* * *
Oh no.
I pull my knees up, a small scowl building along my brow.
* * *
Me: go for it.
* * *
His response is instant.
* * *
Romeo: I hate caramel flavored coffee.
* * *
A laugh spurts from me, and in my peripheral, all eyes snap my way, but I don’t look up, not even when a certain pair of green ones burn into the side of my face.
I settle in my seat with a smile and text my new friend back.
Bless you and your perfect timing, Noah Riley.
Chapter 15
Arianna
* * *
My phone beeps, the timer for my mile going off, so I slow my strides.
As soon as I pull my earbuds from my ear, my phone vibrates, so I free from my armband.
I smile at my screen and open Noah’s text.
* * *
Romeo: I had eggs for breakfast.
* * *
My feet come to a complete stop, and I grin as I message him back.
* * *
Me: Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart.
* * *
Romeo: Really?! How do you even know who he is?
* * *
He’s totally smiling right now.
Before I can respond, another text comes through.
* * *
Romeo: It’s from Hannah Montana, isn’t it? You were one of those crazy girls who cried when little Miley grew up to be…my kinda Miley.
* * *
He sends a little winky face, and I bust up laughing, partly because he’s right, mostly because this conversation is ridiculous, but that’s exactly why it’s so much fun.
* * *
Me: Liar. Miley’s too wild for you and you know it. I feel like you’re more of an Emma Watson kind of guy.
* * *
Romeo: You sure?
* * *
I suck my stomach in, a small cackle slipping from me.
* * *
Me: No, I guess I’m not… but I still win. Again.
* * *
Romeo: I’ll stump you, Juliet. Just wait.
* * *
I grin, locking my phone back in place, and finish off the rest of my lap since I couldn’t manage to trim anytime off my mile like Mason challenged me to.
Monday morning, when I woke up, Noah had texted me saying the coach gave Mase a shout out after the team’s film session that morning. I texted him back Sage the Gemini—Good Thing.
His response was a bright smile, I know it.
That night, I got another message, claiming he saw something odd at the grocery store—peanut butter flavored Oreos. I sent back the link to KC and JoJo’s Tell me it’s real.
Ever since then, it’s been a game between the two of us. He hits me with something random, and I prove Trey’s words right. I am, in fact, equipped with a jukebox. Like I said, it’s fun, lighthearted and I’m pretty sure the sole purpose is to simply make each other laugh in case one of us needs it. It’s not the only time we talk. Like this morning, I sent him a picture of my shoes after I mindlessly walked into a mud puddle, a broken sprinkler left behind, and he sent back a photo of the notes he was taking in class.
No big deal, just us chatting a bit like new friends will.
Wiping my brow, I step off the track and head for the girl’s locker room for a quick shower before meeting Brady for my promised study session.
I’m dressed back in my jean shorts and burgundy long-sleeve and headed for the library, not fifteen minutes later, braiding my hair along the way.
I spot Brady’s behemoth body the second I walk in the door, and quickly tie off my hair as I rush over to save the poor student helper who has no idea what she’s in for if I don’t rescue her. Her rigid stance and the way she’s clutching those books to her chest tells me she’s not ready for all the Lancaster charm, but the wide sparkle in her eyes scream she wishes she were.
He sees it, which is why he’s inching his way closer, towering over her small frame.
Big dummy.
I step up and slap my hand on his shoulder. He doesn’t flinch in the slightest, doesn’t even look back at me. “Welcome to the party, Ari Baby.”
The poor girl’s eyes shoot even wider, and she drops her gaze to the stained carpet beneath her feet.
“Come on, big guy.” I laugh. “Time to study.”
“I’m tryin’ to study.” His body sways slightly, trying to hit every nerve with his little innuendo. I can only guess his grin has turned feral, because when the girl peeks up at him, her fair cheeks turn a bright cherry red.
“I should go,” the girl whispers and sidesteps out of Brady’s cage before darting away, disappearing behind the closest bookshelf.
Brady stands tall, exhaling loudly. “Almost had her.”