Page 10 of No Way Home
She rolled her eyes. “For saving tens of thousands of dollars? Unlike my fellow Cavaliers, who are going to be ridiculously in debt when they start their illustrious careers as…elementary school teachers?” She smiled, and it stole my air. “Not hardly.”
A text came through on my phone but I hardly noticed, I was so busy watching her.
“I think your butt is vibrating again,” she said. “Maybe you should answer it.”
I chuckled. “Sorry. It’s my buddy from earlier.”
“The one with leprosy?” She giggled.
The sound made a laugh bubble in my chest. “Yeah. I’mgoing to respond real quick so he’ll stop texting.” I already knew it was Fletch. If I was on a date, he wanted a play-by-play.
“No worries. I have someone I need to text too.” She rifled through her purse, searching for her cell. Then she stepped off the sidewalk and onto the grass, typing furiously.
I didn’t want to look away for one second, but Fletch wouldn’t quit until I responded.
Fletcher
Is she as cute as you hoped?
My date is a solid meh.
He should be grateful any girl wanted him after what he’d done to his feet.
Fletcher
Just shoot me a number letting me know how your date is going. 1—being this was a waste of time, 10—being you’d watch a romcom for her. Unironically.
25
I think I’m on a date with my wife.
I stared at that last word, finger hovering over send. I was eighteen years old. I had no business saying that about a girl I’d known for an hour. But then I glanced up at Velvet—long legs crossed at the ankles, brows pinched like she was defusing a bomb. There was just something about her. About the way Ifeltsimply being with her. I sent the message.
Fletcher
Who is this and what did you do with Bowen’s body?
I demand you return his soul immediately! Don’t make me track you across the galaxy! Find another host—you tentacle-faced, cosmic parasite!
I snorted.
It’s me, igitard.
Fletcher
Oh, it is you. DUDE. I need details. Better yet, send me a pic.
I’m not taking a pic. That’s creepy. I don’t even know her name yet.
Don’t even know if she likes me.
Fletcher
She does. Every girl likes you. And if she’s not persuaded by your stupidly pretty eyes, she will be when she hears your last name.
Yeah. Because everyone wants to be loved for their connections and not for who they actually are. But that was the best part about Velvet. Her dad was some higher up in the military. Raised overseas, she’d hardly set foot on U.S. soil until she came here for college two years ago. She graduated from an American high school in Okinawa, where they have ‘the best ramen in the world.’ She didn’t know anything about the NFL, couldn’t name a single country song that wasn’t sung by Tim McGraw, and her favorite books were regency romances—not spy novels. So unlike the majority of girls—probably onthis campus even—no recognition flashed in her eyes when she saw me for the first time.
Velvet slid her phone back into her purse and stepped back onto the sidewalk.
