The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“Why are you all on my jock? I’m not trying to start trouble. I’m just stating facts,” Caleb says with a shrug. “I heard the girls talking a few nights ago. Ellie

went to the movies with that guy.”

What the fuck? The movie date finally went down? Though I guess this is what I get. I’m too busy and don’t make time for her, like maybe I should. He persists because he’s not stupid or hesitant, and she goes on a date with him.

I’m instantly pissed.

And insanely jealous.

By the time we make it to the counter to place our orders, we’re all not talking, too busy glowering at each other. Caleb claims he didn’t mean to start shit, but come on. He totally did. He wanted the heat off him, and now I’m the one who’s pissed off.

“Don’t you guys look menacing,” Ellie greets us, her smile fading as she takes us all in. “Okay. Who wants to order first?”

“I will.” Caleb flashes her that charming, ‘I don’t give a shit’ smile and tells her what he wants. Tony is next. Then Eli. And finally.

Me.

“Hi,” she greets me with one of those breathless smiles of hers. The ones that usually make me want to discover other ways I can leave her breathless. “I’m so glad you came in tonight. I’ve been thinking about you.”

“Really? Did you think about me when you went to the movies with Carson?”

The words fall from my lips without thought. They’re just out there, bouncing between us, and her mouth drops open as she scrutinizes me.

I snap my lips into a straight line, hating that I said that. Hating that I look like a territorial dick. Hating worse that I’d love nothing more than to piss a circle around where she stands so I can tell that Carson kid to back the fuck off, once and for all.

Disgusting but true.

“Um, are you okay?” Her smile is fake. Frozen in place. Like she doesn’t know what to say.

“I’m fucking great.” My smile is just as fake as I make my order.

She gives me my total. “Maybe we could talk later? After I get off work? I close tonight. As usual.”

“You don’t have plans?” I ask pointedly as I hand over my credit card.

Ellie sends me a questioning look. “No. Do you? Look, I know we’ve been super busy lately, but—”

I rudely interrupt her. “I’m available.”

That’s all I say. I can barely look at her. I can barely see straight, I’m so jealous. Which is stupid. We’re not together. Ellie is always just…there, and I took advantage of that. Expecting her to wait for me. Knowing deep down, I could never be what she needed.

Maybe that’s not true, though. Maybe I do want her. I sure as hell don’t want her with anyone else. That’s some straight-up bullshit. I can barely handle the thought of her being with another guy, like that wimpy Carson. He seems nice enough, but fuck that. He doesn’t know her like I do. He doesn’t understand her like I do either.

“I’ll text you when I’m off work.” She hands me the credit card slip and a pen and I scrawl my signature across the piece of paper, thrusting it toward her.

“You do that,” I bite out, storming away from the counter before she can even hand me my receipt. I head for our table, glancing over at the bar, where Chuck stands. He waves at me and I do the same, the need for alcohol suddenly consuming me. I wish I was twenty-one. I wish I could order a beer. A couple of shots. What the fuck ever I can get my hands on.

“We got alcohol at the house?” I ask Eli when I join them at the table.

Eli shrugs. “Maybe a couple of beers?”

“I do,” Caleb says. “The girls left behind some cheap ass tequila from that party they had at our house.”

Tony sends him a look, but otherwise remains quiet.

“I’m coming straight over then after we’re done here,” I tell them, sipping from my boring ass soda cup.

“I take it your conversation with Ellie didn’t go over so well,” Eli says.