“Not at all. College isn’t the right track for everyone, and no one says you have to do it in the four years right after high school. If you decide later you want to get a degree, you still can. I think it’s cool. You’ll be far better equipped for the real world and probably happier, too.”
“Wow. Can I get you to come over and repeat that when I tell my parents that instead of going to classes all day, I’m hanging out on my friend’s couch watching Friends reruns?”
He flashes me another big smile. He has a small dimple on the left side of his cheek. His hat comes down so low, I wish he’d take it off so I could get a better look at his hair. The ends poking out on the side are a light brown.
Jade slumps in front of me, forearms resting on the bar. “One more table, and then we can go.” Her gaze slides to Leo, and a slow smile splits her lips. “Or not.”
“Jade, this is Leo,” I interject before she says something to embarrass me.
“The trivia nerd,” she says.
He tips his head. “Nice to meet you.”
“You know an incredible amount of boy band facts and sports history. Weird mix.”
“What can I say?” He grins. “It’s a gift.”
“Impressive. Truly.” She looks at me with wide eyes. “Are we still on for the karaoke bar?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“You should come with us,” she says to Leo. “I bet they even have some Backstreet Boys songs for you.” Jade stands tall and smooths a hand over her braid. “Back in five.”
“You could come if you wanted,” I say. “Jade is a lot of fun. Her boyfriend works for the karaoke company, so we get to sing as many songs as we want.”
He checks the time on a flashy watch adorning his left wrist. “I really wish I could.”
“Damn those early classes.” Seriously, damn those classes. I’d forgotten what it feels like to sit and talk with someone new. I haven’t dated since I’ve been back. It’s only been a couple of months, so it isn’t like I’ve been hiding away. Not much, anyway. Still, this is nice.
“What’s your major?” I ask. “Wait, let me guess.”
He sips on his water and leans an elbow on the bar. He’s confident and smart, personable. I wrack my brain for possibilities.
“Pre-law?”
He shakes his head and grins, that dimple twinkling.
Before I come up with another guess, his buddies step up next to us.
Leo stands. “Are you guys heading out?”
“Yeah,” the taller of the two guys steps forward, and they do the bro hand slap hug thing. “We have international finance in the morning, and without you to cheat off, we have to actually pay attention.”
The other guy offers a fist bump. “Thanks for coming out. Good luck next week.”
“Thanks.” Leo flicks his gaze at me uncomfortably, and I stare down at my glass to give him the illusion of privacy.
They say their goodbyes, and Leo drops back to his seat. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” I finish my drink. “So, a finance major?”
“Business with a finance emphasis.”
“I’m impressed. Math and numbers always intimidated me.”
“It’s simple, really. It’s all rules and order.”
I swear I get a little involuntary body shiver the way he says rules and order. This guy looks the opposite of both those things, and somehow the combination makes him sexier. Or maybe I just needed a reminder that hot, smart guys still exist in the world. Jade’s right. Forget Rhyse. There are good guys out there, and I think Leo might be one of them.
When my best friend is done, the three of us head out. Leo insists on walking us the two blocks to the other bar. Jade rushes in to see her boyfriend Sam, and I hang back to say goodbye to Leo.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to come in for a little while?”
“Another time.”
We exchange numbers, and I have that giddy feeling of hope and excitement that he might call. Neither of us is drunk, so I don’t think I’m imagining the chemistry between us. He takes my hand and smooths his thumb over the top of my knuckles. The light touch sends a shiver up my arm.
“Night, Scarlett.” He keeps holding my hand until his backward steps pull our fingertips apart. Then he jolts forward and recaptures my hand. “Fuck it. I’ll nap tomorrow afternoon.”
3
THAT POST-VACATION GLOW
SCARLETT
Two hours pass like a video montage. Jade and I sing our hearts out to 90s and early 2000s songs. I even do a little Backstreet Boys for Leo. We talk, we laugh, we get handsy, and now, now I’m back at his place. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Thank Jade and her insistence that I need hot Leo to fuck some confidence back in me.
Though, I’d be lying if I said I was here only because my best friend wants me to move on. I want to, too. No, I need to. I’m tired of driving the hot mess express.
And Hot Leo… yeah, he’s the kind of guy you rebound with. He’s like vacation sex personified, and I’m hoping to leave here tonight with a fabulous post-vacation glow and renewed belief in men and relationships.
“You live here?” I ask as he opens the passenger side door for me. The house is in a big, gated residential neighborhood.
He nods and takes my hand to help me out of the sporty car. I know cars, thanks to Rhyse, and this is a nice one.
“I was expecting a cramped apartment you share with like ten other guys or maybe a grungy dorm room.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” he says with a grin. “Though my buddy Ash lives across the street.”
“You drive to campus every day from here?” We’re at least twenty-five minutes away. And yeah, this neighborhood is amazing, but getting to campus for classes every morning is a pain. I know because I’m supposed to be doing it. My parents only live about five minutes away, and as far as they know, I am making the drive to campus every day instead of sleeping in and then going to Jade’s or downtown to practice my photography.
“Uhh…” For the first time tonight, he lifts the hat from his head and runs his fingers through the light brown strands. It’s thick and a little unruly. He rests the tattered hat back on top of his head. “About that.”
Oh no. I stop walking and check my pocket to make sure I have my phone for the Uber ride I’m five seconds away from calling.
“I do go to Whittaker, but I am not a full-time student. I’m mostly online.”
“You don’t have an eight o’clock class tomorrow?” I ask dumbly.
“No, but I do need to be up in…” He tilts his wrist to check the time on his watch. “Three hours for work.”
“Is your name really Leo?”
“Yeah.” He steps to me and places each of his big hands on my hips. “Wanna see my driver’s license?” He twists his face up into a horrified expression. “Scratch that. I have the worst photo of all time.”
“Well, now I absolutely have to see it.” I rest my hands on his chest. “I don’t care if you aren’t a full-time student. Or that you live with your parents.” I look behind us to the beautiful house. His parents have money, that’s for sure. The car, the house—it’s all way too nice for someone his age. His interest in finance makes sense now, too.