“You totally sighed, like a dreamy type of sigh. What’s happening? Where are you?”
Caden stepped inside the gas station. He’d be back in just a minute.
“That’s why I’m calling,” I said again. “I didn’t go back to the dorm. Caden Banks showed up, looking for his brother. Jill asked if he’d give me a ride to find you.”
“She did? Wait. He did?”
“What? I’m confused.”
“Caden Banks gave you a ride?”
“Yeah. Why?” I frowned. Did she have to say it like that?
“Are you with him now?”
“We stopped for gas. I was hoping to get Maggie’s number from you, so he could call Maggie to talk to his brother. And I was hoping I could talk him into meeting up with you guys. I can switch to your car then.”
I waited for her response, but none came.
She was silent on the other end until I said, “Hello? Are you there?”
“I’m here.” I could hear the confusion in her voice. “This is the second time Caden Banks has helped you out. That’s not normal.”
My eyebrows bunched together. “Claudia said something similar.”
“She was right with what she said, not about you, but about Caden.”
Her hesitation pissed me off.
“He’s big time. Are you guys hooking up or something?”
“What? No! Why would you even think that?” However, the image of his ass appeared in my head again.
“Calm down. I didn’t mean it as an insult. The opposite. Caden doesn’t go out of his way to be nice to girls. He’s not not nice. He’s just—”
I gripped the phone tighter. “Yeah, yeah. He’s on another level. I’m getting it. Believe me.”
“No!” She laughed into the phone. “Again, it’s not an insult to you. Caden’s just not known for messing around with freshman, even sophomores. And he doesn’t sleep around. He’s got girls he can call to have sex with, but they’re girls like you’ve not even met yet. Maggie told some of us that he was sleeping with Ashley Fontaine from that show Hit Club. I’ve no idea how they know each other, but yeah, he’s usually with girls like that.”
Now I felt one with the dirt on his Land Rover’s floor. I leaned over to inspect where my shoes sat. Yep. I could see myself down there, trying to make friends and failing like I had for the last two weeks.
“I’m not into him like that, so don’t worry,” I told her. “Besides, he’s fraternity brothers with Kevin, remember?”
“Yeah. I’d buy that if I didn’t know better. Summer, Caden hates your stepbrother. I’m friends with Maggie, remember? She’s told me stories. So no, if you think he’s being nice to you because of Kevin, it’s not true. If anything, Caden would try to hurt you because of Kevin, but he’s not that type of guy. If he’s being nice, then there’s something about you he likes.”
I straightened up. “Really?”
“You should sleep with him.”
“What?!”
“I mean it. I don’t usually encourage casual sex, but if it’s with Caden Banks, then hell yes. Get some if you can. You’ll look back when you’re old and thank me.”
I started laughing, then realized she was serious. “You’re not joking, are you?”
“I mean it. Forget being your RA, I’m being a friend. Fuck Caden Banks if you get the chance, then tell me all about it afterward. I’ll live vicariously through you.”
Just then Caden walked out of the gas station with two cups in hand. “I have to go. He’s coming back.”
“Okay,” she said quickly, her voice sounding hushed suddenly. “I mean it. Screw his brains out.”
“Wait!” She was about to hang up. “I need Maggie’s phone number.”
“Oh yeah. Not needed,” she said.
Caden opened his door and got in, observing me. “Still on the phone?”
I held up a finger. “What do you mean ‘not needed’?”
“They just got here.”
“Where?” I covered the phone and said to Caden, “Maggie and Marcus are wherever Avery is. They just got there.”
“We’re at the country club,” she said. “It’s almost five o’clock. We figured all the rich folks would be drinking here, and I guess they thought the same thing. Tell Caden we’re at the Rose Creek Country Club. He’ll know where it is.”
“Okay.”
I hung up, and when I told him, he rolled his eyes. “Fuck’s sakes. Of course they’re there.”
“I take it you know the place?”