Page 40 of The Fake
“What’s up?” The man doesn’t have any books with him—not even a backpack to give the impression he might be here to study. We didn’t make any plans for the night so to say I’m surprised he found me without so much as a text to ask where I was or what I was doing is an understatement.
“I’m studying. What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
A pleased smirk plays on his face, and his blue eyes twinkle with mischief. “I figured you were one of three places. Just happened to get lucky on my first stop. And I’m here to save you from spending a Friday night at the library.” He leans in. “Doesn’t look good for your image.”
I snort, lean back in my chair, and cross my arms. “And whatever you have in mind will be good for my image?”
He stands. “I thought we already established being seen with me was good for you.” He points a thumb toward his chest. “Hot and awesome.”
He’s one hundred percent accurate there, but I still don’t move.
“Come on, princess. It’ll be fun.”
With a quick look around the library, I realize I don’t want or need to be here. School has never been particularly hard for me, and the library is really more of a hideout. Plus, spending time with Nathan sounds better than just about anything else I can think of.
“Alright.”
He takes my backpack after I’ve loaded it up with my laptop and books. His long legs hurry down the stairs and across campus at a clip. My stomach is a little uneasy when I realize we’re headed to my dorm room. Things have been better with the roommates, but I still tense up every time I walk through the door until I gauge their mood toward me.
“Are we hanging here tonight?” I ask as I unlock my dorm room.
“Nope,” he says, sounding very proud of himself. “Just wanted to drop your stuff and pick up something.”
“What?” His excitement is contagious, and I’m smiling while I try and figure out the plan.
“A roommate or two.”
I flash him a confused look that is more than a little jealous at the prospect he might be interested in one of my roommates. Maybe I’m not ready to date him for real, but I don’t like the idea of him dating anyone else either. Hypocrite much?
He shakes his head. “I can only handle one girlfriend, don’t worry. Shaw likes Sydney, so I thought we could bring her along.”
“What if she says no?”
“She won’t.”
I take my backpack from him and open the door, walking into the living room where Sydney and Emily are watching TV.
“Hey, guys,” I say.
“Hey,” they respond in unison, staring past me to Nathan.
He breezes past me like he owns the place and takes a seat in my chair. This continues to please me.
“I think I’ve seen this one,” he says by way of greeting. “Is this the episode where—”
“Don’t give it away,” Emily interrupts. “Sydney hasn’t seen it yet.”
“Ooooh, right.” He pretends to zip his lips, and they all fall silent watching the show.
Shaking my head at how easy it is for him to win people over with little to no effort, I walk toward my room. “I’m gonna get changed.”
“Where are you going?” Sydney calls after me.
Nathan answers, “The Hideout. You guys wanna come?”
I can’t hear their response, but not a minute later, Sydney rushes into our room pulling out her ponytail and grabbing the dry shampoo from the top of her dresser.
“Coming with us, I presume?” I smile but a small part of me is annoyed at how Nathan was able to march into my dorm and make plans with my roommates. I know he’s doing it for me, but it still rankles that they like him better than me. I’m their teammate after all.
