Page 46 of No More Bad Boys
One thing’s for sure. If I keep seeing Troy, my GPA will certainly benefit.
The flutters though? They will never happen. Not with him.
If Blake was right and what I need is a little morewhateverin my life, there’s only one place I know of to get it.
I excuse myself to go to the ladies’ room and do a quick search on my phone for 152 Peachtree Lane… just out of curiosity.
As it turns out, Blake’s place is about a mile away, between the rock-climbing gym and my apartment.
Darkness is just falling, and our weekend weatherman warned of potential rain. If he’snotthere, I could be in for a long, dark, and possibly wet jog home. The whole idea is crazy, really.
When I emerge from the restroom, Troy’s standing near the check-in desk, shoving his wallet back into his pocket and waiting for me to pay for my climbing session before he drives me home. I settle up, and we step outside together into the sticky evening air.
“So that was fun. We should come back here again,” he says.
I give him a non-committal, “Sure,” and glance up at the darkening clouds overhead.
Yep. Definitely going to rain. I should forget this whole insane idea and just call Blake tomorrow.
“You know what? Why don’t you just go on ahead? I think I’m gonna run home,” I say.
Troy’s eyebrows shoot up. “Run?”
“Yeah. It’s not that far, and I need to stop by a friend’s house before I go home anyway. I left something there that I need.”
“I don’t mind driving you.”
“No—no. I need to get my miles in this weekend, anyway, and I don’t want to trouble you.”
He hesitates, giving me the you’re-crazy look. “Okay, but I could just wait in the car while you run in and grab it. I don’t mind. Besides, it looks like it’s about to pour.”
“If it does, I’m sure my friend will give me a ride home.”
And if I actually find the guts to grab thatsomethingI need, I may not be going home tonight at all.
“Well… all right. I guess. So…”
I lean in for an awkward hug. “It was fun. I’ll see you in class.”
As I’m turning to go, Troy places a hand on my forearm. “Cadence?”
“Hmm?” I turn back to him.
“Can I… would it be okay if I…” He inclines toward me in an obvious here-comes-the-kiss approach.
We never did kiss after our movie date last week. The moment just never felt quite right for me to make a move, and Troy didn’t make one either.
Of course he would decide to up his gametonight. When he’snotthe one I want to kiss.
Leaning back, I put on a smile to soften my words. “Troy. I had a nice time tonight. I always have a nice time with you. But…”
He sighs and his shoulders drop. “Your friend… it’s a guy, huh?”
Feeling about an inch tall, I answer him honestly. He’s a nice person, and he deserves that.
“It is.”
He nods. “Yeah, I figured. Okay, well. I guess I’ll see you in class.”
