“No, but I only have one basket.” He scooped a second pile of dirty clothes into the white plastic tub. “I’ll sort it out when I get down there.”
Taking the little leather pouch that contained their laundry quarters, he led the way. His fraternity brothers typically went to dinner as a group, which left the house unusually quiet.
“Tell me again why I’m waiting for dinner just to watch you wash Marcus’s dirty clothes?”
“Because a) you made us late and we missed going with our friends so we’ve only got each other to eat with, and b) this will only take a minute.” Turning to face her, he used his ass to push open the door. “Unlike back home, we don’t have to trek over to the creek and beat them over a large stone. Here we use an au-to-matic washing machine.”
She snickered and held the door for him. “Oddly, I can see barefoot hillbilly Jackson and Marcus washing their clothes in the crick. Kinda like you’d be Huckleberry Finn and Marcus would be Tom Sawyer.”
Sorting the clothes into the two machines, he laughed at the image. “That sounds about right.”
Jack had just slid the last set of quarters home when the door swung open, hitting Brittany in the head.
“Hey, watch it!” she said.
Seth stopped in his tracks. “Oh, sorry—” The door swung back. “Ow!”
Jack pulled the door open. Seth’s bag had fallen and the contents spilled across the floor. Seth rubbed his knuckles.
Trying hard not to laugh, Jack bent down to help his friend. “You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. Just surprised to see anyone here.” Putting his stuff back in his bag, Seth looked disappointed. “I left dinner early, hoping to get here before everyone else.”
“Sorry,” Jack said. He wasn’t really. Catching the machines took planning and a bit of luck. “But if you want, I’ll leave my quarters and you can toss my stuff in the dryer. You’ll be next for sure.”
Seth’s green gaze lit up as he glanced from Jack to Brittany. Hurriedly, he drew the drawstrings on his bag and stood. “Really?”
Jack handed him six coins, a couple more than necessary, just in case. “It’s not like I’ve got anything secret in there.”
He stared at the money for a moment. “Um… can you watch my stuff for a minute?”
“Sure.” Jack took Seth’s laundry bag and put it on the washer.
“I’m going to go get my books. I can study until your stuff is done.”
Seth didn’t wait for Jack to comment. With another hurried look toward Brittany, he blushed and twisted on his heel.
“He’s cute.” Brittany craned around him. “A bit skinny, but he looks like he has a nice butt.”
“Leave him alone, Brit.”
“What?” The innocent look she gave him didn’t work.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
She opened her mouth to answer, but shut it again. They gave each other the evil eye until Seth returned, rounding the corner, backpack over his left shoulder. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Anytime.” Jack stepped to his right to block Brittany’s view. Of course it didn’t stop her from trying to peek over his shoulder. “I should be back before the dryer is done.”
“No worries,” said Seth with a shy, dimpled smile. “I’ll be here.”
Jack propelled Brittany out of the room. “He’s so….”
“Innocent?” Jack raised an eyebrow to stress his answer.
“I was going to go with boyishly sweet.”
“Don’t you remember what happened the last time you dated someone from the house?” He started to turn, but jumped back when he saw the slap coming. “Besides, he’s not ready for you. You’ll chew him up and spit him out.”
“More like I’d rock his world.”
They stepped into the waning daylight, and he wished he’d remembered a sweatshirt. “Seth’s a nice guy, a bit goofy, but also naïve. Find someone else.”
“You think he’s still… you know—” She looked back toward the door. “—a virgin.”
“Brittany, stop.” He waited until she faced him. “Seriously. I thought you were through dating anyone from the fraternity?”
“No, you decided that.”
“Maybe because you blamed me for letting you date Harper.” Jack shook his head. “I don’t need you mad at me again because someone else is an asshole.”
“You just said he was a nice guy.”
“He is….”
“Then what’s down your shorts that has you so itchy?”
Jack closed his eyes to regain his composure. “I used to think Harper was a nice guy, too, until… until…. And we both know how accurate my assessment was of Kieran.”
“Not every guy is a jerk.” She stared at him and shook her head. “You can’t paint everyone with the same brush.”
“Wasn’t it Cher who said, ‘Don’t shit where you eat’?”
“No, Jack. It wasn’t.” Brittany held out her hand. “I’m going to need your gay card.”
“What?”
“Cher was in the movie, but she didn’t say that. The mother did.”
“Whatever.” He wasn’t sure what pissed him off more—the fact he tried to live down to the gay stereotype or that Brittany called him on his mistake. “The point’s the same.”