“You have a roommate,” I remind her, as I slather suntan lotion on my legs. When the hockey girlfriends heard about my plight, they insisted on getting together for a strategy session at Maggie’s house. It’s totally unnecessary, but these girls are hard to say no to. I don’t mind, though. There are worse ways to spend a late summer day than lying in the sun and watching her baby, Calla, roll around on her blanket like a champ.
“Sasha’s hardly ever home,” Annabelle says, waving off my concern. “And he’ll love you.”
“Enough to share a bed with me?” I joke. “Where would I sleep?”
“Our couch is very comfy. And I sleep over at Dean’s a lot anyway, so you could sleep in my bed if you wanted to.”
“You are welcome to stay here,” Maggie offers. “Calla’s not a great housemate, but she’s a lot better than your current one.”
“I appreciate the offers,” I say, “but I’m just going tostay with my grandparents until I find something closer to campus. They love to smother me with attention, so I can’t complain. And they’re both great cooks, which is awesome, because I’m the worst.”
“Do they live close by?” Maggie’s best friend Viv asks as she switches positions to get a better tan.
“They’re in Bellfield. It’s about a half hour, depending on traffic. But the free delicious food will make every trip worth the hassle.”
“Wait,” Annabelle says, pausing with her drink halfway to her lips. “Don’t you have a room at the new hockey house? I swear Dean said so.”
Just as I’m about to explain why I’m choosing a curfew and a commute over a veritable mansion at the edge of campus, the backyard gate swings open.
“Calla! Your favorite uncle is here!” Mickey’s voice carries across the small lawn as he strides over and plucks her off the blanket.
“So’s your dad, Calla,” JT quips, pretending to steal the baby from his bestie, but then turning at the last second to give Maggie a kiss. Those two are so cute they make my teeth hurt.
JT says something to Maggie that I can’t quite make out, and then he and Mickey head inside.
Viv turns her head to look at me. “Girl. There is some serious eye candy at that house! If you don’t want your room, I’ll take it and you can have mine. I finally got rid of my evil roommate, and I was looking forward to being in a single, but I’ll choose hotness over solitude any day.”
“Seriously,” Annabelle agrees, giggling. “The new guys are dicks, but even I have to admit they’re fun to look at. Plus, there’s a pool and a hot tub. Tell me again why you’re not moving into a room that rightfully belongs to you?”
She makes a good point, but I have my reasons.
And one of them just arrived.
The gate clicks shut as Ollie strolls across the yard in all his shirtless glory. Because of course he does. Yes, it’s in the 80s today, but must he walk around half naked? Is that really necessary?
“Ladies,” he says with a nod and a smile in our direction. He stops long enough to coo over Calla before telling Maggie he’s heading inside to help Mickey and JT with some shelving they’re putting up.
I clock the exact moment he spots me. In his defense, I’m partially hidden by an umbrella. I still chuckle at his double-take.
“Fallon, what are you doing here?” he asks, signing as he speaks, like it’s second nature to him.
Enjoying the sun, just like everyone else. Although, you seem to be soaking up more than usual.I sign back.
Annabelle smacks him on the arm. “She’s one of us, Jablonski. Be nice.”
Immediately, his hands go up in mock surrender. “Whoa. I was just surprised. Stand down. I’m always nice.”
I let out a laugh, and Ollie answers with a glare. Instead of defending his affability, though, he heads into the house to help the guys and escape the scrutiny. As he saunters away, I can’t help but notice the defined muscles of his back and arms. And fine. I also notice his ass. Who can blame me?
Maggie laughs, catching me as I stare after him. “Want to tell us again why you’re moving all the way to Bellfield?”
Pasting on a smile, I give her the socially acceptable answer. “I’m not moving there permanently. It’s just until something comes open closer to campus. Besides, my grandad is a great cook who cleans up after himself, and that automatically puts their house in the win column.” The girls all nod because they know I’m right. What theydon’t know is that the idea of living mere feet away from Ollie Jablonski is an automatic no for me. It’s not just the fact that we rub each other the wrong way. It’s that once upon a time, on a night I thought we’d connected, I caught him with another girl.
I’m not doing that again. Not for anything.
6
Ollie
