Page 9 of The Pass
“Yeah?” I wait until Nathan and Chloe are settled in the back before I pull away from the dorm.
“Bright colors—pinks, yellows, greens—they make me happy.”
Thank you, Tara.
The Hideout is already busy, but we’re able to grab a booth close to the bar. Sydney slides in and I follow.
“I’m glad this worked out. I’ve been looking forward to hanging with you again.”
“You have?” Her smile is fucking radiant.
“Well, yeah. I thought I made it clear the other night that I wanted to keep bumping into you.”
“I do too.” She ducks her head a tad like she might be embarrassed to admit she likes my company. She glances to Nathan and Chloe across from us. “What are we drinking?”
“I’m gonna grab a pitcher. Be right back.” I stand. “Want anything else?”
The tip of her tongue comes out to wet her lips. “I’ll come with you.”
Angling my body to make room for both of us in the cramped space, I lean against the bar. “What do you feel like drinking?”
“Beer is fine.”
“Fine is boring.”
“Beer is great, then.”
“Pitcher of the IPA on tap,” I say to the bartender and then focus back on Sydney. “You look great.”
“It’s the dress.”
“It’s you.”
She looks unconvinced. “Don’t get me wrong, I like the dress, but you could have worn a T-shirt and jeans and you’d still look great.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Well, I’ve run into you on campus, at parties, bars.” She waves a hand indicating The Hideout. “And you only noticed me when I was in the tightest dress I own and standing a foot away from you. If it hadn’t been for Nathan talking to Chloe…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice you before. It isn’t because you aren’t beautiful. I’m sure you were just as stunning all those other times. Last year I did my best to keep my head down and focus. Yeah, I went out and partied, but I was living in a fog. I’m convinced of that more than ever now that I know we were in the same room and my eyes failed me.”
“You’re forgiven.”
Back at the table, the four of us chat—me and Sydney more than Nathan and Chloe. They’re obviously into one another, but they’re a lot more subtle than we are. I dig that about Sydney. She doesn’t make me second-guess whether or not she wants to be here. Her attention is solely focused on me and mine on her.
I wrap an arm around the back of the booth, fingertips brushing her shoulder. I refill my glass and take a small drink. “So, did you have a boyfriend last year?”
“No.” Her face scrunches up adorably. “Why?”
“Wishful thinking, I guess.” Though even as I say it, I get a little rage-y picturing her with someone else. “I’d like to think I only overlooked you because you were on some guy’s arm and I was being respectful.”
“Does having a boyfriend really stop guys from checking out girls?”
“Well, no, but it usually stops us from doing anything about it. Maybe I looked across the room and you looked happy and content with some guy and I sighed and reluctantly let you be. Being the bigger man and all that.”
Her body shakes with laughter. “What about you? As far as I know, you haven’t had any girlfriends at Valley, but there was a rumor about you and the women’s tennis coach.”
