Page 78 of Advanced Chemistry

“Yeah,” I said, unsure what I was agreeing to. I just wanted the mess to go away.

25

SEBASTIAN

“Savannah, this is a public park.”

Savannah met me at Renegade Park for lunch and immediately stripped off her T-shirt to sunbathe in a barely-there bikini top.

“I’m not breaking any indecency laws.” She rested on her elbows and inched down her heart-shaped sunglasses frames. “They’re just boobs, Sebastian.”

“People don’t really come to Renegade Park for sunbathing. There’s a playground and a nature center.”

“There’s also a view of the water, and when there’s water, there’s good sun to be had.” She swished her hair behind her, a young woman utterly carefree. I was a tad jealous that she got to experience summer vacation. Her college was finished for the year. No more libraries. No more endless studying. No more notebooks. Just boobs and water.

I rolled out my towel next to her. Large rocks abutted the river. Over the years, people had graffitied them with drawings and initials. Some kids liked to climb them, while Savannah saw a perfect sunbathing opportunity.

The sun shone through the clouds, warming my skin. I put on a hat and sunscreen.

“Seb, take off your shirt. Live a little.”

Live a little with skin cancer later in lifewas what she actually meant.

“I didn’t see you put on any sunscreen,” I said to my fair-skinned friend.

“It’s all good. I took an edible before we met up.”

Apparently, Savannah left her functioning brain back at the library. I took initiative and sprayed sunscreen over her legs and arms. She didn’t object. I was happy to see her relaxing after a year of academic hell.

“Sometimes I wonder why I’m even studying to be a doctor. Why am I putting myself through all of that shit? I’m totally a feminist, but a part of me wants to marry rich.”

“You’re dating a law student, so that could happen.”

“Bitch, please. Mathias wants to be a public defender.” Savannah rolled her eyes, but deep down, his big heart was what she loved most about him. “Although maybe, I can pull a Sebastian and introduce another man into the relationship, a sugar daddy for Mat and me.”

My face burned red, no summer sun required.

“I told you that in confidence.”

“I haven’t told anyone.” She raised her gazelle-like legs, letting them soak in the sunshine. “I’m just saying maybe you’re onto something. It doesn’t have to be another man. I could bring in another woman. Mat would love that. I might, too, actually.”

“Have I brought out your bisexual side?”

“I’m carpet curious.”

“I’m glad you’re so open-minded,” I sneered. “Though be careful, because shit can get complicated with three people.”

Maybe it was just one person in particular who was stubbornly choosing to complicate things.

“How’s it going with all that?” she asked, taking a break from her suntan and her high to be a concerned friend.

“Things were going great. Really great, actually. We get along shockingly well. It doesn’t feel weird.” We were three puzzle pieces meant to interlock. “But Chase blurted out that he has feelings. Strong feelings.”

“For you or Anton?”

“Both of us.”

“I love that.” Savannah made an aww face. “Do you feel that way? I mean, we all know that you’re madly in love with Anton, but what about Chase? Oh, and did you get around to asking him why he gave me a B on my end-of-year experiment write-up?”

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