I got to the top of the stairs on the third floor and was going to go straight to the dorm room to continue with more of my homework before movie night so I wouldn’t have to have it hanging over my head for the rest of the weekend. Especially when I had equestrian practice in the morning and that took so much of my focus. As always, I was both dreading and looking forward to seeing Brady, but at least we could be around each other now without it being completely unbearable. Although I was going to have to be more careful around him; if Robert could pick up the tension between us after like two seconds, I was worried the rest of the girls on the team were either going to figure it out, or they knew already and I just hadn’t heard the whispers.
I needed to figure out how to distance myself from him even more. I couldn’t see him much less than I did, and it’s not like we spoke or texted outside of practice (other than that one time we went to see his horse, but there was no way I’d let an outing like that happen again) so I was just going to have to be more conscious about how I looked at him. No more locking eyes during practice and absolutely no more secret looks at his butt in his riding breeches, because even if he wasn’t looking, there was a good chance someone else probably was.
But before that, I needed to get more work done, which would be a good distraction anyway.
Also, I wanted to have a look at Jared’s manuscript. I didn’t have time to read it all now, but of course I was curious, both about his life and his writing skills. Dave had said one of the conditions of Jared signing the book deal was that he was going to write it himself and I had to respect that, but I was a little scared that maybe he wasn’t the best writer and they really did give him the deal because he was a celebrity and they wouldn’t get his story any other way. Of course, I knew him to be a smart guy, but that doesn’t always equal a good writer and the thought of having to critique him if he wasn’t any good was a little bit terrifying. Especially after I pretty much just dumped him. How much could I hurt the guy?
I didn’t remember much about him as a child actor, but I had a feeling this book was going to tell a lot more than I could find on Google. And, I thought as I pulled the heavy package out from under my arm, if the weight of it was any indication, there was plenty to tell.
But as I was about to take the turn down the hall toward my dorm room, a peal of loud laughter drifted out from the third floor lounge.
Chelly. Which actually worked, since the sound of her laughing reminded me I needed to talk to her anyway. I did an about-face and followed the voices.
“You do not have dibs!” Chelly bellowed as I got almost into the doorway. Oh God, I thought, who now? But I had a sneaking suspicion...
“I never said I did. But he’s her brother. He should be off limits. At least for now,” was the response, from the person I woke up next to every morning.
I groaned and almost turned away, not wanting to hear any more of this potentially catty and surely very awkward conversation about my brother. But then, ”Brooklyn!” Celia said, spotting me trying to sneak down the hall. “Come in here and settle this.”
Oh no. I made my way into the lounge where the three faces stared at me expectantly, their textbooks and notes spread around the table forgotten.
“Not a chance,” I said. “I want no part of whatever this is.”
“But he’s your brother,” Emmie said.
“Exactly. I haven’t been involved in his love life in,” I paused for effect. “Ever.”
“How come you didn’t tell us he was hot?” Chelly demanded.
I looked at her incredulously. “Seriously? Chelly? He’s my brother. How would I know if he’s hot?”
“Seriously?” Emmie asked. “You can’t be objective?” it was the second time she’d asked. You’d think she would have gotten it by now.
“About my brother’s hotness? No I can’t.” I shivered and then looked at Chelly. “Anyway, how would you know he’s hot? You haven’t even met him. Have you?” I looked at her sideways, afraid she’d done something very Chelly-ish.
She held her palms up in surrender. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not the one who’s been mooning over him all day and showing off her selfies with him.”
Emmie just beamed, not even having the decency to look embarrassed. If I didn’t love her, I’d really feel like punching her in the face right about now. Selfies? Really?
Celia tsked, shooting Chelly and Emmie looks before looking at me and saying. “We didn’t even know he was here. When did he get here?”
Who knew my dropout of a brother would create such a stir among my friends? Okay, I guess I did, if I’d given it any thought. With a sigh, I dropped into a chair. “He just got here yesterday. I’ve been busy with classes and practice or I would have told you.” Except for that whole being scared he had been kidnapped and was being tortured thing. “Somehow, he’s talked the dean into giving him a job on campus.”
“Emmie mentioned that,” Celia said. “Is that weird?”
“Yes. Especially since my roommate has already dug her claws into him.”
“I need a rebound guy,” Emmie announced with a shrug, as though Robert was a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.
Chelly blew a raspberry. “Find someone else to be your rebound guy. Don’t damage one of the good ones. I hear Phillip Carson’s available.”
Emmie gave her a withering look.
“Okay, maybe not him. But someone less...” Chelly screwed up her face as we looked at her, but Emmie interrupted before she finished.
“Someone less to your liking?”
Chelly smiled. “I’m just saying. Brooklyn doesn’t need you messing with her brother.”
“Thanks,” I said to Chelly, grateful for the support.
“I got your back, sister,” she said. “Anyway, he looks like the type who prefers redheads.” She winked at me.
“And on that note, I’m leaving.” I got up out of my seat and turned to go, but then remembered why I’d wanted to talk to Chelly in the first place. “Can you help with the food drive next Saturday at the grocery store in town?” I specifically avoided Emmie’s eyes so she wouldn’t feel weird, like I was bugging her to help out.
Chelly lifted a perfectly waxed eyebrow. “What’s in it for me?”
“Firefighters.”
There wasn’t even a half second’s hesitation before she said, “Yep. I’m in. Text me details.”
I grinned and looked at Celia. “You, too?”
She shook her head. “Can’t. We’re catering a Junior League luncheon in town and I’ve already told them I’d help.”
“Them?” Chelly asked.
Celia’s flawless skin was the color of cafe au lait, but I still detected the blush in her cheeks. “Fine, Shane. I promised Shane.” Her kitchen supervisor. I wondered how that was progressing since they’d danced at the masquerade ball. Celia was pretty private about things, but Kaylee probably knew what was going on there. I made a mental note to ask her later. The blush said a lot, though.
“Where’s the luncheon?” Emmie asked
“At the Belvedere Gallery.”
I’d never heard of the place, but I was still new to the area and almost never got off campus. “What’s that?”
Emmie whistled. “It’s a really swank art gallery. People go there to be seen. My mother’s kind of place.” She said with a haughty look that she used to make fun of her upper class parents who she thought were total snobs.
“And just a few doors down from the grocery store,” Chelly said. “Maybe we’ll drop by and see you and Shane in action.” She waggled her eyebrows, making Emmie and I laugh. Celia didn’t look quite so impressed and muttered something under her breath that Chelly happily ignored.
“So, are you two dating yet, or what?”
Celia’s cheeks got pinker. “No.”
“Right,” Emmie said.
Celia narrowed her eyes at Emmie and I was wondering if she’d just been pushed a bit too far. Emmie must have felt the same, because she quickly backed off, turning her attention to me. “So, how’s Jared?”
My heart lurched. “Fine, I guess. But, uh...”
My three friends stared at me, waiting.
May as well get it over with. “We broke up.”
Chelly and Celia’s eyes went wide and Chelly even squeaked out a “What?” but when I glanced at Emmie, she didn’t seem surprised at all. I swallowed and tried to figure out what to say.
“Sit back down and tell us what happened,” Chelly said, pulling the empty chair out from the table.
Nope. There was no way I was getting into this conversation here and now. Not with how guilty I was feeling and my head still a mess about Dave (and Emmie). I needed some quiet thinking time before I was willing to deconstruct my love life with friends. Especially Emmie. I ignored the chair and shook my head. “We just realized we’re better as friends.”
“Wait,” Chelly said, looking at me sideways. “You realized or he realized. Do I need to find this guy and kick him in the balls?”
I laughed. “No, we realized together. It’s fine. Please leave his balls intact.”
She nodded, but her eyes told me she totally would have done it, if necessary. Scary. But so nice at the same time. I kind of wanted to hug her.
“You’ll find someone else,” Emmie said, her eyes intent on mine. “Someone you’re really into. Abe’s nice and all, but you want someone who really does it for you, right?”
My heart stopped at her words. I looked at my roommate and knew she was talking about herself, too; that she was looking for that special someone who she knew without a doubt was right for her. But I couldn’t help thinking at the back of my mind that maybe, just maybe, she was thinking that the guy who wasn’t it for her, was now the one who was for me.
Before I revealed too much, I turned to the other girls. “Yeah, anyway, he’s super nice and I feel like garbage for it, but it just wasn’t going to work. I’m still going to read his book for him, though,” I said, holding up the manuscript. It was a good prop to move the conversation away from me and my love life.
Chelly’s mouth made an ‘o’ as she eyed the manuscript. “That’ll be juicy. You going to share?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That wouldn’t be right. You’ll have to buy a copy like everyone else.”
She stuck out her bottom lip. “Maybe I’ll date him and he’ll give me a copy.”
Celia rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? That poor guy wouldn’t know what to do with you. You’d have him for breakfast.”
Chelly grinned. “And lunch and dinner. Have you seen those arms on him? Rowr? Believe me, I’d know exactly what to do with him.”
“Aaaaaand I’m done here,” I said, feeling awkward about the girls ogling poor Jared; maybe I’d tell him how sexy they thought he was. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t a good idea since none of them had ever mentioned wanting to date him and I had a feeling one more trip to the friend zone might just devastate him. “See you girls for movie night.”
I turned to leave, but as I did, I heard them start talking about Jared. The flirty tone had left Chelly’s voice and I knew they were talking about his past life as a child actor. I tucked the manuscript back under my arm and walked quickly away, knowing whatever rumors and Hollywood gossip they were talking about, I’d learn the truth soon enough.