Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(13)

Paige glanced over and shrugged. “It’s okay. But I liked the first book in the series better.”

“Oh, I loved that one too!”

Bailey paused her channel surfing to see what book they were discussing. “I heard the third one’s the best, but I can’t imagine why. Caleb’s the hero in that story, and he’s a total tool.”

Realizing they shared a love for the same type of books, Paige gave a big internal sigh and relaxed even more. By the time their snack was ready, they’d found an old movie they all wanted to watch.

Twenty minutes later, Tess stuffed her mouth with a handful of popcorn. “I still can’t believe he died from cancer. He was such a good dancer.”

From the floor where she’d stretched out, Bailey tossed a popped kernel into the air and caught it in her mouth. “How in the world does good dancing have anything to do with not getting cancer?”

Tess shrugged, looking momentarily puzzled. “Hmm. I don’t know.”

Paige grinned and tucked her knees up toward her chest where she was sitting against the wall. “If I went to summer camp with my family, I think I’d fall for the dance instructor too. Especially if he looked like a young Patrick Swayze.”

“I’d totally jump his bones in that water scene where he teaches Baby how to do the leap. He looked so hot all wet and slippery.”

“Oh whatever.” Bailey chucked popcorn at Tess, catching her in the cheek. “You so would not. You can’t even talk to a guy without blushing and blabbering like a baboon.”

Instead of growing irritated, Tess merely shrugged and picked the popcorn off her shirt to toss it into her mouth. “Okay, so I wouldn’t jump him. But I’d totally dream about it.”

Paige laughed. “Yeah,” she agreed. “Me too.”

After Dirty Dancing, they found the original Footloose playing on another channel and started to watch it.

It had nearly finished when the door to her room opened and Mariah stumbled in, a new guy plastered to her as he kissed her throat, leaving a trail of hickies in his wake. Paige held her breath until she saw his face. When she made sure he wasn’t Logan Xander, she finally exhaled.

“Whoa,” Bailey yelped, jumping to her feet and dodging out of the way to keep from getting trampled. “People here!”

Mariah lifted her face. “Oh, good. The freshmen have gathered.” She giggled at them and fisted a handful of the boy’s shirt, tugging him close, while he ducked his head and nibbled on her ear. “Ready for a different kind of Granton education, girlies?”

She and her boy-toy stumbled to her bed and fell onto the mattress, neither coming up for air. Paige cleared her throat and winced apologetically.

“Sorry. I…she…”

“Want to come to our room and stay the night?” Bailey asked over the sounds of sucking lips and disturbing moans.

Paige didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” She snatched her pillow and the top cover off her bed. Clutching them close, she followed Bailey and Tess through the bathroom and into their room.

The scent of apple cinnamon candles wafted out to greet her and enfold her with a warm, unpretentious feel. She felt like she’d come home. Both girls had pictures posted to their walls of family and friends from home.

Tess and Bailey chipped in an extra blanket each for her to build a nest on the floor, and it ended up actually being comfortable once Bailey shoved all her dirty laundry out of the way.

Even after they turned out the lights, the three of them continued to talk and make jokes. Paige had a feeling she’d be staying over here a lot.

“So how many times has she brought some random guy back to your room to screw him in front of you?” Bailey asked.

Paige sighed. “Too many for my taste. Though usually they have the decency to turn out the lights first.”

Tess sighed wistfully—at least Paige assumed it was Tess since she couldn’t picture the ever-sarcastic Bailey making such a longing sound. “You know, I’m kind of jealous of her.”

“Of what?” Bailey squawked. “Possibly catching an STD or risking pregnancy every other night?”

“I don’t know. Of her freedom, I guess. Her confidence. Her vivacity. I wish I could just flirt with any guy I found attractive.”

“You could,” Bailey’s dry voice answered. “You just gotta do it.”

Paige didn’t join the conversation. But she had to side with Tess on this one. Though Mariah’s personality rubbed her the wrong way, she did kind of wish she had that kind of confidence. She wished she wasn’t so afraid of her own shadow. She wished she could be bold.

With her own wistful sigh, Paige stared up at the ceiling, barely making out light shadows coming in through the windows from the streetlamps outside.

She stayed awake awhile, listening to the muffled sounds of Mariah and her friend soaking through the thin wall.

For some reason, she thought of Logan Xander.

She wondered what it would have been like to listen to him and Mariah together if he hadn’t turned Mariah down the night he’d brought her home.

For the most part, listening to Mariah “entertain” was straight up disgusting. But occasionally, some of the sighs and gasps she heard had made Paige warm in the most uncomfortable places, made her wonder what exactly was happening over there on the bed located less than ten feet from her own.