Page 49 of Love at Second Down

With a frown, I stand, wondering who it could be. I never get visitors, and the only people I’ve spent any time with outside of class or work are Charlotte, Brynn, and the girls.

Could it be Damon?

The thought excites me as I square my shoulders and swing the door open, blinking at the sight of the four women?Charlotte, Brynn, Liz, and Samantha?all staring back at me, each of them holding a take-out bag in their grip.

“Happy Hump Day,” Brynn chirps with a grin.

Raising the bag in her hand, Liz asks, “Have you eaten lunch yet? Wednesdays are always better with takeout.”

I shake my head, feeling slightly foolish for hoping it might behim.

Of course it’s not.

Still, it’s a welcome surprise to have the girls here.

Warmth spreads through my chest as I step aside to let them in, a quiet thought threading through my mind.So this is what having girlfriends feels like.Not just laughter and makingplans, but the unexpected moments when they show up simply because.

“How did you find my room?” I ask, sinking back down into my desk chair.

Charlotte shrugs. “It’s not like it was hard to figure out. We knew what floor you were on, so all we had to do was ask around.”

I nod, feeling silly for not having thought of it myself. After all, we live on different floors of the same building, not different planets.

“Soooo,” Samantha drawls as she steps inside, gazing around the space. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”

My cheeks heat, because I know what she sees. While other girls have pictures of hot men plastered all over their walls, cute prints, or giant photo collages of friends, I have nothing. No personal mementos or framed photos from home. Nothing personal that tells a story or gives insight into my life. Then again, my purpose at AAU was never about making friends or building a life here.

I have one goal and one goal only.

To win Damon back.

Friends are just a bonus.

I wring my hands out in front of myself, glancing around with a grimace. The only pop of color in the room is the seafoam-green of my comforter. “I’m not much for decorating,” I say.

In truth, everywhere I’ve lived, my parents have hired an interior designer. Even my apartment at Harvard was furnished and decorated by someone else until it looked as though it was plucked straight from the inside of an interior home magazine prior to my living there.

“We can see that.” Charlotte does a little spin, grinning as she plops herself down on the edge of my bed along with Brynnand Samantha, while Liz takes the desk chair opposite of mine. “You’re turning out to be a mysterious girl, Avery Astor.”

I swallow, wondering if there’s more to that comment than meets the eye. Maybe she spoke with Chris or Damon. Maybe they know the real reason why I’m here.

“Where’s your roommate?” Liz asks, breaking through my thoughts.

“Oh. I, uh, don’t have one,” I say.

Brynn’s brows rise. “You don’t have a roommate?”

I shrug, knowing it’s unusual. “She transferred at the last minute, and they never filled her spot. I’m sure I’ll have one next year if I stay.”

If any of them notice the use of the word “if” in regard to whether I’ll stay at AAU to the fall, they don’t mention it. I have no clue what I’ll do if I fail at winning Damon back. Staying here and watching him live a life without me will be too painful, but I also don’t want to go back to my old life at Harvard, and I certainly don’t want to go back home.

Is it possible to have a life here without him?

“That must get lonely.” Liz frowns.

“Sometimes,” I say, though it’s not as lonely as being surrounded by people who have nothing but ulterior motives. People who only want you for your last name or what you can do for them.

“So, you’re probably wondering why we showed up here unannounced,” Brynn says with a smile. “Other than to save you from your boring cafeteria salad.” She nods toward the plastic clamshell, and I laugh.

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