Maybe I should buy a leather jacket. I did kind of like how it looked on me.
“Max! What happened to the money we gave you last week?” Alice asks, her tone more motherly. Oof. Big yikes. “How did you spend itall? On what?”
Max bites her lip. “Food?”
And that’s my cue to leave. “I’ll be in the kitchen,” I say sweetly. “Good luck, Max.”
“Deserter!” She calls out after me as I scurry away, pulling out my phone to Google cool leather jackets.
“Knock, knock,” I say, peeking through Oliver’s dorm room door that’s slightly ajar. Finally. He’s hard to track down. “Can I come in?” Oliver slams his laptop shut, whipping his head toward me, his eyes widened as if I caught him in the act. With Clifford right there! “Watching porn?”
His expression softens, just a tad, but enough for me to take a step inside. “No, just schoolwork,” he mutters, his gaze fluttering over to Cliff who’s in his own little world, bopping along to whatever is playing on his iPod. “Why are you here, Kennedy? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong,” I say, passing him a shopping bag, my eyes darting to his closed computer. He’s skittish about homework? So weird. “I just wanted to return your jacket.”
“Oh,” he hums as I cautiously make my way further into the room and hand off the bag. “Cool. Thanks.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, licking my lips, taking in his unbuttoned uniform, his sleeves rolled up to three quarters, exposing his veiny muscular forearms. I clear my throat.Don’t stare. “So uh—how was the rest of your weekend?”
“It was fine,” Oliver says, eyeing me warily but not telling me to leave. “Scoped out some records at the store Cliff works at, bought a few. Nothing too exciting.”
“What did you buy?” I ask, hesitantly lowering myself to the edge of his bed, my body tense,nervous.
Oliver spins in his computer chair, hiking his ankle over his thigh. “An Oasis vinyl,” he replies, his eyes gleaming with uncertainty. Maybe I should leave. “They’re an English rock band from the ‘90s.”
“I know Oasis,” I say, fiddling with my fingertips as I take in the cameras displayed on his shelves. Lots of vintage models. Interesting. “My mom was a big fan.”
“Really?” Oliver asks, cocking his head to the side and crossing his arms. “What’s your favorite song?Wonderwall?”
I roll my eyes. “Because you think I’mbasic?” I ask, unable to resist a smile.
“Exactly,” he smirks, relaxing his shoulders. “Either that orChampagne Supernova. I’d bet money on it.”
“Oh, Ollie,” I sing. “Start writing that check.”
He narrows his eyes at me, his lips twisted up with intrigue. “It’s neither of those? Seriously?”
“Mhmm,” I hum smugly. “It’s not even offMorning Glory.”
“You know the album names,” he muses, rubbing his chin. “I’m impressed. Alright, let’s have it. What’s your favorite song then? I’m curious now.”
“‘Acquiesce’,” I state proudly. My mom’s favorite song too.
“Wow—” Ollie nods, unexpected approval glowing in his grey eyes. “An underrated gem. I’m surprised you know it.”
“I’m full of surprises,” I sing in a low hum, catching Cliff stealing glances in our direction, his presence making me slightly anxious. “So, um, are you coming to movie night? In the common room?”
“Will there bepopcorn?” Ollie teases. “I know how much youloveit.”
“Oh God,” I groan, closing my eyes. “Please don’t remind me. I’m still mortified by my behavior.”
“Don’t be,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “You were just having fun. No harm.”
I snort. “Maybe fun foryou.”
“Yes, well it was quite entertaining,” he chuckles, his gaze scanning my face. “Certainly a night I won’t forget.”
“Oh yeah,good times,” I murmur, biting my lip, my cheeks burning up. God, what memory to hold on to. “So, popcorn aside, are you going to come? To movie night? Max has detention so she can’t make it but if you—” I pause. “I mean, if you wanted to go, you know, together or something, we could—”
