The Freshman (College Years 1)

“Same.” I nod, thinking of our past discussions.

“I thought people like us were suckers.” She strokes my shoulder. My chest.

“We are.” I kiss her, my mouth lingering on hers. “Suckers for each other.”

Truer words were never spoken.

Twenty-Four

Hayden

It’s the day after the night Tony and I agreed we’re officially a couple and I’m walking on campus, enjoying the warm sun combined with the cold wind, grateful for the thick hoodie I’m wearing that wards off the chill. I feel like I’m in la la land. I don’t know how else to describe it, but it’s as if I’m in a Disney movie and there are birds chirping and squirrels running across the campus lawn, their gazes, their chatter only for me. Everyone I pass, I smile at them as if I’m Snow White or Cinderella, the prettiest girl about to go meet up with her Prince Charming.

I always related most to Cinderella when I was little. Not because of the wicked stepmother and stepsisters or the fact that they treated Cinderella so poorly. More because she was blonde—like me—and I had a thing for that gorgeous blue gown she wore to the ball.

In my eyes, that chick had it all. She got hers in the end—thanks to no one else but herself.

I murmur a hello to a professor I had last year as we walk past each other, my mouth stretched in a too familiar grin. The professor nods, walking faster and I stifle a giggle. She probably thinks I’m crazed. I feel a little crazed.

Is this what being in love is like? I’ve never experienced it before. Not really. There are crushes and falling hard for that cute boy who asked you to prom your junior year—actual experience. There’s the first high school boyfriend who took your virginity and swore his undying love afterward, and you agreed. Then you broke up a month later and moved on to another guy within a couple of months.

Is that love? I’m not saying those feelings aren’t real or intense, and they’re based in love, but is it true, deep, I cannot live without this person love?

Not what I experienced, no.

With Tony, I can see myself living without him. But it doesn’t look very fun. More like it looks pretty lonely and hollow, and I’d be a moping mess if he broke up with me right now. I’m not sure what we have is love, but it’s close. We’re getting close.

If we keep going down this path, we’re definitely going to be saying I love you to each other by next year. And next year isn’t that far away.

I head toward the building where my next class is when I feel my phone ring in the back pocket of my jeans. I whip my phone out, not paying attention to whose name is flashing on the screen because I assume it’s either Tony or Gracie. They’re the only two people who call me on a regular basis.

“You’re seeing Sorrento’s son when I told you to stay away from that asshole?”

I come to an abrupt stop, absorbing the words just said to me. “Hello to you too, Father.”

“Don’t be coy with me, Hayden. Lauri told me what’s going on. That you’re with that boy when I specifically told you to avoid him,” he growls. “What the fuck are you thinking?”

“What the fuck are you thinking, calling me out of the blue and chewing me out like this?” I retort as I resume walking. A little brisker this time, anger fueling my steps.

“Don’t you talk to me like that, young lady,” he says, and I can’t help it.

I laugh.

“Don’t pretend you care about what I’m doing unless it can somehow affect you and your bank account,” I tell him, and he goes quiet.

Scary quiet.

“You don’t think I care about what you’re doing?”

“You never call me unless it’s something like this,” I say, my voice softening. I need to remember I’m dealing with a ticking time bomb when he’s mad like this. I don’t want him to explode. It takes a lot to make my father angry, and while I know I crossed a line by saying what I just did, I couldn’t help it.

I’m a grown woman who can do and see whoever she wants.

And funny how this call comes the day after Tony talked to Helena. Looks like the friends are comparing notes and stirring up trouble.

“Sorrento and I are business rivals,” my father explains. “Can you imagine what will happen when companies we’re trying to do business with find out that our children are dating?”

“Think of it as more of an opportunity. Hey, I know what you two should do—you should merge your companies. Instead of being two fighting rivals, come together and become a complete powerhouse,” I suggest.