Page 14 of Silent Count
“Oh no.” I huff.
“What’s wrong?” Bo asks.
“I’m not sure. I just got a text from Noelle, saying she has some bad news. I mean, it could be anything from her breaking a nail or something serious.” I snicker.
Chelsea: What’s wrong?
Noelle: So you know the guys that live above us?
Chelsea: Yesss…
Noelle: Apparently, they have a cockroach issue, and the entire building needs to be fumigated.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“What is it?” Bo prods.
I groan. “The guys who live above us have a roach issue. I guess they have to fog the whole building, which is really inconvenient.”
Chelsea: Awesome. I assume you’ll go stay with Casey, right?
Noelle: Yes, and I don’t mean to overstep, but I asked him if you could stay there too. Charlie was with us and said you can bunk with her or something. Or she said she can give you her room and go stay with Arbor and Lily.
Chelsea: I don’t want to take her room. I mean, it doesn’t matter to me about sharing a room. Whatever is easiest. Can you tell Casey and Charlie I said thank you?
Noelle: Absolutely. I guess we need to get our stuff today. They’re starting tomorrow.
Chelsea: Okay, I have tutoring until four, but I’ll run home after. Should I just meet you at the apartment or Casey’s?
“Can I help with anything?” Bo asks.
I shake my head and look at him. “No. I mean, I guess you already are. I’ll be staying at your house for a few days. Casey offered to let me stay there while the apartment building is getting debugged.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “Tutoring and a roomie, huh?”
“Looks like it.” I turn my attention back to my phone.
Noelle: I won’t get home from school around then either, so I’ll meet you there, and we can go over to the house together. Does that work for you?
Chelsea: Sounds good. See you later.
I check the time, then close out my screen and put my phone back in my bag. “I need to run. I need a caffeine fix before my next class. So, I guess I’ll see you later.” I stand.
Bo stands with me and slings his backpack over his shoulder. “I’d better get going too. I need to get to the field soon. I could use an energy drink or something. I’m starting to drag.”
I bite the inside of my lip to keep from smiling and start walking toward the coffee shop.
“What do you like to drink? Are you a sugary coffee drinker?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not too sugary. I want more coffee than sweetener or syrups. I usually go for a chai or a macchiato with a dash of caramel in it. Or sometimes, when I’m feeling a little quirky, I’ll branch out and do a matcha.”
“Is that the green one?”
“Yeah.”
“Does it taste like grass? I imagine it tasting … earthy.” He laughs.
I look up at him and smile. “Not really. At least I don’t think so. Why don’t you go crazy and try one today?”
