Page 41 of Limbo

In need of a diversion, I fish around over my head until I find my phone. “Less than a minute to midnight. Should we start a countdown?”

He snags away my phone, not falling for it. “Yeah, let’s start one at five seconds. Until then, you can explain the relevance.”

I quickly sort through responses, but he’s already provided me with the perfect one.

“Ask me on Saturday.”

His words out of my mouth make him smile that damn smile.

Tomorrow might end up hurting like hell.

“Isn’t it customary for the person who doesn’t live here to sneak out in the morning?” Felicia asks.

I shut the door to my room, trying not to wake the sleeping Jordan inside. “I’m going for coffee. Not making a run for it.”

She gives me a soft smile, relieved to see my mood improved. “Bring me a latte?”

“This I can do,” I say on my way out.

The kid behind the counter at Java Quest only needs me to repeat the order twice before he shuffles off. Upon his return, he pushes the carrier toward me.

“You remembered the extra shots?” I ask.

He slides the drinks back and starts over. I wonder if this is what Jordan deals with every day. Finally, he gets the not-so-complicated order right. I wait until I park at the dorms to drink one coffee down far enough to dump in a shooter of whiskey I brought from my stash. I taste-test it before replacing the lid. A little early, but hey, it’s his twenty-first birthday.

A knock on my passenger window scares the shit out of me. I shove the bottle in my pocket before glancing over. My panic ceases when I see Benji grinning. Fuck. He needs to not sneak up on minors with an open container in their running vehicle on campus.

“Calico,” he says as I climb out. “Just the woman I want to see. I need you to evict your guest.”

“Unless you have other plans for him this morning.” Johnny appears out of nowhere, giving an up-down with his eyebrows. “In which case, we should probably tell Gavin to stop hiding in the Jeep. How long do you need? An hour?” He pauses but not long enough for me to answer. “Two? Three? Shit, Callie, pace yourself. The dude’s not a sex machine.”

I laugh. “Great to see you, too, Johnny.”

He winks.

“You coming out with us tonight?” Benji asks, propping against the side of my car.

“No, I have to leave this afternoon.”

They exchange a look, Johnny’s eyes widening. “What time?”

“Around three. Why?”

Another moment of concern passes between them before Benji grins with less enthusiasm than earlier. “We’ll return him to you in one piece before then.”

“You’re kidnapping him?” I ask.

They both nod.

So once I send him out the door, I won’t see him again until after my last class.Great.Damn him for having friends who want to celebrate his birthday with him. And damn him for still not giving in over the whole challenge nonsense.

“No later than three, Benji,” I say, backing away from them.

“No worries, Calico.”

“And at least sober enough to form coherent sentences.” I point at Johnny, sensing him for the type to feed someone shots before noon. Even though, technically, I already am with the coffee.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says as I turn around.

---