Chapter Twenty-Seven

A couple days later, I stride toward the academy’s rec room to meet Gillian for physics work. I swing the door open and—

“Happy birthday!”

I come to a halt as I stare at the people crowded inside. They’re here for my birthday? I didn’t think anyone knew it was my birthday.

“Happy eighteenth, roomy.” Gillian gives me a huge hug. “If you don’t smile soon, everyone will think you don’t appreciate them.”

I look around in a complete loss at the crowd.

She plops a coned hat on my head. “I have friends in high places.”

Across the room, Riel stands beside Mar. She grins and waves, and I motion them over.

She gives me a big hug. “Happy birthday!”

I squeeze her back, glancing up at Riel. “Did you know about this?”

He nods.

I look around the room again. “No one’s ever given me a birthday party before. It’s amazing.” Although everyone probably came for the free pizza and cake. I wasn’t that popular.

Riel leans down and presses his lips to my cheek, surprising me. “Happy birthday,” he whispers.

I sway into the press, and warmth flows through my entire body. My God he smells good. “Thank you,” I whisper back.

Slowly, he pulls away. “Eighteen?”

I nod.

Riel reaches forward and straightens the silver necklace I put on, letting his fingers linger on my skin. All the warmth flowing through my body shoots straight to heat.

Gillian swoops in then, and Riel takes his fingers back. She’s got the worst timing. “Want you to meet my friend Zane,” she says. “He’s an artist. Thought you two might hit it off.”

I touch my necklace as I turn to Zane who extends his hand for a shake. “Gillian’s told me a lot about you.”

I smile into his cute blue eyes as they dart across my face. “Nice to meet you.”

“I told Zane he could be your date for the party,” Gillian announces, and I snap surprised eyes to her.

Zane rolls his eyes. “Gillian has absolutely no tact.”

“Well, who wouldn’t want to meet Viola?” Gillian goes on. “She’s hot and smart.”

That flusters me. “Um, thanks for coming, Zane.”

“Don’t worry. I already told him you’re ‘here to study and not here for boys.’” Gillian waves her hand in the air. “Whatevs. As I said, you need a friend with benefits, and Zane is good at that whole thing.”

“Gillian!” He reprimands at the same time I choke a cough.

He holds his hands up. “Let’s just all take a step back.”

Gillian laughs, and I can’t help it, I laugh, too. To say my roommate is audacious puts things lightly.

Riel clears his throat, and I glance over to see him roll his eyes down to Mar. Oh God! I’d forgotten she was here. Luckily, she seems a little lost.

“Hey,” I reach for them. “These are my friends Riel and Mar.”

Riel and Zane shake hands and exchange a few overly polite sentences.

Mar wanders over to the TV, and Gillian slips her arm through Riel’s to lead him a few steps away. “So, I hear you and Cassidy are no longer dating?”

“Gillian said you’re from Tennessee?” Zane asks me, but I barely hear him as focused on Riel’s response as I am.

Riel lowers his voice. “Cassidy and I—”

“She said you’re here on some scholarship that only the smartest of smarts gets.” Zane smiles. “That’s impressive.”

I give him a cursory smile but keep my ears tuned to Riel and Gillian. Cassidy and I what?

“She said something about an engineering internship you’re trying to get? You are smart,” Zane says.

Gillian leans in to Riel. “Abbie said…”

I lean in, too. Abbie said what?

Riel cuts his gaze to me, and I straighten. What am I doing? I don’t gossip. I don’t eavesdrop.

“Funny,” Zane says. “I barely made it through algebra.”

Riel cocks his brow as if saying, Viola, are you snooping?

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course I’m snooping! I realize then Zane has stopped talking, and I turn to him.

He gives me a little smile, and I immediately feel horrible. A perfectly nice guy and I’m being so rude.

I turn my back on Riel and Gillian and give Zane my full attention. “So an artist? What do you paint or sculpt or create, I guess, would be a better word?”

His lips turn up, like he’s happy I’m paying him attention now, and I feel even more horrible. “I paint,” he says.

“That’s nice.”

He leans in. “Milk and honey.”

My brows lift. “Excuse me?”

“That’s how I’d depict your Southern accent if I were painting it.”

O-kay, that’s a little over the top, but I smile anyway.

Abbie interrupts us, handing me a birthday card and shooting Zane one of her best flirtatious smiles. “I loved your exhibition in Miami. When I heard you were coming, I have to admit, I got a little giddy. Is it weird if I ask for an autograph?”

I look between them. “Autograph?” This guy must be famous.

Abbie waves me off. “Don’t mind her. She’s a hillbilly. She doesn’t know art.”

Zane gives me a charming grin. “It’s okay, not everyone knows art. Just like not everyone knows math and science.”

I cringe. “Sorry.” But he’s right, I don’t know art at all.

While Abbie continues flirting, Peter comes up to me and it occurs to me I haven’t spoken a word to him since that weird situation when he’d felt my arm.

“Happy birthday,” he says, giving me a card, Zane a quick glance, and heading right past to meet a girl waiting for him at the door.

Strange. He didn’t even say hi to his sister.

About ten minutes later, Riel and Mar catch my eye from the door and wave. I wave back, wishing they’d both stay. I glance around for Gillian, hoping she’ll spill it on the conversation she had with Riel.

Ten minutes later, Zane extracts himself from Abbie and comes back to me. “I’m only in town for a few days. Gillian’s got my number if you want to text or call or something. Ball’s in your court and all that.”

We exchange a smile and I watch as he goes over to Gillian, says something to her, hugs her goodbye, and heads out. Across the room Gillian looks right at me and shakes her head like Viola, you blew it.

Sometime later most everyone leaves, and Gillian starts cleaning up. “Do you have any idea how many girls would gladly give Zane a love child?”

“Thanks for all this.” I shove paper plates into the garbage. “I’ve never had a birthday party before.”

“You should probably thank Riel.”

I glance up. “What?”

“He’s the one who knew and asked me if we had anything planned.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yup.” Gillian shrugs. “Suppose being your peer mentor and all he knew from your file.”

“That’s really sweet.” Unbelievably so.

Gillian snorts. “Puh-lease, he so has a thing for you, it’s ridiculous.”

“What?” I scoff, completely ignoring how absolutely great those words sound. “No, he doesn’t. We’re friends.”

Gillian rolls her eyes and then rolls them again. “You two are perfect for each other.”

I pretend indifference. But man, oh, man as if I haven’t already entertained that idea. We are perfect for each other. But as my momma would say, “It’s so right, it’s wrong.” And it is wrong. He’s got his goals. I’ve got mine. Plus, if it ever comes to light I have the scholarship under false pretenses, I don’t even want to think about how things will go down between him and me.

“He’s all,” Gillian continues, lowering her voice, “‘I’m so focused on academics, I don’t have time for girls.’ I have two words for both of you.” She holds up one finger—“Sex”—and then a second finger, “Buddies.”

“Gillian!” Although the idea washes over me in one huge, hot wave. “I don’t want another boyfriend.” Been there, done that. Not that Riel will be like Manny, but still.

“I’m not talking about having a boyfriend.” She holds up one finger—“Sex”—and then a second finger, “Buddies. You two need to give in to the inevitable. Neither one of you can stop looking at the other. Just sex it up and be done with it. Or don’t be done with it. But definitely sex it up.”

“He’s got Cassidy and Abbie.” I purposefully name drop.

Gillian sweeps a Clorox wipe over a table. “Cassidy is the director’s niece. Only reason why Riel takes her out is because Dr. Williams asks.”

That makes me a little more pleased than it should.

“Abbie’s a pain in the ass. Riel’s only nice to her because that’s who he is. He’s nice. Abbie’s been after him ever since she transferred here last year.” Gillian grabs another Clorox wipe. “She’s so jealous of you.”

Riel’s too good for you. He’s too nice to say anything, though, with you throwing yourself at him and everything.

Abbie’s mean words come back to me, and I shake my head. “What’s there to be jealous of?” She has everything, and I, only because of her father, have begun to have a little. “Are she and Peter twins?”

“Yeah, but Abbie only started going here last year. Peter’s been here a few years.” Gillian picks up the last piece of pizza. “Listen, I’ve been around rich my whole life. No one’s ever happy. They always want what they don’t have.” She takes a bite. “Abbie will ruin you if you let her. Be careful. She might seem like she’s your friend, but she’s really not.”

Maybe I’ll Google you and find out all your deep dark secrets.

“Don’t let your screwed-up past with Manny or Banny or whatever the hell his stupid name was ruin something fun you might have with Riel,” Gillian tells me.

“What about Mar? I love her to death.”

“What about her? She’s a great kid. What, you think screwing Riel’s going to mess things up with Mar?”

It might. But none of this matters anyway. I really do know my priorities, and this is not it.

My cell rings. I glance at the display and hold it up. Riel I mouth, and Gillian sashays her shoulders.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hi,” Mar greets me, and I grin.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“You’re on speaker,” she tells me.

“Hey, Viola,” Riel says.

Reaching up, I touch the necklace where his fingers had been earlier. “Hey, want you to know how much I appreciate the party. Gillian told me you ratted out my birthday. Thank you. Like I said, no one’s ever done that for me before.”

“You’re very welcome,” he says.

“Are you and Zane going on a date?” Mar asks.

I’m more than aware of Riel listening. “No, probably not.”

A silent second ticks by.

Riel clears his throat. “Well, anyway, Mar’s got a favor.”

“Can you stay with me next week?” she asks.

“What do you mean? Stay where?”

“What she means,” Riel clarifies, “is that I got a call from Edwards Engineering. They want to interview me for the internship.”

“Oh.” The same one I’ve applied for, and though they’ve only just received my paperwork, they’ve probably had his for months now. I remember my manners. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” he says, and I hear true pride in his voice. He should be proud. It’s an amazing opportunity.

But with that, though, I blow out a soft breath. Riel really does have more credentials, more qualifications than I do. His application I’m sure glows like a beacon.

“You’ll get a call soon.” He’s trying to make me feel better.

Probably. But reality is he’s going to be the top runner. Edwards Engineering would be fools to pass him up.

“So can you stay with me?” Mar asks. “You can come here and stay with me in the fifth wheel. We’ll have a ton of fun. Biking. Beaching. I’ll even teach you how to surf if you want. I can cook, too.”

I smile at her excitement. “Sure, Mar, that’d be great.”

She squeals. I love that girl.