Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1)(60)

He smiled, that dimple I loved so much denting his left cheek. “Maybe not yet. But there’s someone. I can see it in your eyes.”

You. I wanted to shout. It’s always been you.

His gaze flicked up and down, quickly looking me over. “You look good, Pepper. Did you do something to your hair?”

“Oh. Thanks.” I smoothed a hand over my hair, glad I’d worn it down and not in a ponytail. “Yeah. Some highlights.” Thankfully my voice sounded natural. Like compliments were something I heard all the time. Reece’s voice floated through my mind. You’re beautiful.

I glanced over my shoulder. “I think I’m late.”

Hunter nodded. “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I’ll text you. You okay to leave on Wednesday?”

“Sounds good.”

“Great.” He walked backward several steps before turning and merging into the flow of students.

I watched him go even though I was already late. Staring at his back, I tried to recall whether Hunter had ever paid me a compliment before. Sure, he had always been nice to me, but he’d never looked at me the way he just did. Like he saw me as something other than his little sister’s best friend.

Like he saw me.





Chapter 20

Emerson walked into my room, cracking the stem of a banana as I worked on a paper at my laptop. “So no Reece tonight?”

The question hit a nerve. There shouldn’t be an assumption that I would be with him just because we’d spent a few nights together. Should there?

I wanted to snap that I hadn’t heard from him in over a week, so why would she think I would be seeing him again? But that might reveal just how much I wanted to see him again. Instead, I answered, “No. Just trying to get some work done. This is due Thursday, but I have to work tomorrow so I’m getting it done now.” I glanced at her.

“Hmm,” she murmured, taking a bite from her banana.

I leaned back in my chair and stared at her evenly. “What?”

“Well, you haven’t seen him since you took care of him, right?”

I had told Georgia and Emerson all about staying with Reece when he was sick. I just never mentioned the follow-up night when he brought me a cupcake and stayed over. Georgia had been at Harris’s that night, and Em got in so late that Reece and I were already asleep. She never heard a sound from next door. Not even when he left in the morning.

I frowned. “I didn’t take care of him.”

Emerson had looked confused when I explained about nursing him through his stomach bug. Clearly, if there wasn’t making out involved she wasn’t sure what I was doing with him. Valid confusion. To be fair, I suffered from some of the same confusion. Only Georgia had looked vaguely knowing. Like she understood perfectly what I was doing with him. I resisted the urge to ask her what was behind her meaningful little nod. I didn’t need to let on just how adrift I felt.

She arched an eyebrow.

“I just got him some medicine,” I denied lamely. And curled up with him and held him through the worst of his fever.

“Oh, really?” She looked amused. “The last time Georgia was sick, I stayed far away just so I wouldn’t catch it. And we’re best friends.” She cocked her head. “What do you do for some guy you just met?” She pointed a finger at me somewhat accusingly. “You skip work and nurse him like a regular Florence Nightingale.”

I shrugged. “I have strong immunities.” Not much of an excuse, but it was all I could think to say.

Suddenly my phone vibrated. I picked it up and felt my stomach pitch. Speak of the devil.


Reece: Hey. How are you?

What? Had I summoned him with my thoughts?

“Who’s that?”

“Just my lab partner,” I lied. I’m not sure why I felt compelled to lie, but it was my first impulse. I put my phone facedown.

Accepting my lie, she continued, “So you have no plans to see him again? You don’t want to go to Mulvaney’s this weekend?”

“No.”

“Hm. Just thought you might be missing him.”

“Nope.” Avoiding her gaze, I returned my attention to my monitor and typed another word. “It’s not like we’re a thing, Em. I know it and so does he.” My gaze flicked to my phone again. Then why was he texting me?

“Yeah.” She sounded unconvinced. “But the friends with benefits thing can get tricky.”

“We’re not even that.”

“Well, whatever you are.” She waved a hand dismissively. “You’re done with him then?”

I typed another word. “Yeah. I guess. I haven’t really thought much about it—about him.” Only all the time. “I’ve been busy. And he has my number anyway.” I glanced again to where my phone sat.

“Ah. So you’re waiting for him to call.”

Too late, I regretted saying that. “I’m not waiting for him to do anything.”

“Okay, okay.” She threw her banana peel into my trash can. “Just checking on you, that’s all.”

“Thanks, but everything’s fine, Mom. I’m going home with Hunter for Thanksgiving. That’s what this whole thing with Reece was about. Remember?”

“Oh, I remember.” She nodded. “I was just curious if you still did.” With that parting remark, Em glided back through our adjoining door.