Avery asked me one time if I was heading to Caden’s, and I stopped short. I felt like I’d been caught cheating, but then she laughed and waved me on.
“Go have fun. Don’t feel bad about being friends with Caden Banks. I can tell you do. People might not understand it, but they don’t need to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” She gave me reassuring smile. “I mean it. People just don’t know you, so there’s buzz about who you are. People have noticed that you walk there, and he drops you off later. His fraternity brothers always say hi to you on campus too.”
I knew all that, but hearing it made it more real.
“Has Kevin said anything about it?” Avery asked.
My panic bloomed, and I shook my head. “I think he’s still in MaggieLand.” I wasn’t looking forward to him checking on me, though. I was friends with someone he considered an enemy. #betrayal
She snorted. “I think Maggie’s getting sick of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s been here a lot. She said something the other night how her parents asked Kevin if he was going to find his own apartment or move back to campus. He got all upset about that, and Maggie came here, saying she was fed up with him.”
That wasn’t his normal method. “Kevin usually cheats first, and then gets dumped. The girl doesn’t get tired of him.”
“Until now. A girl is finally going to get fed up with him. It’s inevitable.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“And because I really suck at transitioning, I’m just going to drop the bomb on you.”
“What?”
She glanced down, picking at her nails. “Um. Okay…” Her throat worked up and down. “I have a weird favor to ask you.”
Why was she suddenly nervous? This was not like Avery at all.
She took a breath and let it out. “Marcus and I might be…maybe…I don’t know what we’re doing really, but I think we might be getting back together.”
“What?!” I started to smile.
She waved that off. “No. Don’t get all excited. I don’t know what’s going on or even if something is happening again. He’s been calling, and we’ve eaten lunch together a few times at the cafe on campus. I mean, there’s more. We’ve been fooling around a little, but only a little. Please don’t judge.” She drew in a ragged breath. “I’m almost pissing my pants just thinking about it, but ugh. Anyway, I was thinking that since you’re friends with me and Caden, maybe the four of us could go bowling together.”
I furrowed my eyebrows together. “Bowling? I thought Marcus hated me?”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
I was pretty sure he did. Class was always awkward. I always felt him glaring at me, but she sounded excited. “You sure Marcus is okay with that?”
“Oh, yes. It’ll be great.” She brushed my concern away. “You. Caden. Me. Marcus.”
“That sounds like a double date.”
“No. Yes. I mean, kinda? It’s not really. Unless you and Caden are dating. Are you guys dating?”
“What?”
“Dating. Is that what you’re doing?”
“No.” I shook my head, maybe a bit too quickly. “No way. We’re friends. That’s it, but wouldn’t that be awkward for you and Marcus? Unless that’s the intention? You really would be dating again then?”
She groaned, pressing her fingers to her temples. “I don’t know if I can handle dating Marcus again.” She dropped her hands and true agony shone back at me.
My heart clenched.
“He broke me last time. He says he didn’t start seeing Maggie until a couple months later, but I’ve always felt like he dropped me for her. Obviously it’s not something she and I talk about.”
I surged forward, grabbing her hands. I squeezed them. “Then it’s a friend thing. I’ll mention it to Caden, but I’m sure he’ll be fine with it. And just friends.” I raised her hands between us. “I mean it. Just friends. Just focus on that. Don’t get ahead of yourself with Marcus, not unless you really want to go there.”
“Okay.” She nodded to herself, closing her eyes. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll just focus on being friends with Marcus first. First friends, my new motto.”
I nodded with her. “Thatta girl.”
Her grin became crooked. “Well, the benefits are there too, but nothing more. I won’t focus on anything more.”
“What?” My head went the other way, left to right. “No, no, no. First friends, only friends. Say it with me.”