Dom pats Alex on the shoulder. “Sorry, bro. Doesn’t look good for you.”
My face heats up, and it’s not from the sun. “Oh my god. That’s not what I meant. You guys take everything we say and turn it in to sex. I thought we left Josh at home.”
“Hey, Alex. Maybe we can fit you with some reigns so Meggie can hold on,” Keesh blurts out through her laughter.
“Come on, sickos. Let’s tour.” I start to walk away, but Alex slows me down with an arm hanging on my shoulder.
“Hey,” he says. I look up at him. He bends down while we’re moving and kisses my nose. “That was funny.”
I smile. “Yeah, it was.”
I feel a tug on my hair. It’s Dominic, behind me. “Yeah, almost as funny as you flashing everyone on the way to Mammoth.”
I glare at him for a sec, and then turn back around.
Alex squeezes my shoulder and I glance up at him. “Almost,” he mumbles. And then he kisses my nose again.
He’s lucky he’s so damn cute or I’d kick his ass.
“I’m tired already,” Steph says. “And we still have like five more schools to go.”
I rest my head on Alex’s shoulder. “So am I.”
Dom reaches across the center console to her. “We can cut out some of the ones for tomorrow. They’re close enough to home that we could visit them any weekend. Or maybe on one of your minimum days.”
Keesh sighs with relief. “Sounds good to me. I was worried about not getting enough exercise on this trip. Now, I’m afraid I’m gonna be too beat to play when we get back to school.”
“So who picked Santa Barbara? Please tell me you didn’t, Meg?” Alex asks.
“It wasn’t me,” I say with my eyes closed. “I know it’s a beach campus. Keesh liked it.”
“Yeah. I love the beach. And it’s far enough away that I won’t be tempted to visit home every day, but close enough that I can come home when I want. I like that.”
Keesh makes sense. Why didn’t I think of that? I should probably look for some more schools that fit into that category. Just ones that don’t involve sandy butt cracks. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I can just picture being in class and feeling sand everywhere. Beneath my feet, on my desk, in my hair. No thank you. Alex was right. Once a year, during spring break, is plenty of beach time for me.
Steph turns around in her seat to face us. “You know, Meg. Just because you go to college near a beach doesn’t mean you have to go to it. I bet there are other things to do.”
She has a point, but it still doesn’t sound appealing. “Yeah, but my roommates or whoever I make friends with will always want to go. It will be the thing to do, and I don’t want to be the one to stay home, or go and be miserable.”
“You shouldn’t fight it,” she says. “You look hot in your bikini.”
Alex jumps at that. “Yeah, I think Meg should go with her instincts. Hanging out with a bunch of college dudes in her little red bikini doesn’t sound good to me at all.”
My friends laugh at him.
“What little red bikini?” Steph asks.
I lift my head off Alex’s shoulder and stare at him with big eyes. “Oops, sorry, babe.”
I glance at my friends. “It’s not all that little, but it’s something I bought for us.”
He wraps both his arms around me and squeezes tight. “For my eyes only.”
“Meggie,” Keesh nudges me. “I’m proud of you. Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Are we there yet?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“Hey, I was thinking,” Alex says, after we’ve parked and grabbed all the informational materials at the Santa Barbara campus.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” Dom jokes.
“Nah, seriously. Why don’t we hang back and let the girls tour the campus on their own? Get a little taste of college without us.”
I don’t really want a taste of anything without Alex. But I get it. “Okay. Girls?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Keesh says.
Steph and Dom shrug.
“Let’s hit it, girls. Let’s go find us some boy toys to keep us company,” Keesh says with a sly grin.
The guys plaster their faces with big fake smiles. “Have fun.”
They both wave as we turn on our heels to leave.
The girls and I walk away, side by side, down a path to who knows where. Neither of us take out a map. We just walk as if we know where we’re going.
“Where do you wanna go?” Steph asks.
“Let’s just walk around and pretend like we belong. We’re college girls for the next hour.” Keesh tilts her face to the breeze and sighs. “What would we be doing right now if we went to school here?”
I glance at my cell. “It’s just after three. Maybe we’d be finishing a class and stop off at the student union for a coffee or smoothie.” Sounds reasonable.
“Then let’s do that,” Keesh says. “Now, how do we get there?” Steph and I giggle. I start to take out my campus map, but she stops me. “No. Don’t. We go to school here. We can find it on our own.”
She’s taking this a little too far. Looking at directions won’t kill us. I’m sure the first years used a map for just a little while. I hope we find it soon. I’m thirsty.
After about ten minutes of scoping out the scenery and trying to blend in, Steph spots the University Center. Perfect. It’s complete with a bookstore and food court.
“Let’s grab a drink first and then do some shopping,” Steph says.
We’ve been tacking on a souvenir at each school. I got a new hoodie at Berkeley. They still don’t have one that says, “My Hot Sexy Stud of a Boyfriend Goes To Berkeley.” When I suggested it to the cashier there, she didn’t even smile at the joke. Way too stuffy for me. I thought I was funny. I also got one in San Jose. Nothing like a new wardrobe of sweatshirts for the winter to make me a happy cozy camper.
After browsing the selection, we each get a cute tee in different colors. They have Hawaiian flowers on them, along with the school name. Keesh leads us through the building and out a door on the opposite side we entered.
“Is that the ocean?” I ask, grimacing.
“No, it’s their lagoon,” Keesh answers.
“Kinda creepy,” Steph says.
“More like kinda cool.” Keesh travels down the steps onto a lawn and sits.
Steph and I follow.
The three of us sit quietly, watching birds fly by. Checking out the couple who are not at all shy about making out only a mere fifteen feet away from other people. Maybe we should have sat somewhere else. Although, there are a lot more people around and the cozy lovers don’t seem to mind.
“This is going to be us next year,” Keesh says.
I nod. It might not be at this particular school, but definitely us. “Weird. I still feel like a little kid compared to everyone we see here.”
“That’s because this place is unfamiliar. You don’t feel like a kid around Alex.” Keesh raises a brow at me.
I think of the last few kisses we’ve shared. “Yeah. I guess not.”
A phone chimes and Steph steals a glance at hers. “We should get going. Dom wants to know if they should send out search and rescue.”
“Hey, are you leaving? We were just about to sit down with you,” says a male voice above us.
We get to our feet, and I take in the site of two very tall, very tan boys—men—in cargo shorts, tees, and flip flops.
“Yup. Time to go,” Steph says, tucking her arm through mine and moving away.
Keesh doesn’t move. “Yeah, that’s too bad. Maybe next time.” She gives them her best smile.
“Maybe tonight. Interested in a party?” the darker haired one asks.
“On a Monday?” Steph’s voice rises to a squeal.
“You guys aren’t from here?”
“No, just visiting.” Keesh keeps the conversation going. But Steph and I are ready to bolt.
“Then, stop by.” He takes out a pen, g
rabs Keesh’s hand and starts writing. “See ya there.” Before we can say anything, they’re gone.
“Wow,” we all say, together.
“Whose idea was it to go to that party last night?” Keesh groans.
“Yours,” Steph says, opening the drapes. What used to be a completely pitch black room is now glowing with sunlight.
“Shut those damn curtains before I kick your ass,” I shout, shading my eyes with my hand.
“Wake up, you drunk asses.” She throws her own pillow at Dom. He catches it in the air and covers his face.
Alex throws an arm over me and pulls me toward him. “How ya feeling?”
“Like I’m gonna die.”
“And I thought our parties were crazy,” Keesh mumbles from the floor. “That was like a four-house ten-keg party.” She pauses. “Overlooking the beach.” And just when I think she’s finished, she adds, “On a Monday.”
I roll to the side of the bed and try to focus on her with my blurred vision. “What are you doing down there?”
“I don’t know.” She gazes up at me with a silly smile. “Are you still drunk? I think I am.”
I flop over on my back, my head swirling. “I think I am.”
“You guys drank enough,” Steph says. “Act like you’ve been there before. Sheesh.”
“Hey, it was our first college party,” Keesh says. “I wonder what they do on the weekends. I don’t know if I’d survive it.”
“What’s your excuse?” Steph jumps on Dom. “You’ve been to college parties? How you feelin’?” She playfully slaps him on the head. “Huh?” She tickles his side. “Huh?” She tickles some more. He barely moves.
“I didn’t have to drive. Don’t get to do that very often.” Which is true. Dom always drives. She jabs at his side again. He takes her in his big hands and flips her over, landing her body under his. “You want some of this?” He gives her a taste of her own medicine.
“You guys, stop moving. You’re gonna make me sick.” I turn over to Alex, wrap myself around his warm body, and doze off.
The van is quiet on the way to our next stop in Los Angeles—an all girls’ school near Brentwood, the fancy-shmancy part of L.A. Alex is driving. Dom is sitting shot gun, Keesh and I are practically comatose, and Steph is taping away at her phone playing SongPop. One more eighty’s love song, and I might take her cell and throw it out the window.
My head is pounding. I keep burping beer. And my stomach is queasy as queasy can get. I may have just completely killed my party liver. There’s gonna be nothing left for when I actually do make it to college. I’m gonna be the one with a bottled water while all my friends are doing keg stands and dong bongs—a beer bong in the shape of a … well … dong. I saw it once on a documentary.
“This had to be Steph’s pick,” Alex says when we pull onto campus.
Keesh kicks the back of his seat. “I resent that. What? Meg and I can’t do without guys?”
Alex doesn’t answer. He just laughs. He’s right on the money though. Steph is the only one I’d know who’d choose to go to a male-free school. For four years. That’s just nuts.
“I feel kind of weird going to a Catholic school with a hangover,” Keesh says as she steps out of the van.
“I’m sure you’ll be okay. Just dodge the lightning bolt if you need to,” Steph tells her.
I pull my sunglasses down over my eyes. “Hey, are you guys allowed to walk around with us?”
Dom and Alex glance at each other, then shrug.
“Yeah, it’s okay,” Steph says. It’s not like it’s a convent. Boys can visit. “Let’s go.”
It doesn’t take us long to tour the campus. Now, this one is like our high school. It’s really small compared to the others we visited in the last few days. I know it’s not for me, but something tells me Steph is in love with it. I can really see her here. It’s quiet and cozy. Just like Steph when she’s in school mode. Keesh and I wouldn’t make a good fit. I can see us cracking like a nut after a week of living here. We like to be where the action is. And during our brief tour, I have seen very little action.
“So that’s it, girls.” Dom peeks back at us. “College road trip has come to an end. Hope you guys figured out what you want.”
“Thanks, Dominic,” I say. “I really appreciate you volunteering to chauffeur us up and down the state. It helped clear up a lot of things for me.”
“Like Santa Cruz?” Alex smiles.
“Yeah, like I don’t want to go to a beach campus. I’m more of inland-no-sand-in-my-ass kind of girl.”
“So did you rank ‘em, babe?” he asks Steph.
“Kind of. If I get in, I have to go to Berkeley.”
Alex turns to her. “Really?” He smiles.
“Yeah. Definitely. How can you pass that up? I’d be insane if I did.”
“But …” Dom says.
“I like the idea of the all-girls campus.”
“How about you, Keesh?” Steph asks.
“I doubt I’d get into Berkeley with my shitty freshman grades. Other than that, I really liked San Jose. It wasn’t even on my list, but it stood out to me.”
“Meg?” Alex asks.
“I liked them all. I don’t know how I’m going to decide.”
Chapter 17
“Are you sure you don’t want to go, Mom? Dad?”
“We’re sure. You two go and enjoy yourselves. Tell Ben we’re very proud of him and we’ll see him tomorrow,” Dad says.
“Here, take these.” My mom stuffs a travel pack of tissues in my hand. “I know you.”
A quick glance at Alex’s face tells me he agrees. “Do you have more? She’ll probably need them,” he says.
“Ha. Ha. You two are very funny.”
“You better get moving. No telling how traffic is going to be,” Dad says.
We say our farewells and just minutes later, we’re cruising down Interstate 15 toward San Diego.
“You know, I don’t want to take another long car ride for a year at least. I can feel my ass getting squished and wider as we speak.”
Alex wiggles his brows. “Really?” He reaches his hand out. “Can I feel too?”
“You’re quite the jokester, today. Aren’t you?”
“Just trying to keep up with you.” He winks.
“Keep trying.”
He takes my hand in his as I sing along with the tunes blasting through the speakers. Every once in a while, he joins in with the chorus. I look over at him and wonder if this is what it’ll be like in twenty years. Will we still be holding hands? Still be singing off key to the music but having fun while we’re doing it? But never once do I wonder if it will be him beside me.
I glance his way again, this time lingering a bit with satisfaction. This guy is one hot piece of male.
He’s gotten older, obviously. But in the last year, he actually looks it. His features have sharpened. His jawline. It seems more defined, stronger, edgier. He’s filled out too. He’s never been skinny or lanky like other boys I know, but now … he’s a pure hunk of muscle. And I could just eat him for breakfast.
“Why are you staring at me?” he asks. “Do I have a bat in the cave or something?” He swipes at his nose with the back of his knuckles.
“No, you don’t have a booger hanging out. Dork.”
“Then what?” He breathes into the palm of his hand and sniffs. “I brushed my teeth.”
“No, your breath is fine.” I take a pretend whiff in his direction. “Wait. Maybe not.”
His expression flashes a look of horror.
“Just kidding. You’re fine.”
“Okay. Then what?” He reaches over and pats my thigh.
“I was just … admiring you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You look different. Like a man.”
“What’d I look like before?”
I smile. “A boy.” He raises a brow at me. “A really good looking boy, though.”
“And I’m not a good looking man?”
<
br /> “No.”
“No?” There goes that look of horror again, only this time with a side of flirt.
“Not just good looking. More like an eat-you-up-like-a-sexy-pop hot.”
“A sexypop?”
I chuckle at hearing him say it aloud. “Like a lollipop.”
“You don’t eat a lollipop.”
“Right. So I’ll lick you up then.”
“And down?”
“And all around,” the words slide out of my mouth.
He shifts in his seat, and the car swerves. “Think Ben will mind if we’re late?”
Good one. I laugh again. “I’d mind, sexy man. Just keep driving. Preferably straight.” I can’t stop smiling at him. “You can be my sexypop tonight.”
“Anytime, babe. Anytime.”
We made it. In just a few hours, we’ll be able to see Ben. I’m worried. I wonder if he’ll be different. Will he be all proper now? Standing straight and saying yes ma’am or yes sir to everything? Staring out the window, I start working double time on filing my thumbnail with my bottom teeth.
“Relax, Megan.”
“Maybe we should’ve stopped. The waiting is gonna kill me.”
“He’ll be here soon enough.”
No. Not soon enough. It’s been twelve long weeks. Without Alex. And without Ben. I got one of my guys back. The wait for the other has my insides all mashed up like they’ve been run through a blender.
“Let’s talk about the trip,” Alex says. “I had a good time. You?”
I don’t want to talk about colleges. We just got back yesterday. We’ve said everything there is to say. But I know he’s trying to distract me. “Hey, what’s up with you calling me your girlfriend?” That’s one we haven’t talked about.
“When?”
“In Davis. When you asked that bimbo to give us a tour.”
“Oh.” He combs his fingers through his hair. “I just didn’t want her to think I was available.”
“You’re not?”
He takes hold of my hand, squeezing it at first, and then tracing circles in my palm with his thumb. “No. I’m not.”
Double Threats Forever (Double Threat Series) Page 12