Page 74 of The Change Up
I guess we all are this morning.
I didn’t realize I’d come to the realization that Chloe Mariano is my soul mate, much less surrounded by Pop-Tarts and a sports drink.
From my seat toward the back of the bus, I have the perfect vantage point to watch Chloe. Even though the two of us are dating, she still refuses to sit with me. Something about not wanting to be a distraction. She’s probably right. I don’t think I’d be able to keep my hands off her if she were sitting next to me, especially not on longer trips. Just the image of her sitting next to me in those tiny dresses I could so easily trail my fingers under has me squirming in my seat, trying not to get hard right here.
Yeah, the separation is a good idea. I still don’t like that Billings sits with her, and she’s constantly using his shoulder as a pillow. But I know nothing is going on between the two of them.
Speaking of Chloe, I can see the top of her blond hair as she climbs onto the bus. Since I was busy running around playing pranks this morning, I knew there was no way I’d have enough time to pick her up. She had Brynn drop her off, which ended up being perfect since the line at the coffee shop was longer than normal. Clearly, every student at CTU needed a caffeine fix this morning.
She effortlessly glides down the aisle, shoulders held back, with her mesmerizing smile spread across her face.
I can’t help but appreciate how much she’s changed in the last few months. She hasn’t changed in a bad way, just in a way that makes her more confident. Her first time on the bus, Chloe’s shoulders sunk forward as she fought to not draw any attention to herself.
Unfortunately for her, she had every guy on the bus watching her. Chloe just draws everyone to her with her sunny aura. It’s impossible to ignore her.
Before she sits in her seat, her eyes find mine, and I give her a wink as she gives me the sweetest smile in return.
Chloe slides down in her leather seat, and I can only assume she’s going through the little goodie bag which was left on her seat. I watch as her head turns back toward my direction; however, I’m pretending to be busy on my phone. I can see her out of the corner of my eye, and I take in the smile lines that are crinkled around her eyes as a bright smile fills her face.
Please don’t hate me after this.
The sound of a bag rustling fills the near-empty bus as more guys continue to climb on. Hudson is next to step on, and I can’t help the burst of laughter that erupts from my core.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Jacobs?” Hudson yells as he charges down the aisle. At the sound of his voice, the guys who were on the bus but not paying any attention all cackle at Hudson as he makes his way to my row. Chloe gasps at the sight of his blond hair now dyed bright vibrant pink. “You’re dead, dickhead.”
“But pink is your color.”
“Fuck you and your April Fools’ pranks. You nearly gave Niko a heart attack with the taped clown in the vanity.”
Hudson’s busy filling me in on the events at the house this morning which I avoided happily. He’s mid-sentence when a shriek fills the bus and all heads—including the coaches—whip to Chloe’s seat. Her arms are flailing as she stands, rushing up the aisle before spitting the contents of her mouth into the trash can.
She turns, wiping the corner of her mouth as her deadly glare finds mine. “Really?” she screams. “Toothpaste in the Oreos. Are you five?”
I watch as Chloe marches to her seat, reaching down and picking up the coffee that was waiting for her. She blows air through the small opening before taking a sip. Disgust mars her pretty face as she stomps her sweet ass toward me.
“And black coffee? Are you trying to piss me off?”
“You’re not the only one he’s trying to piss off,” Hudson mumbles from beside me.
“April Fools,” I say sheepishly, a smile spreading wide.
“I hate pranks.” Chloe shoves the black coffee into my chest. I’m lucky the force didn’t have the cardboard cup crumbling and spilling hot coffee down my chest.
Grabbing the takeaway cup from my tray, I hand it to her. “It’s a honey lavender latte, I promise.”
She eyes me skeptically, and I can’t say I blame her. I pop the lid off so she can see that it is in fact her drink order, latte art included.
“Thanks,” she grumbles, taking the drink from me and turning on her heels not sparing me another word.
Hudson’s chuckle gains my attention. “What?”
“Pissing off your girlfriend, you are a dumb ass.”
“Oh please, it was just a small prank.”
“Yeah, well she holds the power of the pussy, and you just pissed her off. Guess you won’t be getting laid anytime soon.”
Oh fuck me, maybe he is right.
