If I Can't Have You

“You should talk, bro.” Elliot’s tone is icy and Drake scowls at him in return.

For a second the two of them have a stare down that’s so intense I’m not even sure if they notice that I’m still standing across from them. Drake backs down first, his matching gray-blue eyes breaking away from Elliot’s. He sighs and runs his hand through his hair again. “So the same college, huh, kid? You’ve got to be shitting me? How coincidental is that?”

I’ve always hated that expression. I frown. “No. I am not shitting you.” For some reason I always get unwanted visions of a large man sitting on his ivory throne. I shudder, trust me it’s not pleasant.

I point to Whitney who is still fast asleep on her towel. “My best friend Whitney and I are rooming together.”

“What dorm are you in?” Elliot asks.

I open my mouth to answer, but one of the players on the volleyball court shouts and interrupts me. “Elliot! Drake! What the hell are you guys doing? You’re holding up the whole game!”

Elliot glances over his shoulder and holds up a finger. “Guess we’d better get back.” He bounces the ball from hand to hand and walks backward toward the volleyball court. “It was nice seeing you, Robin,” he says, wearing a radiant smile. “Hopefully I’ll see you again and I promise I’ll keep any objects that I so happen to be near at the time away from your head.”

I nod and laugh. “Thanks. See you around.”

Elliot jets off toward the playing field and Drake stays behind for a second. “So.”

There’s an awkward moment of silence. I let out a nervous laugh, unsure of what to say. “So.”

Drake dips his chin and smiles, looking up at me. “My frat is throwing a party tonight. You should come.”

“I think I saw a flyer for that.”

Drake starts backing away. “It would be nice to see you there, kid.”

“Maybe you will.”

No. There’s no maybe about it. He definitely will.

~7~

When you touched me your fingers danced across my skin and at the same time, spoke to my soul.

“You hoochie!” Whit squeals as she scampers across the room with one towel wrapped around her head and another one wrapped around her body. “I can’t believe you didn’t introduce me to him!”

“You were still sleeping,” I say, trying to reason with her. “I didn’t want to wake you up.”

She stands in front of the dresser, her eyes shooting daggers at me through the mirror. “For something like that, Robs, from now on, I give you full permission to wake me up.”

“I don’t see why you’re so peeved about it. You’re gonna meet him tonight anyway.”

“Yeah, but didn’t you say he has a brother?”

“Yeah. So?”

“So,” Whit scoffs. “I could have been getting my flirt on with him already in preparation for the party!”

I look away from her and groan, “I’m so sorry I put a damper in your plans for the evening.”

Sometimes Whit’s ‘I have to be privy to everything attitude’ gets on my nerves. I love her to death, but there are times where I don’t want to tell her everything. And there are moments in my life where I don’t always feel like including her. Mostly because she’s such an attention whore. I claim the title of sidekick enough. I happen to like being in the spotlight for once.

Whit frowns and pivots, walking toward me. She crouches down in front of me, taking my hands in hers. “Look, I’m sorry I got a little carried away. It’s just I’ve been hearing about Drake and seeing his pictures for years. I’m just a little disappointed that I didn’t get to meet the number one obsession in my best friend’s life.”

A demure smile spans across my lips. “I’m sure you can meet him and talk him up all you want, tonight at the party.”

Whit straightens up. “And hopefully this time, you’ll introduce me to his brother.”

“Definitely.”