Page 2 of Crazy Pucking Love
No amount of arranging would make room for three boxes worth, and I’m pretty sure she knew that as well as I did. I’d even mentally drawn up schematics for hanging plastic containers from the ceiling, but I didn’t have the materials, and the ceilings were low enough I worried I’d end up knocking myself out on one.
Beckett convinced me the dorms, where I’d be surrounded by girls my age and get a feel for campus, would be a good experience for me. We’d both agreed living together would be a disaster. Not only did I not want to get in the way of his and his girlfriend Lyla’s sleepover fun, but he was crazy overprotective, and he would greatly disapprove of—and do his best to impede—number five.
5. Find a guy with boyfriend potential
a. Likes me for me
b. Common interests
c. Understands me—or at least makes an effort to
d. Great sense of humor
e. Makes an effort to be with me
f. Honest
g. Loyal
I hoped to meet someone who would help combat the lonely, depressed feelings that occasionally tried to take over so I could have my own fun—after he was properly vetted, of course. When it came to life, I’d decided to start living more with my heart. When it came to love, I’d decided to go at it from a more logical angle. Which probably sounded backward, but I had the two flipped for the past few years and wrong decisions had definitely been made.
With the right qualifications, I was sure I could find a great guy who would be interested in more than hooking up. If I discarded logic—and statistics—I’d hold out for the mythical one. The type of love found in everything from novels to movies and TV shows to the comic books I adored. But I knew there was a difference between fiction and real life, and I was still a bit young for the happily-ever-after stage. Which was why I was looking more for someone I could snuggle up with at the end of the day. Someone to be a reprieve from life on hard days, and to share in my happiness on the good days. No false expectations, but no more crushing loneliness, either.
Although, for the record, I was mostly here for number two.
2. Start working on my math degree, exact field TBD, probably with an emphasis in engineering
Obviously, the degree was a long-term goal, one that’d take me four years of hard work to achieve, which was why starting ASAP was so important to me.
When I glanced at the guy hovering in the doorway like a silent sentinel, Vanessa said, “That’s Justin. Justin, this is my new roommate.”
I lifted my hand in a small wave, then felt kind of stupid about the wave, but it was too late to take it back. “I’m Megan.”
All I got in return was a head bob, so I returned my attention to the box of shoes I’d been halfheartedly sorting through. I closed up the top and stuck it on my desk, hoping it’d stay there despite the uneven surface of notebooks and pens still in their plastic packages, and then kicked the other two boxes underneath, as far as they would go.
I’m going to have to take them over to Beckett’s apartment tomorrow. He probably didn’t realize his place was going to end up doubling as my storage unit, but with enough pouting and pleading, he’ll let it slide.
Maybe he’d also give me my own key, so that if Vanessa didn’t thaw, I could escape to his place while he was at hockey practice, and give both her and myself some extra breathing room.
Vanessa peeled off her shirt while her—boyfriend?—chewed on a hangnail. He didn’t move when her curly, dark hair caught in a button, and I almost offered her help, but she worked it free. Boyfriend or not, I’d hope any guy I stripped in front of would notice instead of look completely bored.
Should I add “wants to see me naked” under my boyfriend potential subheading? I mean, I want more of a friendship relationship with a lot of trust, but I want passion in the mix, too.
Not everything needed to be put on the list, though, and that one was obvious. It was also pretty much my last boyfriend’s only goal, which hadn’t worked out so well for me in the end.
My roommate pulled on a dressier cream-colored top that would totally wash me out but looked amazing with her bronze skin, and turned around. The smile I gave her probably looked way too forced, but her expression softened. Her gaze moved toward Mr. Unimpressed and Silent at the door, then slowly returned to me. “Justin and I are headed to the Quad if you want to come.”
“The Quad?”
“There’s a party there most weekends,” Vanessa said. “They’re usually pretty fun.”
A college party? On my first night at college? I knew it would be ultimately uncool to squee and do another booty dance, so I kept a calm facade while my internal organs went to celebrating. “Yeah, that’d be awesome. Give me a minute to change?”
…
I hadn’t seen Vanessa and Justin in a while—and the last time I had, they’d been grinding on the dance floor. I hadn’t wanted to follow them around like a forlorn puppy, and while I’d been to plenty of parties before, that was what I felt like. An abandoned puppy completely out of her element.
I tried to dance by myself, but I felt self-conscious despite telling myself I was being bold. Brave. And that I totally knew how to bust a move.
