I’d have to wait till the hallway was clear.
The guy returned. His voice drifted through the door. “Trent said he didn’t lock it, but we can go this way.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Oh, good. Oh. Hi!”
A guarded response came next. “Hello.”
It was Jordan. I held still. She was here. She was within reach. We could sneak out and head back to the car.
“You’re Jake’s girlfriend, right?”
I reached for the handle but paused.
“Uh…well…it’s complicated.”
The girl laughed. “Well, good on you. Seriously, I’m sick of the Susan-and-Tara show.”
“The Susan-and-Tara show?” Jordan didn’t sound impressed.
“The two think they run the campus. Susan keeps bragging that she’s going straight to a big network ’cause of that interview, but I heard the guy only interviewed here because of the other chick. What’s her name?”
“Erica.” Jordan sounded even less amused.
“Yeah, her. She’s a scrappy little thing, isn’t she? Wait, I saw her with Jake downstairs. Are you guys all friends?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, whatever.”
“Gabby,” the guy groaned, “we were in the middle of something.”
“Chill, Rob. I want to give this girl my support. You have it, you know,” she said the last part to Jordan. “Tara and Susan are not liked by everyone. They think they are, but they aren’t. I know they’re both trying to sabotage you and Jake, but you have friends. Just reach out. My girls and I will have your back.”
“Oh. Well, thank you. When the showdown happens, I’ll holler for you.”
The girl laughed. “You do that. My name is Gabby.”
“Come on, Gab.”
“Okay, okay.”
“That sounds lovely. Uh, the bathroom’s this way?”
“Are you supposed to be up here?” His voice dipped low. The guy was suspicious. “The upstairs area is off-limits.”
“Some guy told me I could come up here.”
“Who?”
“Not Trent but some other guy. Blond hair. His shirt said…I don’t know…Mass U?”
“Oh. That’s Erik. He’s a good guy. Yeah, the bathroom’s at the end of the hallway.”
“Thanks.”
I wanted to grab her, but the couple was still in the hallway. They would see me if I opened the door. Her shadow passed the door as she went to the bathroom. I heard a door open and close, followed by a second door, and then there were no voices in the hallway. Everyone was in a room, so the hallway was clear. I leaned against the door.
I’d have to wait until she came back out, and then I’d grab her.
Minutes Earlier
I had no clue why Jake insisted on going to the party, but so had Erica. She’d wanted to celebrate because she’d finished her piece on Kian’s interview. Wanker had come along for the ride—or that was what I’d assumed until we got to the house that was packed to the brim, and Wanker was the first to get a drink. He’d downed three shots before the rest of us could get our own beers.
Wanting to slip away, I nudged Erica’s arm. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
She followed me from the kitchen. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just have to go to the bathroom.”
Her eyebrows were high. “No…sickness…of any kind? None at all?” She felt my forehead and frowned. “You do seem a little sweaty. Are you sure? You know, about the no-kid thing?”
I removed her hand. “Erica.”
#p#分页标题#e#
“Yes?” Excited anticipation filled her eyes, and she leaned even closer.
“I would have to have sex to get pregnant.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows dipped down. “But—”
“Seven months ago. That was it.” I patted my flat stomach. “And you would have definitely seen a bump by now if I were about to pop in two months.”
“I suppose.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. You’ve just been distant lately. You’re quieter and always leaving.” She shrugged to herself. “Then again, I’ve not been around too much either. We should do a roommate dinner or a roommate weekend. Wait.” She latched on to my arm. “What about a roommate slumber party? We’ll drink wine, watch ’80s movies, and eat lots of pizza. We can sleep out in the living room—or in our rooms. Maybe we should get a nice hotel suite, and do that? Yeah, let’s do that.”
She was still concocting new ideas, but I saw the wistfulness in her eyes. She was missing the old camaraderie we’d had, and so was I. Too much of Kian. Too much of Susan. Too much about interviews. Even too much of Jake, whatever was going on with him.