Delaney continued our conversation and explained how she was about to flunk calculus. I promised to study with her. Nate offered to share his notes from last year but I couldn't really focus on the conversation as I felt Julian's eyes on me.
Glancing in his direction, a felt a grin grow on my face. He was very handsome, but he didn’t scream bad boy. Not in that drop dead looking way that would rip your heart out. Not like Nate.
The following week, I got up and ready early for my Wednesday class, and headed toward yet another building Professor Comeau required us to admire: City Hall. It was the first building that wasn’t on campus, but instead was in downtown Charlotte.
I arrived a few minutes early and noticed Nate standing by his car in the semi-empty city parking lot. I slid my car into the space next to his.
“You’re here early.” Most classes, I beat him to the designated building and waited for him in my car before we walked to class together.
“You want to grab a cup of coffee?” He pointed to the coffee shop across the street. “We still have thirty minutes before class starts.”
“Sure.”
We walked in silence to Java Joe’s. His hands were tucked into his jacket and his head was lowered. Something about him seemed off. Pulling the door open to the quaint shop, I was smacked by the rich scent of roasted coffee beans. It had been a surprisingly chilly morning, but inside the cafe it was warm and comforting. A glass counter filled with donuts, Danishes and other sweet treats separated me and the barista.
Nate stood behind me in line as we waited for the other customers to order. He didn’t utter a single word until we had our coffees in hand and were walking back toward City Hall.
“Julian said you agreed to go out with him,” he said nonchalantly before taking a slow sip of his hot coffee.
After meeting Julian that day at lunch, I noticed that he and I bumped into each other regularly in the cafeteria or the common hall. After four casual bump-ins, he asked to take me out. I didn’t see the harm in it, especially since Nate and I were only friends.
“Yeah, so?” I brought my coffee to my lips, and blew into the small hole of the lid.
“You can't go out with him.”
Surprised by his statement, I tipped the cup back and burned the tip of my tongue. Appalled, I looked up at him. “What do you mean I can't go out with him?”
“I thought you were focusing on school?” Resting his cup on the hood of his car, he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t have time.” He threw my words back at me.
I blinked a few times, trying to gauge where his attitude came from and why. “One, when we had that conversation it was the beginning of the semester. I thought I would have a harder time with my school and work schedules, but I was wrong. I managed to read through most of my work according to the syllabus outline. And two, why do you care?” I paused and waited for him to explain his outrage. When he didn’t respond, I asked, “Are you saying I shouldn't go out with your brother?”
Nate opened and then closed his mouth. He blinked and pulled his gaze away from mine. “I don't want you going out with my brother.”
“Why not?”
His tongue snuck out to lick his lips. “Because.”
“Can I ask you something?” He nodded. “Why are you with Delaney?”
“Do you want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“First you have to answer a question.”
My eyebrows scrunched together. “Okay.”
“If I were to break it off with Delaney, would you give me another chance?”
His words stopped me in my tracks. Slowly, I shook my head. “No. You’ve been with my best friend. It’s against the rules to date your friend’s ex.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“If I leave her, I can’t have you.” He paused for a second before he continued. “I like Delaney, she’s a good girl, but she’s not what I want. And call me selfish, but I stay with her to be close to you.” He scratched the back of his head. “I like our friendship.”
A few students had parked their cars and were walking toward the front of the City Hall building. He had some nerve telling me I couldn’t go out with his brother and then announcing he was with Delaney because he couldn’t be with me. Who the hell did he think was?
I shook my head slowly and let a grin grow on my face. “That sounds like a personal problem.” I turned away and began to walk in the direction of the other students.
“Brie!” I heard his footfalls behind me.
“Nate.” I looked up when he appeared beside me.