moaning pitifully to the receiver, "Do you realize what a nightmare today will be? You know, until the technical portion of the program comes up, I could take online courses!” Except that I was already there, so I reluctantly climbed from the car anyway.
A warm chuckle rang in my ear. "It will not be so bad, Sofia. You only have two classes with the girl, and I doubt she will speak to you during that time. Ignore her, and I will see you for breakfast and lunch. All right?” When I heard a short purr issue through the phone, I questioned him about its cause. “I can see you from here,” he cooed. “It is such a shame I cannot taste those exquisite lips right now.”
I glanced across the expansive parking lot and could barely make out his vanilla-colored shirt as he climbed out of his shaded car. “It’s not fair that you’re being romantic with me all the way over here, when I can’t do anything about it.”
“Would you be horribly offended, mio tesoro, if I told you how delicious your backside looks in those jeans?” When I stood up straight from the bent position where I had been retrieving my book bag from the back seat of my car, his laugh deepened. “My, my, my… Perhaps I can convince Grace to create a garden full of roses that exact shade of pink. So lovely, bella mia. Do tell your friend Brianna I said hello.”
“Wait! What are you—”
“Sof!”
The line went dead just as I heard Brie call out my name, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him—he was still at his car, and from his posture, it was clear he was watching me.
“Y’know, if she looks over and sees you ogling me, it’ll give her more to talk about,” I muttered to him under my breath just as my friend came to a halt right next to me. I couldn’t see his expression, but it looked like his head was still angled in my direction as he walked to the entrance closest to him. “Thanks,” I coughed.
“Are you okay?”
I smiled at her a little too brightly. “Yep. Just didn’t sleep much last night, and I haven’t had my Starbucks yet. Sorry if I act a little grumpy.”
“So,” she drawled, “don’t think I didn’t notice you neglected telling me which friends you were with when Cole showed up, and my guess is you probably told Three you were with me.” I flinched at the mention of my dad’s nickname but accepted the arm Brie draped around my shoulders. “Tell me one juicy little thing, and I promise not to be mad at you for leaving me in the dark.”
“Simon,” I said quietly. “We were having a very romantic dinner, and just my luck, Cole showed up. And of course, I’m stupid enough to try to get in the middle of both and stop it. You can’t imagine how glad I am this weekend is over.”
“You might want to rethink that.”
I glanced in the direction her eyes were fixed on and groaned when I saw Madison Kinley in the main lobby beyond the glass double doors. “There is a God,” I muttered, “and I’m pretty sure he hates me and is punishing me. I’m not sure what I did, but it must have been bad.”
She pounced the minute she saw me. “Sofia!" she said in a disgustingly perky tone that disappeared almost instantly when she took a good look at the bruise on my cheek. "Oh my God! What the hell happened to you? Did you get to see Cole this weekend?"
“Thanks, Mads. Your concern is touching, and yes, I did see Cole this weekend. In fact, he’s the one who gave me this.” I jabbed a finger in the direction of my face. “I was out with some friends, he tried picking a fight with a guy friend of mine, and I got caught in the crosshairs. Other than that, I really didn’t have much to do with him, okay?”
I felt Brie put her hand on my arm and attempt to pull me away from the little gossip, but Madison was having none of it. "So, wait! Is Cole doing okay?"
“Seriously? You’re worried about Colton Malver? I tell you he’s the reason my face looks like it was given a personal introduction to
A warm chuckle rang in my ear. "It will not be so bad, Sofia. You only have two classes with the girl, and I doubt she will speak to you during that time. Ignore her, and I will see you for breakfast and lunch. All right?” When I heard a short purr issue through the phone, I questioned him about its cause. “I can see you from here,” he cooed. “It is such a shame I cannot taste those exquisite lips right now.”
I glanced across the expansive parking lot and could barely make out his vanilla-colored shirt as he climbed out of his shaded car. “It’s not fair that you’re being romantic with me all the way over here, when I can’t do anything about it.”
“Would you be horribly offended, mio tesoro, if I told you how delicious your backside looks in those jeans?” When I stood up straight from the bent position where I had been retrieving my book bag from the back seat of my car, his laugh deepened. “My, my, my… Perhaps I can convince Grace to create a garden full of roses that exact shade of pink. So lovely, bella mia. Do tell your friend Brianna I said hello.”
“Wait! What are you—”
“Sof!”
The line went dead just as I heard Brie call out my name, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him—he was still at his car, and from his posture, it was clear he was watching me.
“Y’know, if she looks over and sees you ogling me, it’ll give her more to talk about,” I muttered to him under my breath just as my friend came to a halt right next to me. I couldn’t see his expression, but it looked like his head was still angled in my direction as he walked to the entrance closest to him. “Thanks,” I coughed.
“Are you okay?”
I smiled at her a little too brightly. “Yep. Just didn’t sleep much last night, and I haven’t had my Starbucks yet. Sorry if I act a little grumpy.”
“So,” she drawled, “don’t think I didn’t notice you neglected telling me which friends you were with when Cole showed up, and my guess is you probably told Three you were with me.” I flinched at the mention of my dad’s nickname but accepted the arm Brie draped around my shoulders. “Tell me one juicy little thing, and I promise not to be mad at you for leaving me in the dark.”
“Simon,” I said quietly. “We were having a very romantic dinner, and just my luck, Cole showed up. And of course, I’m stupid enough to try to get in the middle of both and stop it. You can’t imagine how glad I am this weekend is over.”
“You might want to rethink that.”
I glanced in the direction her eyes were fixed on and groaned when I saw Madison Kinley in the main lobby beyond the glass double doors. “There is a God,” I muttered, “and I’m pretty sure he hates me and is punishing me. I’m not sure what I did, but it must have been bad.”
She pounced the minute she saw me. “Sofia!" she said in a disgustingly perky tone that disappeared almost instantly when she took a good look at the bruise on my cheek. "Oh my God! What the hell happened to you? Did you get to see Cole this weekend?"
“Thanks, Mads. Your concern is touching, and yes, I did see Cole this weekend. In fact, he’s the one who gave me this.” I jabbed a finger in the direction of my face. “I was out with some friends, he tried picking a fight with a guy friend of mine, and I got caught in the crosshairs. Other than that, I really didn’t have much to do with him, okay?”
I felt Brie put her hand on my arm and attempt to pull me away from the little gossip, but Madison was having none of it. "So, wait! Is Cole doing okay?"
“Seriously? You’re worried about Colton Malver? I tell you he’s the reason my face looks like it was given a personal introduction to
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