“Maybe you should pay more attention, Lexi,” Blaze cuts in.I manage a smile at his comeback and head back to the counter.
“Fuck you, Blaze,” I hear Lexi mutter behind me.
More customers start trickling in, and Nat and I get busy, attending to them.It’s been over forty minutes, and Fox has finally finished eating with his girlfriend.Blaze walks up to the counter, hands over his payment to Katie, and then turns to me.
“Sorry about Fox, Cam.He can be a jerk sometimes.”Blaze gives me a sympathetic smile, and I nod.
“Agreed.”
“Why don’t you come by the frat this weekend?I think you’d have fun.We’re throwing a party.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s a great idea.”I shake my head, trying to come up with a solid excuse.
“And why not?”Blaze asks, looking genuinely curious.
I bite my lip, searching for a reply that doesn’t make me sound like a total loser.“I’ll be busy,” I lie.
“Nah.Saturday’s your day off.You won’t be busy, Cameron.”Katie jumps in, grinning playfully.I shoot her a mock glare.Seriously?
“You should think about it.It’s Saturday,” Blaze adds, patting my arm with an encouraging smile.He waves goodbye to Fox and leaves the diner, while I turn to Katie with an exasperated look.
“Really?”I say, half-amused.
“So much sexual tension there,” she sings, waving a finger.
I scoff.“You’re imagining things.”
She leans in.“You two are roommates, and yet, all this sexual tension is practically radiating off you both.”Pete’s sake, when’s my closing time?Can it come any quicker?
I roll my eyes, glancing at Fox and Lexi, who are deep in conversation as Fox smiles at whatever shit she’s saying.Even his smile looks fake.
Nat winks at me as she catches me watching Fox.“So, Fox or his hot friend—who would you go for if they weren’t straight?”
I groan.“They’re both straight, Katie.”
“Well, if either one wasn’t, who would you pick?”Katie presses, winking.
Before I can answer, Nat cuts in."What y’all talkin’ about?Come on, someone give me all the deets.”
I need an escape.“I’ll be right back,” I say quickly, ducking out toward the restroom, hoping to avoid further teasing.
I close the restroom door, taking a deep, steadying breath.Facing the mirror, I stare at my own reflection, running my fingers through my blonde hair and adjusting my glasses.I lean over the sink, pull off my glasses, and let the cold water from the tap wash over my face.The diner polo is a bit oversized, paired with black jeans and sneakers, making me look younger than I am.
I haven’t told my parents about this job yet.My mom would freak out if she knew, convinced that work would ruin my focus on school.She’d have a dozen reasons why it’s a terrible idea, sure it would be a distraction, as if balancing both is some kind of impossible task.
The restroom door opens, and I quickly slip my glasses back on.Fox steps in, closing the door behind him, and walks over, stopping next to me to stare into the mirror.He doesn’t say anything, just looks at our reflections, side-by-side, like we’re here together on purpose.
What’s he even doing here?Coming to gloat, maybe?Mr.Perfect, son of the Chancellor, never has to worry about bills or work.He’s got it all—the car, the biggest frat house on campus.Rumor has it his frat is packed with trust-fund brothers who throw parties like there’s nothing else to worry about.Rich, privileged, and completely oblivious.
And here he is, standing right next to me as if he has something to say.
“What are you doing here?”I ask, trying to sound indifferent.
“Using the restroom,” he says in that nonchalant tone.
I roll my eyes.“Look, I get that you’re privileged, but don’t come to my job just to mess with me.It makes you look like even more of an ass.”
We’re so close right now, which is almost impossible to bear because our proximity only reminds me of our ’almost kiss’ incident only a few days ago.
