know him, so that’s a lame excuse.”

It was a lame excuse, but it was the best I had. “How do you really ever truly know someone?”

Brit smacked her hands to her cheeks and she shook his head. “He’s not a serial killer.”

“Speaking of serial killers, everyone thought Ted Bundy was a really charming, handsome man. And look how he turned out. Psycho.”

Jacob stared at me, jaw slightly unhinged. “He’s not Ted Bundy.”

“I don’t understand,” Brit whispered. “It’s like someone saying that Earth is flat. Cam is like one of the most eligible bachelors on this campus, probably in this county and state.”

I said nothing.

 “I’m pretty sure I’ve been stu

“Ha.” Jacob’s grin made my anxiety rise. “Here comes Cam. What a coinkidink.”

I face planted the table and groaned as Brit started giggling. Under the table, Jacob kicked my leg and two seconds later, I feltCam before he even spoke a word. I also caught his fresh scent. Was it weird that I knew him by his smell? That did sound weird. It was weird.

“Uh, what are you doing, Avery?”

In my head, I strung together as many fuck bombs as I could come up with, because I knew—oh, I knew—that Jacob would not keep quiet. “Napping.”

“Napping?”

“Yeah.”

Cam tugged on the back of my cardigan. “Why do I think that’s not what you’re doing?”

I gave an awkward shrug.

He sat beside me, his hand on my lower back, and my clothes must’ve gotten thi

“Aw, he’s so concerned!” Jacob exclaimed. “Avery, you’re such a bitch.”

Cam stiffened and his tone was low and something I never heard from him before. “Excuse me?”