Page 4 of Drew
Drew’s voice is low and deep when I finally concede to his request. “You mentioned having to work tonight. What about tomorrow night? We need to get the first assignment done before I leave Friday morning with the team. It’s due on Monday, and I won’t be back until Sunday afternoon.”
Shit! Of course, he chooses tomorrow night. It’s my only night off this week, and I already have plans. Though… my plans won’t happen until later. Maybe I can squeeze in a study session to finish this assignment. Knowing it’s our only option, I sigh in defeat. “Okay. Tomorrow will work. Can we make it early because I have plans later?”
Drew’s blue eyes widen for a fraction of a second, but it’s quickly replaced with relief. “Sure. Give me your phone number, and I’ll text my address. Practice ends at six, would seven work for you?”
I’ll have to figure out dinner on my own. Not sure my friends will understand, but they’ll get over it—hopefully. We weren’t planning to leave until eight, so it should be fine. I nod in agreement and give him my number. Within seconds, a notification arrives on my phone. Knowing it’s likely him, I keep it in my pocket.
“Thanks.” Drew sighs with relief as he gathers his things. “I gotta get to practice. But I’ll see you then.”
I let out a heavy sigh, knowing my friends might kill me for changing our dinner plans. “Sounds good. I’ll have to leave as soon as we finish. My friends will be expecting me.”
“Hey, Abby?” Drew asks hesitantly. “Would you mind keeping my number between us? I’d rather not share it with everyone.”
“There go my plans for writing it on the bathroom stall,” I mumble sarcastically. Drew just stares. His dark eyebrows pinched. Apparently, my humor’s lost on him. I quickly put him at ease. “Just kidding,” I assure him, and his perfect lips quirk into a smile. With that, he leaves our table, leaving me to stare after him.
When I getto my apartment after work that evening, I throw my backpack onto the couch and plop down beside it. My roommate Chloe looks up from the kitchen table where she’s studying and asks, “That bad?”
“Yes,” I say in a groan. “I have the worst lab partner this term.”
“Tell me more,” she prompts. Chloe’s a psychology major and has been one of my best friends since summer camp in seventh grade. She likes to use what she’s learning in class on me, so I stick my tongue out at her to let her know I can see she’s up to her usual antics. She bursts out with laughter.Great. Just what I need. “Seriously, Abs, tell me what’s going on. There must be more to this than a crappy lab partner. This is so unlike you.”
“Uggh,” I groan in frustration. It would’ve been so simple if only he’d chosen a different seat.
When I don’t say anything, Chloe merely lifts a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and waits.
“Well…” I start, not knowing where to begin. Taking a deep breath, I let it all out, knowing I might as well start from the beginning. “It all started on the first day of class. Thisguy…” I say with disdain, causing Chloe to smirk, but I ignore her. “Plopped down next to me and didn’t say anything but ‘hey.’ Then as if he’s Mr. Popularity himself, he has a constant string of people stopping by to talk about his latest game. It was soooo frustrating. They wouldn’t go away. As soon as one person left, it was like it signaled another to drop by.Just when I think it couldn’t get any worse, the professor walks in and makes an announcement that was like a bomb detonating. The person next to us has just become a permanent partner for the term, unless we want a ten percent reduction in grade… You know I can’t have that. I need straight As or med school’s no longer an option.” I inhale sharply and take a breath. But I can’t help but cringe when I think of what I must tell her next.
“But that’s not even the worst part. We must finish up a project before Friday, and the only night the almighty Drew is available, is tomorrow night. Can you believe that?”
“Um…” Chloe puts her index finger on her chin and pretends to think something over. “What part of this is supposed to be bad enough to put you into such a pissy mood?”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head as it snaps in her direction. “That’s how you’re going to handle clients one day?” I ask in disbelief. Chloe’s known for her zero BS policy, but this is a bit over the top, even for her.
“You’re going to miss me next year, and you know it. It’s all your fault, you’re a Brainiac and will graduate earlier than the rest of us.”
Yeah, I came into CRU with enough credits to graduate a year early, but she’s known that since—forever—so I simply roll my eyes and wait for a real response.
“Well, since you know metoowell, you’ll never be my client, but… I think there’s more than what you’ve just told me at play here. What’s really going on?” Her brown eyes widen as she waits expectantly.
I shake my head and stare at my feet, now propped up on the coffee table. “I… Uh… have to cancel our dinner plans tomorrow night. I must study withhim,at seven. It shouldn’t take long to finish our project, but I won’t be able to meet you until afterward.”
“Girl, you’renotbailing on us tomorrow night.” Chloe steps up from the table, and her oversized scoop-neck top slips off one shoulder. She comes to stand in front of me at the couch as she eyes me suspiciously. “We all coordinated our schedules to celebrateyou. This is a once in a lifetime thing. You can’t ditch us. Syd will be pissed.”
I shake my head, knowing she’s right but trying to make her see she’s not hearing me correctly. “I’ll be there. There’s no doubt about that. I’ll just have to meet you after dinner. That’s all. I looked over the assignment, and it really shouldn’t take Drew and me too long to complete.”
As if she doesn’t believe me, Chloe cocks her head to the side and eyes me suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re not trying to ditch us? I know you didn’t want to go out. But this is a big deal. Youhaveto go with us.”
Internally I groan, though I keep that thought to myself. “Chloe, I won’t miss this. I promise.”
“If you do, Sydney will kick your ass.” Chloe tries to keep a serious face but completely fails, causing both of us to break into laughter.
Sydney’s our other roommate. She’s been one of my closest friends since freshman year. She lived across the hall from us in the dorms. She’s taking tomorrow night off, which is rare for her. I know she needs the money. I also know they want to celebrate together. This only comes along once in a lifetime.
“I know it’s important. I’ll be there,” I promise.
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