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“You’re right, they probably are,” I murmur, hoping we can drop the subject and move on to more surface-level conversation.
“My parents met in college.” His eyes spark with both love and humor as he continues. “The way Mom likes to tell it, she couldn’t stand my dad. They started fake dating because his mother was seeing her father.”
Huh?
I raise my hand to pause the convo. “Hold up now. Let me get this straight. Your Mother’s father got together with your father’s mother. Which means that your grandparents were at one point, dating each other?”
All right…so maybe his family is complicated.
“Yup. They tied the knot in the Bahamas and are still married to this day. For their twentieth wedding anniversary, they flew everyone out for a recommitment ceremony.”
This sounds more like an episode of one of those daytime TV talk shows where they reveal cheating scandals and paternity results.
“Your grandparents from different sides are married to each other?”
He chuckles. “Yup.”
“Wow.” That’s insane.
And a story I’d love to hear in more detail.
“At first, my parents didn’t want them together, so they pretended to be an item in order to break them up.”
My mouth drops open. “Get out of here!”
“Nope, it’s all true. Guess my grandparents were pissed when they finally found out about it.”
“I can’t even imagine. Obviously, their scheming didn’t work.”
“If it had, I wouldn’t be here.” With a tilt of his head, he grins. “And wouldn’t that be a real shame for you.”
I snort out a laugh and realize just how easy it is to be with Colby.
“Admit it, you’re having a good time.” He leans closer and drops his voice. “Despite your best efforts, I’m growing on you.”
I press my lips together, refusing to smile. It’ll only encourage him, and that’s the last thing I want to do. I’m already in over my head with this guy.
“Kind of like a wart. One that’ll have to be frozen off in the not-so-distant future.”
It’s a relief when the waitress stops by to drop off our check.
After Colby pays the bill, we head back to campus.
Music filters through the speakers of the truck. Even though being with him shouldn’t feel so comfortable, it does. When he parks in the lot, my fingers wrap around the handle, ready to jump out and make a quick getaway.
What I’ve discovered from this little excursion is that I like Colby more than I thought possible. He’s easy to be around, and it wouldn’t take much coaxing on his part for me to lower my defenses. Which is exactly why I need to end this budding friendship before it can bloom into something more.
“Thanks for taking me skating and then to dinner. It was actually fun.”
He swivels toward me. “You don’t have to sound so surprised.”
Unable to resist, my lips bow. “More like shocked.”
“Just know that I’m full of surprises.”
I have little doubt.
I also know that I won’t be sticking around to find out.
Before he can even think about making contact, I pop the handle and roll from the Cadillac. Graceful, it is not. “See you around.”
“Hold on and I’ll walk you to your door.” With that, he exits the SUV.
Argh.
“Oh, no.” I wave my hand and consider taking off at a dead run. “That’s not necessary.”
“I promised Lance that I’d make sure you got home safely. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
6
COLBY
It only takes a handful of seconds to catch up to Britt on the walkway. As soon as we reach the apartment complex, she hits the code on the keypad and the door buzzes, allowing us entrance inside the building. There’s a small group of girls chatting in the lobby. They flick disinterested glances at us as we walk by.
As soon as recognition sets in, their eyes widen with excitement.
“Hey, Colby!” one of them calls out.
I wave as Britt presses the elevator button and taps her foot impatiently. The last thing I want to do is give these chicks the green light to proceed. The pretty auburn-haired girl will latch onto the flimsiest of excuses to escape my evil clutches.
I’m bound and determined not to give her any.
Just as one breaks free from the pack and saunters over, the elevator dings and the metal doors slide open. I hustle Britt into the car before the chick can reach us.
Crisis averted.
A second later, we’re closed inside the car together.
She leans against the far wall and stares at me. “You could have stayed downstairs and talked to your friends.”
“They’re not friends. I don’t even know them.”
With a jerk of her brow, she gives me a disbelieving look.
“It’s true.”
“It doesn’t really matter.”
Before I have a chance to respond, the car doors are sliding open and dumping us on the third floor. Britt slips out as I trail behind her. It feels as if all the painstaking progress I made earlier has been wiped away.
