“Define home.”
My meaning sinks in, and her eyes enlarge to twice their size. “No, Scarlett. Please tell me you didn’t.”
“It’s not what you think.”
Her face hardens. “Then what is it?”
I sigh, uncertain what it is myself. “I’m not sleeping with him, if that’s what you think.”
Relief washes away her fear, but wariness remains. “Then why is he here?”
“I found him beating up a Dumpster, and he was so drunk he could hardly stand. His hands were a mess, and I don’t know…I felt sorry for him.”
Her mouth drops, and then her eyes narrow. “You felt sorry for Tucker Price?”
“There’s something more to him, Caroline. Something no one else sees.”
“How drunk are you?”
I sigh. “I’m not drunk and it’s not just tonight. I’ve seen it before when I tutor him. He seems so sad. And lonely.”
She rolls her eyes. “Is that what he’s doing to try to get you to sleep with him? Playing Mr. Sensitive?”
“I seriously doubt he has to play anything to get girls to sleep with him, Caroline. So why would he waste the effort?”
I head into the kitchen and clean up the mess I left.
Caroline follows me in. “Why is there blood on those washrags?”
Turning my back to her, I wash out the rags in the sink again. “I told you that he beat up a Dumpster.”
“And you cleaned him up?”
“Yeah.” Why does it sound so wrong the way she asks it?
“If you need something to take care of, we can get a cat.”
I turn to face her and burst into laughter. “A cat?”
She shrugs. “I hate cats, but I’d rather see you get attached to a cat than Tucker Price.” She looks over her shoulder. “Where is he anyway? Is he gone?”
I take a deep breath and turn back to the sink. “He’s passed out on my bed.”
“What?” She stomps down the hall to my room and throws open the door.
I run after her and put my hand across the doorway. “Caroline! What are you doing?”
She watches him with a scowl. “Well, look at that. Tucker drools.”
I swivel my gaze and sure enough, he’s drooling on my pillow.
She leans her shoulder into the door jamb. “I have to admit he’s kind of cute, passed out in your bed.”
“Sure, if you like the drunk look.”
Her face softens, and she turns to face me. “You don’t, do you, Scarlett?” Her question comes out as a plea.
The corners of my mouth lift into a hint of a smile. “No. You know me better than that.” I close the door, and we go back into the kitchen.
“Tell me about the guy I saw you dancing with.” Caroline grabs a Chinese container from earlier tonight out of the fridge and eats her leftover lo mein cold.
I put mine in the microwave and watch the glass base spin around and around. “His name is Daniel, and he’s a business major at Southern.”
Caroline squeals and claps her hands together. “A business major? Two boring people! It’s a match made in heaven.”
I tilt my head back as I look over my shoulder. “He is not boring. He’s sweet. I like him.”
“And?”
“And what?” The microwave dings and I take my food to the table. I know what she wants to know, but I’m going to make her dig for it.
“You’re so mean!”
I laugh and take a bite of my cashew chicken. “He wants to see me again. I didn’t have my phone to put his number into, but he said he’ll find me.”
Her smile falls. “Oh.”
I remember his face and his smile. “He’ll find me.”
She tips her head to the side, her fork in the air. “Well, listen to you. A man in your bed and a man waiting in the wings. I always knew you were an overachiever.”
I purse my lips together. “It’s not like that.” I look into her eyes. “Sometimes you just know when you connect with someone, you know?”
She grins and nods. “I do. And I’m happy for you.”
Sighing, I look down at my food. So why am I thinking about the man in my bed and not the man who kissed me?
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Chapter Nine
I text Caroline while I’m walking across campus to the tutoring center, asking if I can borrow her running shoes. We wear the same size, and she bought a brand new pair after Justin broke up with her last fall. Her plan was to run away from her problems by taking up jogging. It lasted two sessions.
She quickly responds: Yes, why?
I thought I might try running.
No response. She’s probably trying to figure out why I’ve suddenly decided to do something physical. She knows about Daniel and our coffee dates. Maybe she thinks I want to get in shape for him.
The next few hours fly by, but my stomach has begun to tighten like a noose. Why have did I agreed to this? Sure, I’ve hung out with Tucker at Panera, but that was for studying.
If the Tucker I knew before our tutoring sessions had suggested we run together, I would have been sure it was a practical joke. But oddly enough, I know this Tucker. We’ve only been together a handful of times, yet I know he wouldn’t hurt me. He said he shows a different side of himself to me because he trusts me. I guess I trust him, too. The revelation is shocking. Other than Caroline, I can’t remember the last time I’ve trusted anyone.