“You guys sound like trouble,” Mark softly chuckles.
“We really were.”
“Did you guys get caught?”
“Yeah. Our mom made us go over and clean up the mess. We had to use toothpicks to poke out the mud that slung into the window screen. It was a bitch of mess, but so worth it.” My smile fades when the sadness takes over. I hate that memories are all that I am left with. “I miss her,” I breathe out.
Mark doesn’t speak, he just holds me tighter in his arms. I lie quiet for a while until I finally say, “But when I’m with Candace . . . she just makes it easier.”
“I wish I could have met your sister.”
Mark doesn’t say anything else and neither do I as we lie there holding each other. Sharing this part of myself with him is hard. It’s hard when I share it with Candace too. But it’s also nice, being able to talk about her. I don’t do it often, but she’s a big part of me, so giving that to Mark makes me feel closer to him. And I want that—the closeness.
We spent the night wrapped up in each other’s arms, and it was the most intimate thing I have ever done with someone. I know I’m completely falling for this guy.
Looking at him now, sleeping next to me, I lean over to kiss his bare shoulder. When I do, he begins to stir and wake up. I tangle my legs with his and pull him in tight.
“Morning,” he grumbles with his eyes closed.
I laugh and ask, “Coffee?”
“Please.”
I can tell this guy is not a morning person, so I give him time to wake up. I slip out of bed and go into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. While it’s brewing I pick up my phone that’s lying on the counter and see I have a missed text from Candace.
Had fun last night. The three of us should hang out soon.
I start typing out a response when I hear, “God, who are you texting this early?”
I look up to see Mark as he strolls lazily into the kitchen and straight to me. “Just Candace,” I say as he wraps his arms around me. When he nips my jaw, I tell him, “Coffee’s ready.”
“Oh, good.” He grabs one of the mugs I’ve already gotten down and pours his cup, drinking it black. “I’ve got to head out soon. There are some errands I need to run before my eleven o’clock class.”
“Yeah, I have a ten o’clock Structures class.”
We go sit on the couch, and I drape my arm over him as he leans into me, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. I love that he feels relaxed with being here.
“So I was going to run by the Athletic Club to pay my deposit, if that’s cool with you.”
“Yeah, that’ll work. We should meet up Wednesday morning. It’s my long workout, so I’m there for a couple of hours and then run after.”
“Perfect. I don’t have any classes on Wednesdays, so I’m free.”
We spend the next half hour lying around and finishing off the pot of coffee before Mark heads out. I have a full load of classes today, so I quickly take a shower and get cleaned up before driving up to campus.
Walking into Candace’s bedroom, I hear the shower in the bathroom. Sitting at her desk, I decide to check my bank account to make sure the money from the bursar has been deposited. I’ve been able to get through college without help from my parents. I came here on an academic scholarship and have been able to qualify for several grants along the way.
“What are you doing?” I hear Candace ask from behind me.
Staring at the screen, I say, “Nothing really, just messing around. I just finished my last class and thought I’d come chill with you.”
I turn around and see her putting on her underwear and bra. “You going somewhere?”
“Yeah, there’s a party at Jack’s fraternity tonight, and he asked me to go.”
I can see that there isn’t an ounce of happiness behind her words. “You sound thrilled.”
“It’s just . . . I’m not into him aside from kissing. We have nothing in common, and I feel nothing towards him.”
I can’t help the smirk that crosses my face. This is just like Candace.
“This should not be a surprise to you, Jase,” she says with an eye roll.
“Nope, no surprise at all. Typical Candace, devoid of all things emotional. Well, except for me.” I flash her a big smile and then turn back to the computer as she turns on her hair dryer. I shut the lid to the laptop when I finish up and walk over and sit on the edge of her bed. I watch her as she gets ready and when she turns to me, she questions, “What?”
“Stay with me tonight. I can tell you don’t want to go out, so come to my place.”
“I can’t. He’ll be here any second. Plus, I need to talk to him.”
“About what?”
“I just need to let him know that I don’t have time for dating or anything.”
I laugh at her, and she smacks me on my arm. “I’m sorry, girl. You know I love you and all, but I don’t know why you even bothered with this one.”
She sits down next to me and resigns, “God, I have no idea either.”
“Call me when you get home.”
Chapter ten
The ringing of my phone wakes me up. I roll over, pluck it from my nightstand, and answer it, trying not to open my eyes in the process.
“God, Candace. What time is it?” I complain.
“Is this Jase Kenrick?” a woman, who’s clearly not Candace, asks. I hold the phone out for a second to see that it’s almost one in the morning.