“I gotsome for myself too, of course. But mine’s hot cocoa. You know I can’t drink coffee. I’d be up for three days straight,” Josie says before taking a drink.
“And I can drinka cup before bed and still sleep through the night.”
We cheers our drinks,and I take a sip, enjoying the warm, nutty flavor. And the energy boost will come in handy. I would mainline this stuff if I could.
“What are you working on?”Josie asks, taking a peek at my screen. “Lesson plans? Um…you changed your major. Three years ago. I know you did. I was there.”
Shit,I think as I realize what’s on my screen. The plan Will and I have hatched is a secret—and it needs to stay that way.
“Oh,this is old. It’s from freshman year. I’m just cleaning out my files,” I say, hoping my lie is enough to steer her toward any other subject.
It’s not.
“Old?You’ve been planning a lesson around Will’s abs for three years? How is that…Who even is Will?” She scrunches her nose up like she’s figuring out a puzzle. I see the exact moment it all falls into place. “Will’s the guy. The hockey player. The date that was dreadful. So, why are you planning curricula around his body?”
“Um…wouldyou believe it’s a coincidence and this is about another guy named Will? From three years ago?”
“Nope,”Josie replies, taking a sip of her cocoa and reading the other notes I’ve jotted on the lesson plan.
I sigh.“Ok, there’s a story, but you can’t tell anyone. Like, not a soul.”
Josie mimes zippingher lips and throwing away the key. “Promise. And you know I won’t tell anyone.”
It’s true;Josie is one of the most trustworthy people I know, so I tell her everything, including Saturday night’s kiss and yesterday morning’s deal.
Josie nods as I talk,but I can tell she’s got a ton of questions. “So, what’s with the lesson plan? I mean, is that like a thing now? We have to plan the sex? Maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong…”
I laugh.“No, we don’t plan the sex. But…I do think we should lay some ground rules, figure some things out, you know? I mean, there’s clearly an attraction between Will and me, but it can’t go anywhere real. I know we both know that, but it’s probably best that we’re on the same page, right?”
“For sure,”she says, nodding. “And that’s where your lesson plan comes in?”
“Well,yeah, but it’s crap. Maybe I should write a list?”
“Or maybe…youshould just talk to him,” Josie advises as she finishes her drink and then heads back to her book cart. “I’m serious, Mel. Trust me. Sometimes a face-to-face conversation is exactly what’s necessary.”
“You’re right,”I concede. “And thanks for the coffee.”
“Anytime,”she smiles. “Good luck making a plan with your…is he your boyfriend?”
“For all intents and purposes, yes.”
“Letme know how that turns out,” she says, wheeling her squeaky cart to the next row of books.
Ok,Josie thinks I should talk to Will, and she’s right. So, we’ll talk. It’ll be easy. I am an excellent communicator.
Mel:We should talk. You have practice at 4, right? Can you come by Drip at 3?
I sendthe text and then read it back. Ok, maybeexcellentis a strong word.
24
Will
Mel: We should talk. You have practice at 4, right? Can you come by Drip at 3?
I don’t have any experience with relationships. And I’ve been fake-dating Mel for less than forty-eight hours. But even I know that text is not a good sign.
I’m sitting in a lecture hall, waiting for my civics class to start. I’ve got a solid ten minutes until the clock strikes eleven, though, so that gives me plenty of time to freak out over Mel’s message. For a second, I consider asking the guys. I’ll see them at lunch in an hour, and I’ve got a class with Norris after that, so that’s an option.
