Stupid Girl(47)

“It was an amazingly sharp moon tonight,” I told Noah. “The platform is perfect.”

Noah smiled at me, and I noticed then he had a dimple in his chin. “Wait until you check out the Mulligan next week. You’re going to freak.”

“No doubt,” I answered. “See you tomorrow, Noah. And thanks.”

“You bet, Olivia,” he said behind me. Because Brax kept pulling me up the main hallway toward the entrance room.

At the door, Brax released my hand and we stepped outside. “What’s a Mulligan?” he asked as we made our way to my truck. His bike was parked right beside it. His voice had an edge to it, like something bothered him. Was it because Noah had interrupted what probably was going to be our first kiss? Correction. Our second kiss. Or was I delusional about that? I couldn’t believe I was even entertaining the thought. Hadn’t it been my idea to remain neutral? Just friends? What had happened to me?

“It’s the observatory’s scope.” We reached my truck and Brax stopped, looking at me. I pointed over my shoulder and grinned. “You know? The big one under the dome?”

Brax’s eyes lifted in the dome’s direction, then he settled his gaze on mine. Those blue ghosts had an angry flare in their depths. “I don’t like that guy, Gracie.”

I cocked my head. “Noah? Why—”

“Because I can see what you can’t,” he interrupted. “Students are off limits for TA’s,” he added. “I’ve seen more than one prick use that title to get laid. Just watch it with him.”

I hadn’t felt any weird vibes from Noah. Not at all. Then again, I hadn’t felt any with Brax, either. Maybe my vibe-o-meter was way off? I unlocked my truck door. “I’ve been warned the very same thing about you, Brax.” I gave him a solid, determined look. “I make my own mind up about people. And I watch it with everyone, don’t forget.”

He reached over then and slid my scope bag across the bench seat, then shoved his fingers through his hair as he studied me. “Yeah, you do, don’t ya. You still hungry, Sunshine?”

“Stahved.”

His lip turned upward. “Smartass. Let’s go.”

We’d just settled onto his bike when his phone rang. He answered it. “Yeah. Hell no, I’m on my way out. Are you fucking kidding me?” Brax pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, all right.” He half-turned to me. “Gracie, I gotta handle something. How ‘bout I pick you up in thirty minutes at your dorm?”

I slid off Brax’s bike. “You don’t have to do that,” I answered. “It’s late and I—”

“It’s only nine, Gracie. This won’t take long.” With his heel, Brax kicked the bike’s stand down and he got off. He faced me now, a teasing smirk on his face. “You gotta eat, right?”

Who was I kidding? I wanted to go. I liked being around Brax. I liked how I felt around him. Even the nervousness. “Okay. I’ll go change and meet you out front in thirty minutes.”

In the dark parking lot of the Science complex, his teeth shone white as he smiled. “Be right back.” He started his bike, pulled on his helmet, and waited for me to climb into my truck. I did, and we both left together. At the next intersection, he turned off to the left, and I watched his red tail light disappear.

Tessa turned her face toward me the minute I walked in. “What’s up, chica?” she said with a grin. “How was nerd world at the observatory? Whoa—is that a body bag or what?”

I set my scope bag next to my bed and went to the small fold out closet to find something else to wear. I looked over my shoulder. “It could be a body bag. Nerd world was fantastic. How about you?”

Tessa sat on her bed with her long straight hair in a ponytail, applying some thick white cream to her face. “Sheer perfection. My biology professor is so fucking hot it’s ridiculous.” She peeked at me. “Why does it look like you’re changing into something else?”

I threw my collared work shirt on my bed and pulled a brown tank top over my head. I shoved my arms into a long-sleeved plaid buttoned down. “Because I am. I thought you and the girls were going out?”

Tessa stopped her facial application in mid-rub. “We are. But seriously. After my most excellent advice you’re still going out with him?”

I resisted giving my overly-dramatic roommate an overly-exaggerated eye roll. “We’re just grabbing a bite to eat, Tess—no big deal, really. Actually, we were leaving right after the observatory but he—”

“He was at the observatory with you?” Tessa all but screeched. “Doing what?”