Sure, we’ll still see them, and they’ll be around periodically, but…
For the most part…
Everyone is leaving.
Everyone except Quinn and me.
“Oh, I don’t know…” Again Quinn steps into my personal space, this time to reach up to smooth hair away from my face. “I think we can find ways to entertain ourselves.”
Why does she always have to touch me?
Why do I have to like it so much?
More importantly, why do I want to ask her to never stop?
It’s dumb. Pure stupidity. My IQ and grade point average tell me I’m smarter than that.
Yet…I want to.
Then I remember, again, the lack of responses—as in none—from Greet Geek. If I’m being rejected by my own kind, it’s impossible to even consider trying to date someone like Quinn.
It’s one thing to be rejected by countless faceless women. But rejection from Quinn? I doubt I would survive.
So…
No.
Nope. I’ll rein in my crazy and keep my feelings to myself. Sorry, Kay. I know you found your happy and only want the same for me, but some risks just aren’t worth taking.
#CHAPTER5
* * *
UofJ411: *REPOSTED—CasaNova87: Talk all the shit you want about me being wifed up, but how can I not love the crap out of this chick? #ShesAllMine #LuckyToCallHerMine—picture of Mason mooning over Kay*
Gah! The way our @CasaNova87 looks at her is everything *heart eyes emoji* #Kaysonova #CasanovaWatch #CoupleGoals
@therandybookworm: I swear this man just gets hotter and hotter #CasanovaWatch
@the_librariansdaughter: *fire emoji* *drool emoji*
@Maggs328: She’s got that love lockdown #WeddingBellsAnyone
* * *
UofJ411: *REPOSTED—TheBarracksAtNJA: When our legends like @CheerGodJT bring their friends to work, things get interesting—reel of Kay, Em, and Quinn working on stunts at The Barracks*
Anyone else hoping these two can convince @CasaNova87 queen to join the Red Squad? #CasanovaWatch #Kaysonova #WeWantThatNationalTitle
@mimi_reads: Is she coming out of retirement? #AskingForAFriend
@ramblings_of_a_bookbrat: Damn, that’s impressive. #LookAtThoseStunts
@katslovesbooks: I mean…don’t you wanna cheer on your man? #FootballPlayersAndCheerleaders #Kaysonova
* * *
UofJ411: *picture of everyone sitting around a table at Jonas*
Rumor has it, this is the last meal these new roomies will be sharing before most of them go their separate ways for the summer #TellUsYourPlans #ComeBackSoon
@the_romance_reader_gal: Aww, look at how cute @CasaNova87 and his BAE are. #CoupleGoals #Kaysonova #CasanovaWatch
@amandashaner17: I heard @QB1McQueen7 got teary-eyed in his goodbye speech to @LacesOutMitchell5 #WeWillMissYouGoldenToe #TeammatesForever
* * *
UofJ411: *REPOSTED—CasaNova87: Aloha vacation! #FriendsAndFamily #MaiTaiMadness #MakingMemories—boomerang of a group of glasses toasting*
It may be summer break, but we’ll still have updates on all your campus faves #NoRestForTheWicked #WeSeeYou #CasanovaWatch
* * *
UofJ411: *REPOSTED—LacesOutMitchell: Stopping for sustenance on the way down to DC with my boys #CityOfBrotherlyLove #WelcomeToPhilly #TheBromanceNeverDies—picture of Noah, Alex, and Kevin mid-bite*
Anyone else in the mood for a cheesesteak? #nomnomnom
@mamakate1873: Who’s up for a road trip? #FootballPlayerFinder
@simplygraceplanning: I make a mean playlist. #RadioDJ
@prykegirl119: I grab the snacks #LoadedUpWithGoodies
#CHAPTER6
* * *
“Mija!” My abuelita’s signature fuchsia-painted lips spread into a megawatt smile the second my face comes into focus on the screen. I love how not even technology can take away the impact of the happiness and love radiating off her. “Como estás?”
The familiar husky lyrical lilt of Abuela Lupe’s voice infuses my system, washing away the stress I’ve been carrying these last few days.
This is what I needed.
For close to a week, I’ve been on tenterhooks waiting to see what would come from my drunken meddling. Of course, it doesn’t help that I have absolutely no idea what exactly that meddling was.
Freaking universe. Couldn’t throw a girl a bone? Seriously, Jesus, I thought I was your homegirl.
Dammit, Kay. Why couldn’t you wield your skill for picking the perfect punny shirt for a person to guess their passwords? What good does a T-shirt that professes being besties with the son of God do when it doesn’t yield results in our time of need?
I’m usually not one to complain when a person willingly chooses to add to my wardrobe, but fashion is not the area I needed help in. Nope. It was the passcode for CK’s phone I needed.
Shit. Maybe we should have had a Star Wars binge for our last few movie nights because my pint-sized friend could have taken a few notes from Mr. Luke Skywalker if we did. Didn’t she know I needed her to be my only hope? And you know what happened? Chica failed.
Yup…I totally don’t feel guilty about waking Kay up the other morning. If I have to suffer, she has to suffer. Misery loves company and all that.
Except…
Now I’m all alone, my friends have scattered around the country, and I still don’t know if Emma was correct or not. Did I or did I not declare my undying love for CK all over a dating app?
I don’t think pimping out your crush to your fellow co-eds is what Kay meant when she said you would have to be the one to make a move if you wanted CK.
Ugh! That particular thought is not the least bit helpful.
Whatever. What’s done is done. Daddy likes to say if you lie with dogs, you get up with fleas. Welp, in my case, it’s if I drink the tequila, I’ll wake up with competition I inadvertently invited in to play for CK’s heart.
Rapid-fire Spanish flows between Abuelita and me as we fill each other in on all the things that have transpired in the days since we last spoke.
Unlike when I talk to Mamá, there are no pointed digs or leading questions about if I’m making the most of my time being around all the elite athletes at my school. Questions like those are why I don’t feel comfortable using the fancy video chat system installed on the large flat-screen TV in the living room and opt to use my iPad and AirPods. The quickest way to find myself homeless would be for Mason and Kay to think I’m using them to social climb.
When Mason first broached the subject of us all moving in together, I didn’t hesitate to accept his plan for our new living arrangements. Having our own place off campus instead of the dorms allows me to hang around Jersey for the summer and avoid some of those less-than-pleasant parental conversations.
Abuelita is getting up there in age. She doesn’t need the added stress or increased blood pressure a dust-up with her daughter would incur.
Ay. I can still hear the faint echoes of their last fight.
“Quinn es mi nieta,” Abuela Lupe shouted as she thrust an arm out in my direction.
“Sí, Mamá, y ella es mi hija,” Mom retorted as she squared off against her mother.