“Callie, it’s been like a week. Why are you still bringing it up?”
“Oh, no reason,” she replied in a singsong voice, looping her arm through mine. “I just think maybe it’s a sign that you two really are meant to be. He just keeps showing up like some knight in shining armor or some shit.”
“What?” I stopped our walk, yanking her backward and she stumbled slightly before righting herself.
“Jeez, Della.” She pulled on a blonde ringlet that had escaped from her ponytail and tipped her head toward the other end of campus. “I need to be going in that direction. Like now. So what’s the hold up?”
“Um…I don’t know, maybe the fact that you’ve been all Team Nash, and suddenly you’re rooting for Justin or something. What’s up with that? It’s not like he’s been helping his case recently or anything. He’s been a complete ass.”
“Oh, Della.” She tugged on my arm to continue our walk. “I don’t know, I guess I’ve just warmed up to Justin or something. You know he was totally doing that to make you jealous, right? And then he drags your ass out of that frat house, and takes you home in the back of a police car? I would’ve paid money to see that little spectacle. I still don’t understand how you ended up going out with Mia, anyway. You’re lucky she didn’t spike your drink with ecstasy or something. You could’ve ended up surrounded by a bunch of naked frat guys the next morning.”
“Ohmigod, Callie.” I briefly closed my eyes as I shook my head at the image she painted, biting back a grin at the fact that she was probably right. I guess I should consider myself lucky after all. That was me, one lucky girl.
“And I’m sure it pissed him off even more when Nash showed up at Shorty’s and had his hands all over you.”
“What?” I asked in disbelief, stopping to look at her with narrowed eyes. We were in front of Hassler Hall, where Callie’s next class was, and I didn’t have another one for thirty minutes.
“Della, don’t play dumb. Nash had his hands all over you, probably just to stake his claim on you, like you’re a freaking prize or something. Not that you aren’t or anything,” she added with a bright smile. “Nash knew exactly what he was doing.”
I shrugged one shoulder. “Nash and I are just friends. He’s with Mariah. I honestly didn’t even notice.”
“Yeah, because you were too busy avoiding Justin, but watching his every move. Nash still has the hots for you. He just can’t do anything about it. Trust me on that one.” She poked me in the arm as I mulled over her words, trying to remember that night and how Nash had acted. I really couldn’t remember, because Callie was right, I did focus on Justin, even though I tried not to. When he was around it was like I had tunnel vision and he was all I could see.
By the time I snapped my attention back to Callie she was already walking toward the front doors. “We’re still on for shopping tonight, right?” I called out to her, and she snapped her head back, her eyes widening.
“Della, are you insane? When would I ever pass up shopping? Let’s plan to finish out the night with some pedi’s because our feet are gonna be killing us by the time we’re done.”
“Sounds like exactly what I need,” I replied with a wave while scooping my ringing phone out of my purse with the other hand.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hello, Della. How are you doing today?”
Things with us were still a little tense, but that had eased up a little bit over the past year. She seemed to be happy with the direction that my life was going, and I started to forgive her for some of the things that happened. I know I wasn’t exactly easy to deal with, but she could have handled things a whole lot differently, and I didn’t think I could ever really forget that.
She still had a major stick up her ass, and thought she was better than pretty much everyone else, but at least she seemed to be trying with me.
“I’m doing good, just heading to class.”
“Oh, well, I don’t want to bother you, but I scheduled an appointment for you on Friday at one o’clock. Do you think you’ll be able to make that work?”
“An appointment for what?” I cradled the phone on my shoulder as I put the exact change for a water into the vending machine.
“You’re due for your womanly checkup. Actually, you’re very late, since you’re supposed to do those yearly. Your birth control implant is set to expire, and we don’t want any accidents happening.”
I rolled my eyes at her use of words, slipping the bottle into my purse as I straightened up and continued my walk. “Well, I don’t have anything going on, but you can cancel the appointment.”
“And why, may I ask?”
“Because I’m not going, Mother.”