“Hot,” I said in a high-pitched voice, trying to hold a serious expression.
“You’re no help. Keep your phone on in case something happens and I need you,” he said as he stepped into the hallway.
“First of all, why would I turn it off? And second, why the hell would you possibly need me?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea, just tell me okay.”
“Okay,” I said, hoping to calm his jitters. “Have fun. And use your manners,” I told him with a laugh, and he flipped me off. “That’s not them!”
Once Jack left, I pulled out my phone to text Melissa. I figured since both of us would be alone tonight, we could be alone together.
Dean: Want to study tonight?
Melissa: On one condition.
Dean: ?
Melissa: You bring me a cherry Slurpee from 7-Eleven.
Dean: Seriously?
Melissa: Do I sound like I’m kidding?
Dean: Why cherry?
Melissa: Because I’m craving it and you’re on your way here and it’s on your way and pleeease? I’ll make you brownies.
Dean: Deal.
Melissa: Sucker.
I smiled at her last text as another one followed with her address.
Pumped up, I headed for the living room to ask if I could borrow the Honda. Gramps was there as usual in his favorite chair, watching TV.
When I asked, he said, “Of course. Where are you going?”
“Remember that girl I pointed out to you at the game the other day?”
“Isn’t that who Jack is out with tonight?” His eyes narrowed as he peered at me over his glasses.
“Not the blonde, the other one. They’re roommates,” I explained.
He scratched his chin before nodding. “Okay.”
“We have a class together, and we’re going to study.”
“Study, huh? Is that what they’re calling it now?” He huffed out a laugh.
“Seriously. We’re just studying.”
Gramps gave me a small frown and turned back to the TV. “Sounds boring. Be safe.”
“Thanks, Gramps. I will.”
“Don’t be late, Dean,” Gran called out from the kitchen.
“I’ll be home before Jack,” I yelled back.
That was most likely the truth. The only way I’d be home after Jack was if he did something stupid and pissed Cassie off. For some reason, she didn’t seem to have a high tolerance level for his shit.
• • •
With a giant cherry Slurpee in one hand and my notebook in the other, I kicked on Melissa’s apartment door and waited for her to answer.
She threw it open and squealed when she saw me. Before I could get too excited at her enthusiastic welcome, she snatched the drink from my hand and began sucking it down like it was her savior.
Not me; the damn drink.
Her face scrunched up almost immediately and she stomped on the floor. “Brain freeze, brain freeze, brain freeze!”
I laughed, but when the smell of fresh-baked brownies assaulted my senses, I sympathized with her sudden craving.
“That freaking hurt!” she said, clearly recovered. “Come in.”
I stepped through the door and leaned down to wrap her in a hug. She gripped my back tightly, her fingertips digging into my muscles, and I wished I had the balls to try to kiss her. It would have been out of nowhere, but being this close to Melissa made me want to do all sorts of things to her.
Our eyes met for a second before she looked away, releasing me from her embrace and breaking our connection completely.
“The brownies smell incredible,” I said, practically drooling.
“Still have twenty more minutes to go, but they do smell good, huh? Thank you for my Slurpee.”
“You’re welcome. How was Jack when he got here?” I cut straight to the chase, wondering if my brother seemed nervous to her or not.
“Ha!” She laughed. “Good. Cocky as ever.”
“Was Cassie excited?”
“I’m not sure that’s the right word,” Melissa said as she walked into her kitchen. “Can I grab you something to drink? I have water or soda.”
“I’ll take a soda. Do you think they’ll be okay?”
She tossed me the unopened can, and I knocked on the top of it with my knuckle before opening it.
“I don’t know, he’s your stupid brother. Do you think he can act like a normal human being for one night?”
“Probably not,” I said with a chuckle.
“Didn’t think so. Here, sit.”
She waved at the kitchen table, covered with a mess of papers and textbooks, and I added my notebook to the pile before I sat down. Other than the table, the apartment appeared spotless, which was impressive.
I couldn’t even keep my room clean, let alone multiple rooms. Gran was always yelling at me and Jack to pick up our stuff, to wash our dishes and put them away. I wanted to be neater; I just didn’t see the mess. When Gran looked around the kitchen, she saw every single glass and utensil out of place. Me? I only saw food. The other stuff never concerned me, but I promised Gran I’d try to do better, and had to repeat that promise every other week or so.
“How long have you and Cassie known each other?” I asked.
Aside from flirting with each other in class, I didn’t know much about Melissa. Not to mention the fact that we didn’t get much alone time, and the one time when we had been alone at the student union, it hadn’t lasted more than five minutes.