The last three years on opening day, we’ve thrown open the doors, had a free keg of lukewarm beer that we didn’t replenish and welcomed everyone back. Now we’ve got decorating committees and finger foods planned. Next thing I know Jade will stand at the front door and greet everyone warmly as we lie in wait inside, ready to take all their money.
“Why the expensive bubbly?” I glance around the living room, watching our staff of four guys talk among themselves along with Tristan, who just ambled over there. We have a new guy on staff this year, someone Tristan met in class last spring who seems smart and ambitious. I figure he’ll be a good asset but we never know until they’re neck deep in crap and having to deal with a bunch of pissed off customers accusing him of stealing their money. We’ll see how he works out then, or if he cracks under the pressure.
“It’s our last year together running this place. Figured that was enough cause for celebration.” Shep claps me on the back, his gaze assessing. Too assessing. The guy is intuitive which is annoying as fuck because I can feel the question hanging from his lips. “You all right, dude? You look tense.”
That’s because I am tense. My shoulders ache. I texted Lucy when I got home and she hasn’t answered. Not even one word from her and that was hours ago. Why the hell is she avoiding me? We locked eyes. We saw each other yet she ran anyway. Is she mad at me? Disgusted with me? Disgusted with herself for being with me?
Christ, I don’t know. That’s what’s making me the most crazy over all of this. I’m completely in the dark when it comes to what she’s doing.
“My classes were bullshit,” I say, trying to brush off his concern, though my excuse sounds lame. “I’ll be fine.”
“Only one more year and I know your load is light this semester.” He peers at me, like he can see right through me and I school my expression, going for neutral. “You sure you telling me the truth?”
“Hey, you know me. I don’t have a care in the world.” I’m trying to play it off, something I’m real good at doing. It’s a crock of shit and Shep knows it but I wish he’d just let it go.
“Bullshit.” He pauses, studying me. “Is it your parents? They giving you shit?”
“They always give me shit,” I mutter.
“Yeah, I know. But I mean extra shit. They always seem to pressure you over the summer with whatever various familial duties they can come up with to torture you.” Shep just nailed that one. That’s exactly what they do to me every summer. “Was it extra bad this year or what?”
I decide to run with his suggestion. “You know how it is. Same old shit, different year. I guess I’m freaking out because it’s getting down to the wire. As in, it really is my last year of freedom and they’ve got me so twisted up I don’t even know how to celebrate it.”
“Well, that fucking sucks. We need to make the most of this year, not let it get us down, right?” He claps me on the back again, so hard he practically pushes me forward. “So. I have a suggestion for you.”
I frown. That doesn’t sound good. “What do you mean?”
He quickly glances over his shoulder before he speaks. “Jade wants to set you up.”
“What? With who?”
“Sshh, I don’t want her to know I’m prepping you right now. It’s her old roommate, Kelli. Remember her? She just broke up with her lame ass boyfriend and she’s been feeling lonely lately. Jade thought that you two could possibly work out as a couple.”
“She really thought that?” That sounds bogus. Jade knows what I’m all about. What Shep used to be all about. I don’t want to be a couple with anyone.
Well, I used to not want to be a couple with anyone. There’s a certain someone I’m interested in but she runs from me like I have the plague.
“Fine, Kelli has a minor crush on you and thinks you’d be just the solution to her dry spell problem.” Shep steps closer, looking vaguely traumatized. “Don’t tell her I said that though, okay? Both of those girls would never forgive me.”
“You seem almost…afraid of them,” I suggest and he laughs, though it’s strained.
“They don’t scare me.”
I don’t say a word.
He heaves out a huge sigh. “Fine, they scare the shit out of me when they gang up on me together. They’re like a tag team, swear to God.” Shep pauses. “So. Are you in?”
“In for what?”
“Fucking Kelli.”
Nothing like the blatant charms of one Shepard Prescott. “No.”
Shep looks surprised. “Really? No?”
“No,” I repeat, this time with a shake of my head.
Now it’s Shep’s turn to remain quiet for a moment. “Can you tell me why your answer is no?”
“I just…I don’t have any interest in banging some random girl. Though I know Kelli, so I suppose she wouldn’t be so random, but still. I’m over that shit,” I mutter.
Shep reaches out and rests the back of his hand on my forehead. I jerk away from his touch, bat his hand away when he reaches for me again. “Are you sick?” he asks. “Seriously, are you ill? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk like that.”
“Talk like what? As in turning down the opportunity to get laid?” I shrug. “Guess I’m a changed man.”
Shep starts to laugh. Like, loud booming laughter. So loud it draws Tristan’s attention and he comes over to join us.