King of Campus

I also had to figure out what to do with all my crap. Which is, as we speak, being packed up in the small U-Haul truck my dad rented. I’m going to spend a few days with him and Leah before he drives me to Cincinnati on Saturday.

So, even though I would have loved to wallow, there just wasn’t any time for that.

The fact that Roan considered me nothing more than a distraction that would get in the way of him achieving his goals still hurts like hell. I just keep telling myself that we weren’t meant to be. Bad timing and all that other BS. We’re both busy trying to make our dreams come true. Honestly, I want nothing but the best for Roan. I’d like to think he wishes the same for me.

“Hey, babe, did you tell Ivy that you already found another roommate?”

Dylan comes up behind her. There’s a smirk on his face which instantly has me narrowing my eyes at him before they swing back to Lexie.

“You did?” Wow, that was quick! She never even mentioned it. A scalding blush heats her cheeks as one of my brows slowly slides upwards. Well, well, well… isn’t this interesting. When she says nothing, I can’t help but demand, “Come on, Lexie, tell me!”

“Go on and tell her, babe.” Dylan is all smiles behind her. He’s practically beaming.

Still looking sheepish, she rolls her eyes. “Dylan and I are going to give living together a test run.”

My mouth falls open. “Oh my god!” I pull her to me, hugging her tight. “That great!” When she says nothing, I push her away from me. Still holding her at arm’s length, my eyes search hers carefully. “This is a good thing, right?”

Her eyes slide to Dylan before her lips pull up into a smile. “Yeah, it’s a good thing.”

As soon as I let go of Lexie, Dylan wraps his big arms around her before giving me a little wink.

Unable to help myself, I laugh, “Well, isn’t that convenient.”

A huge grin spills across his handsome face. “Totally convenient.” It makes me feel so much better knowing that Dylan is moving in here with Lexie. They’re so perfect for each other. Even though they spent some time apart, it seems to have been good for both of them. I may not be at Barnett to see firsthand what’s going on between them, but I know Lexie will give me the lowdown every time we talk.

My phone buzzes letting me know that my dad is done rearranging the truck downstairs. He told me he’d get everything packed inside of it while I came upstairs and made one final sweep of the apartment and said my goodbyes to both Lexie and Dylan.

“I guess my dad is ready to take off-” my words trail off when I see the big fat tears that are, at this very moment, rolling down Lexie’s cheeks.

“Oh, Lex-” I really hate that I’m leaving school and not finishing out the year with her.

Breaking free of Dylan’s arms, she hurtles herself straight into mine. “I’m going to miss you, Ivy-Girl,” she whispers fiercely.

My heart squeezes as I try reining back my own tears. “I’m going to miss you, too. And just like you said before- you’re going to come out and visit me over Christmas break. We’ll have a blast. Just like we always do.”

She nods. “I know. But this has been fun, too. I’m going to miss seeing your face every day.”

“I’m really going to miss being here,” I agree sadly. “But we can talk and text all the time.”

With a big sniffle, she draws away from me so Dylan can enfold her once again in his arms. His chocolate colored eyes meet mine over her head. He gives me another little wink and I know he’ll take good care of her in my absence.

My phone buzzes again. “Okay, I better get going.”

Heading for the door, I wipe the moisture from my eyes before sucking in a shaky breath. I never imagined it would hurt so much to say goodbye to her… again. When I left for Paris, I knew I’d be coming back to Barnett to finish out my junior and senior years. That’s not the case anymore. My time here is done and I’m moving on with my life.

Just as I’m closing the door to the apartment, I come face to face with Roan. With our eyes locked on one another, we both stop in our tracks. We must look like deer caught in the blinding headlights of an oncoming car. I suppose it would be comical if it didn’t hurt so damn much to see him.

“Oh…” I’m not even sure what to say to him anymore. We haven’t spoken since he dumped me a week and a half ago. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to make my brain work. “Hi.” Worse- I can’t stop eating him up with my eyes.

The corners of his lips slide upwards just a bit. “Hi, Ivy.” His voice sounds oddly subdued. No flirty tone is sight at all. Which is probably for the best. Not making a move to leave, he shoves his hands into the pockets of his cargo pants as an uncomfortable silence settles over us.