Page 6 of The Spider Queen
“Then I’ll walk a few feet behind you so you’re not tempted to use it on me.”
I finally gave in and laughed.
“Ah ha, I succeeded.” He grinned. “Took you long enough.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you come on really strong?”
“All the time.”
“You don’t think, maybe, you should do something about that? Or learn social cues?”
“I’m aware of social cues,” he told me. “I just choose to ignore them.”
I shook my head. “I’m this way. Down on Bull Street.”
“Cool, I’m on Ashley.” We headed in the direction of both our houses, and I had to admit, it was nice to have someone to walk with, even if it was a guy who had more ego than sense. He was playful—and that wasn’t something I was used to.
“So, Spider Girl, aside from spiders, what are you into?”
“That’s pretty much it,” I admitted. “I spend a lot of my time studying. You?”
“I’m on the soccer team.”
“Nailed it,” I muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind.”
“Are you into sports?”
“No.”
“Drinking?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“Parties?”
I shook my head and stopped on the sidewalk. “This is me.” I gestured to the pink house behind me. Anita and I lived on the first floor of a converted antebellum home. The slanted floors caused things with wheels to roll, but it was close to campus and we liked it because of its character.
Hunter smiled and put his hands in his jean pockets. “I know you said you had other plans, but on the off chance they fall through or you’re not feeling it, my roommates and I are having a party. Fifteen Ashley. Blue house. Third floor. We’ve got a balcony. And we’re getting a keg of PBR.”
“You really go all out, huh?” I said with a smile. I skipped up the porch steps. “Thanks for walking me home!”
“Thanks for not using your pepper spray on me!” he called back.
I laughed. “I don’t have pepper spray.”
Chapter 3
“You’re late,” Anita yelled at me the moment I walked into the apartment.
I set my bag down and kicked off my gray ASICS. “The party is at nine. How many hours do you think I need to get ready?”
“Well, you need at least an hour to shower, blow dry your hair, put on makeup, put in your contacts, pick out—”
“Hold on,” I interrupted. “Who said anything about contacts?”
