“She’s cute.” I nodded my head in the direction of a cute Indian girl across the room.
“That’s Anushka. She’s beautiful, but it’ll never happen.”
“Why not?” I frowned, looking over at Jagger.
He was the oldest of the Cruz brothers and I used to think he was the cutest until Mitchell bloomed. Also until I started spending every waking moment with him this summer. And kissed him. And did more than kiss him.
“Her parents have an arranged marriage set up for her.”
“No way.” My eyes widened. “People still do that?”
“Her parents did.” He shrugged. “He’s a cool dude, too. He picks her up from school on Fridays in his Porsche. He’s probably somewhere . . . ” Jag stopped talking and looked around, finally stopping and pointing. “There.”
I looked at the guy in question and blinked. “He’s stupid handsome.”
“So I hear.” Jag chuckled.
“Damn, but really. I guess I wouldn’t be opposed if my parents set me up with him.”
“Thankfully Anu agrees.”
“Wouldn’t that be so weird?” I looked at him.
“Wouldn’t what be weird?” Mitch asked, stopping in front of us, green eyes on me. My heart flipped.
“If our parents set us up in arranged marriages.”
“You mean you and Jag?” Mitch frowned.
“I mean in general, but yeah, that would be a possibility.” I shrugged.
“Hey, I’d be one helluva catch.” Jag grinned.
“I’d probably have to kill you though,” Mitch said. “And that would suck since I love you so much.”
My pulse quickened. I felt myself redden. We hadn’t told anyone about us. Not a soul. This felt like he was coming out with it and admitting it though, and I couldn’t deny that it felt right. Jagger looked between the two of us and shook his head.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?” I laughed.
“I knew you two were up to something.”
“What? How’d you know?” I asked, genuinely curious. We’d been so careful.
“Mitch won’t let me go jogging with you in the morning. He doesn’t invite me to the movies or bowling when you go.”
“That’s mean.” I slapped Mitch on the arm and he caught my hand, pulling me into his chest.
“I can’t help it if I want you all to myself.”
“Okay. That’s my cue. I’m going to be right over there,” Jag said, walking away.
“I thought we weren’t going to tell anyone.” I looked up at him, head swimming with love and lust.
“Jag won’t tell anyone.”
“Your entire school is here. It’s going to be difficult for you to get a girlfriend once I leave.”
“So?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve never been the boyfriend type anyway.”
“Please.” I sucked my teeth. “You’ve had girlfriends.”
“Nope. You’re my first one.” He leaned down and kissed me with a reverence that quieted my jealousy, hesitation, and any questions I thought I had.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Present
“Thank you so, so much for the ride, Ki. I owe you one.”
“It’s no problem. I’m staying at my dad’s tonight and he lives out here anyway.”
“Really?” I glance over. “Where?”
“Right by the school.”
“Don’t tell me your dad works at UNC and you go to Duke.” I laugh.
“Ummm . . . yeah.” He laughs along. “In my defense, my mom went to Duke.”
“Well, both my parents are UNC graduates.” I grin.
“No fucking way.”
“Yep.”
“Damn.” He laughs louder. “That’s pretty savage. Do they still invite you over for Christmas?”
“They wish they didn’t have to, but yeah.”
“What in the world made you go to Duke? Defiance?”
“Something like that. My sister went to UNC. She’s the good girl, the one who does everything right. I went to NYU when I first graduated, chasing . . . a stupid dream. My parents were so against it that I figured they wouldn’t care where I went as long as I came back home.”
“Do they care?”
“Yeah.” I laugh, and he follows.
“My dad has tenure. History, but he specializes in African Studies. Every time we get together for a family reunion he gets made fun of by everyone. Most of my family pulls for UNC, they were around when MJ was there, you know? So they’re die-hard.”
“Ah, I get it. My mom’s a dean.”
“Damn, you really messed up.” He chuckles as he parks in front of the building. “This you?”
“Yep.” I point.
“What floor are you?”
“Ten.”
“How many floors are there?” he leans forward and looks out the front window.
“Fourteen? I think fourteen.”
“You think?” he laughs. “You don’t pay attention in the elevator?”
“I mean, I will today.” I unsnap my seat belt and pick up my purse from the floor before looking at him.
“We should hang out.”
“We should.”
“Maybe go on a date or something.”
“Yeah, that would be fun.”
“If this had been a date, I would kiss you right now.”
“Next time then.” I smile and open the door.
“Misty,” he calls out as I get out of the car and shut the door. He lowers the window. “Next time.”
“Thanks for the ride,” I say with a wave and walk inside.
I’m still a little tipsy from the seltzers. I take my phone out and text Soleil to let her know I’m home and ask her if she’s staying over at Archer’s. My phone buzzes while the elevator is still on the tenth floor.