Page 9 of Kissing for Keeps
He laughs as he sets it on the counter, and for a second I wonder if I’ve met him before. His smile is familiar. But that’s probably the same thing all the other girls have thought. That’s why there are so dang many of them here.
“Is the dark an essential part of fridge guarding?” I ask. “Or do you have a secret rendezvous with one of the girls out there to help the time pass during your shift?”
He reaches behind me and shuts the fridge door. “I don’t make a practice of preying on freshman girls.”
I can’t decide whether that’s an insult or something he expects to be applauded for. I look through the doorway to where groups of mostly girls are hanging out, talking. “Are theseallfreshmen?”
“Every last one.”
“Okay, but being social requires no preying, you know. What exactly do you have against freshman girls, anyway?”
An overly girlish giggle comes from the other room, and he cocks a brow.
“You think we all laugh like that?” I ask incredulously.
“No, but you’ve got to admit the timing was pretty perfect. To answer your question, though, freshman girls tend to be overeager.”
“Overeager?” I repeat. That’s definitely an insult. DoIlook overeager? I resist the urge to touch a hand to the clips of my extensions. I’m guessing he’d classify those under theovereagercategory.
“It’s like you can’t decide whether you’re at college to goGirls Gone WildorSay Yes to the Dress. A lot of times it ends up starting as the first, then turning into the second.”
“Sounds like you’re a man speaking from experience.”
“More experience than I want, that’s for sure.”
That same giggle erupts, a cascade of soprano laughter that’s probably too high for the elderly to hear.
“Which one do you think she’s going for?” I ask.
His responsive smile is perfect evidence of why he’s found it so easy to gain so much experience. It’s unfairly attractive.
He folds his arms, taking my bait. “That laugh is distinctlyGirls Gone Wild.”
“You’re very confident in your assessment,” I say, though secretly, I agree with him. “What if you’re wrong?”
“Then both she and Brad are going to beverydisappointed in a few days.”
I scrunch my nose. “You don’t seem to think much of him. Why do you live with him, then?”
“My friend had to cancel his contract last-minute, so I didn’t really have a choice in roommates. But hey, Brad’s not all bad news. I met you tonight, and you seem like a semi-normal person.”
“Oh, stop.” I slap his shoulder playfully and do my best imitation of the girly giggle, fluttering my lashes, which I doubt is as effective when they’re not six inches long and as thick as a push-broom.
“You’re really terrible at that,” he says, grinning widely.
I shrug. “Thanks.”
Brad pops into the doorway on the other side of the kitchen.
“It’s like you summoned him,” my kitchen buddy says with a little shoulder bump.
Brad’s eyes light up when he sees me. “Siena! Thought you got lost in the fridge or something.”
“Plenty of space for it.” My comment is soft, not even meant for Brad, and it draws a smile from… I still don’t know his name.
“Huh?” Brad says as he walks toward us.
I clear my throat and speak louder. “Thanks for checking on me.”
