"To invite you to Stefan's tomorrow. I'm staying with him for the summer. And every Monday, when the club is closed, he invites people over. I wanted to make sure you knew about it."
"What time?"
"People come and go throughout the day and night, so whenever. Bring a suit. Or sleeping bag. Whatever. It's pretty laid back."
"Umm, I'll try."
"Not sure I like that answer, but it's better than no."
The smile has yet to leave my face. My cheeks are going to start aching soon if I don't calm down. "If it were up to me, I'd definitely be there. But ... it's not."
"Oh." He looks confused. "Are you ... seeing someone? Parker?"
"No!" It comes out so loud a few heads turn at the table next to us. I cringe. Grant laughs.
"I guess you don't like him much."
"It's not that, it's just ... no. I'm not seeing anyone. That's not the reason. I'm new at Blackwood, so there are rules about leaving campus. Basically, I need a chaperone."
"That could make dating difficult."
"I don't date." The honesty spills from my mouth whenever he's around. And the most horrifying things spew out. It's like he amplifies my curse.
He hesitates. "You don't date. You're afraid to fall in love. You're killing me." He grins this beautiful, heart-stopping grin. "Are you opposed to guys as friends?"
"Yes," I say, wanting to smash my head on the table. I just friend-zoned myself because of my rapid-fire honesty. Oh, shit. I suddenly realize what I actually said and want to smash my head even harder. "I mean, I'm not opposed to being friends with guys."
"Have you ever?"
"No. But I don't like many pe
ople, so it doesn't mean anything. I only have a couple friends back home."
Grant continues to laugh at the unabated honesty, like it's adorable and not projectile humiliation. Meanwhile, I want to crawl under a rock. "Maybe I can be the first," Grant says, pushing off the table to stand. "Hopefully, I'll see you tomorrow."
I close my eyes as the gate closes behind me. What just happened? And why is my heart beating like crazy right now? Omigod, please make me stop already.
I stand and toss my untouched food in the trash. Kaely enters the gate as I'm about to walk out.
"Sorry, I have to change before the shuttle gets here. I'll see you later."
"Okay," she says with a smile. I think she's always smiling. Can a person genuinely be that nice? And happy? "Hope you can make it to Stefan's tomorrow." Before I can walk away, she leans in and says, "Oh, and I just saw Grant leave. He was smiling. I think he likes you." Her eyes shine like she's excited by the idea of it.
"Um ... he doesn't know me," I say, trying to shake off the remnants of him that still float around me, making my head buzzy and my heart crazy.
"Then make sure you're at Stefan's so we can change that." Her genuine smile is going to force me to smile in return. I walk away before it does.
I'm not a bubbly person. I'm not exactly bitchy and cold either, contradictory to what others might claim. I'm ... cautious. But I'm all for partying. So, now I just have to find Lance and hope he feels the same way.
When I exit the employee entrance after changing, I find Parker waiting for me by his Land Rover.
"Have dinner with me before I drive back to New York?" When I hesitate, he adds, "I already cleared it with Blackwood. And we still need to talk."
I consider what Brendan said earlier about giving information to get it, and maybe Parker can help me. If I locate the girl before the police do, I can explain and keep her from implicating me. I don't know how Parker can help me with Vic. I'm still not convinced he should know what happened in the stairwell. Because that would mean telling him everything about that night. I've learned the hard way that it only takes one person to talk before everyone else finds out. And I don't trust him.
He holds the passenger door open for me. "Thanks."
"Have you spoken to Nina or Tori since you've been here?" He asks when we pull out of the parking lot.