The Secret Crush

by Sarah M. Ross

  The entire group was waiting on my explanation, and I just wanted to crawl under a rock. The center of attention was not my favorite place to be.

  “Nothing, never mind.” I tried to redirect the group. “I really need help coming up with an idea for the fundraiser.”

  Chloe groaned. “Anything but a calendar. Please don’t make me do that again.”

  “Or a bikini car wash,” Gabriella added. “Nothing that requires me to take my clothes off. It’s way too cold for that shit.”

  “No way. Never again.” I took a sip of my latte, savoring the warmth as it slid down my throat. There really was no better time of year than pumpkin latte time.

  “What if we did like a pumpkin patch or something?” Gabi asked.

  The thought was intriguing. “It’s a great idea, but where would we get all the pumpkins?”

  She pouted. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “How about a carnival?” Ethan chimed in.

  “Still a lot of resources. We need something without a lot of overhead so we can keep more of the profits. The less we spend up front, the more we can donate.”

  Aiden snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it! Haunted house.”

  Piper clapped her hands together. “Ooh! Yes! That’s perfect. We can get the sisters to volunteer, and maybe some of the guys from one of the frats—”

  Ethan added, “I know Kappa Rho would love to scare the bejesus out of a bunch of girls, jumping out of dark corners and stuff.”

  It really was a great idea, but only if we could work out the logistics. “Where would we put it?”

  Everyone sat silent for a minute thinking.

  “What if we used the Chester farmhouse out on 210?” Caleb suggested. “It’s been abandoned for like, two years, and I bet we could talk the real estate agent into letting us use it since it’s for charity. It’s definitely big enough, and since it’s abandoned, it’ll add that extra layer of spooky.”

  Excitement stirred across the table. It was perfect. I took my pen and notebook out of my bag and started writing furiously as everyone threw out ideas.

  “We could even maybe add like a corn maze!”

  “We’d need a corn field for that, moron!”

  “What if we sold hot chocolate and cider at the entrance when you buy a ticket?”

  “This is going to be way better than a carnival.”

  “And a thousand times better than that stupid calendar.”

  “Wait.” Piper sighed. “It’s over a mile down a dirt road and parking is tight. People aren’t going to want to walk that far in the cold, and no way could we get like twenty cars at once.”

  Crap. She was right. “Isn’t there a pharmacy like right at the end of the road? Maybe people could park there.”

  “And what, walk the rest of the way? In the dark? When it’s barely thirty degrees out?”

  A wide grin came over Aiden’s face. “Hayride.”

  “What?” Gabi asked.

  “We could get a tractor or even a pick-up truck or something and tow a flatbed full of hay. Like a haunted hayride thing. Get people in the spirit.”

  The entire table erupted again, everyone throwing around ideas and getting excited. I wrote down everything people said until my hand started to cramp. I really should have brought my laptop instead.

  “This is going to be epic,” Chloe squeed.

  Her brother rolled his eyes at her excitement. “It really is.”

  We spent the next three hours planning out every detail, from how much to charge for tickets to where to get donations for supplies. Piper used her iPhone to research the owner of the property while the twins found where we could get hay and other decorations. Our cups had long gone empty, but we were too in the zone to notice.

  Utterly exhausted, I stood back in line for another drink. I’d been able to push aside the whole secret crush thing for the last few hours, but as I paid for this new drink, I couldn’t help but quietly glance around and wonder. Was it the guy behind the counter smiling shyly at me? The group of RPG nerds in the corner, too shy to even look in my direction? Or someone at my own table? Could it really be one of my closest friends without me knowing about it? Doubtful. But then who exactly was my secret crush? And what would he do next?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  SIGNS HAD GONE UP ALL over campus for the Gamma Delta haunted house, and I couldn’t be more pleased. It was the perfect set up to not only work side-by-side with Hadley, but also to hide in plain sight. Getting close to her behind a mask would be a breeze, and she’d never realize it was me.

  I felt like a pussy for not just taking her by the hand, admitting everything, and praying she felt the same, but I knew in the long run this was the best way. Right now, I was in the friend zone, and I needed out. I needed the grand gesture to make her see me as she’d never seen me before.

  Ideas buzzed around my head about what my next step should be, and I happily signed my name to volunteer to help in any way I could. After talking with a few of the guys in Kappa Rho—who had teamed up with the Gamma girls in the fundraiser—I secured a position that would allow me to execute my plan perfectly.

  With any luck, by the end of the month, I’d no longer be stuck in the friend zone, and Hadley would be mine.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket, and as I pulled it out, I saw it was my mom. I answered right away. “Hey, Ma. What’s up?”

  “Oh, hey, sweetie. I’m glad I caught you.”

  She sounded tired, which made me frown. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Well, actually…”

  “Just tell me. Do I need to come home?”

  “The pipe in the kitchen sink burst. I’m not sure if it was the cold snap we had last night or just the fact they’re over seventy years old. I turned the main water off, but a plumber can’t be out until Wednesday at the earliest.”

  Shit. It was Sunday. “Mom, you can’t go without water for three days.”

  “Oh, I can shower at the hospital if I need to. I just called to see if you knew where the—”

  “I’ll be home tonight, and I’ll fix it.”

  “No. That’s so sweet, but you have class tomorrow.” She sighed heavily before adding, “I can always call your fath—”

  The muscles in my jaw twitched, and I swallowed down my anger at the very mention. “Absolutely not. Don’t you dare call that douchebag. I’ll be home tonight. It’s only an hour drive. I’ll fix it and leave first thing in the morning. It’ll only mean missing one class. It’s not an important one, anyway.”

  It was important. It was for my major, but I’d never tell her that. She’d never agree to let me help. I closed up my laptop and shoved it back in my book bag, along with my other things, and left the library. I was supposed to meet up with a few people tonight for a study group, but I’d text them later to let them know I couldn’t make it.

  I hopped in my truck and made the drive out, ecstatic that Mom had a hot plate of chicken and dumplings waiting for me when I’d arrived. There was nothing better in this world than my mom’s cooking.

  While I drove, my stomach tightened as I thought about my asshole father. After over twenty-five years of marriage, he’d left Mom and us to go be with the checkout girl at the grocery store. She was only four years older than I was. It made me sick, but more than that, it pissed me the fuck off that he could hurt Mom so much after everything she’d done for him.

  Moments after I arrived, Mom placed a heaping plate in front of me. Her pale eyes, something I’d inherited from her, were tired, and I worried she wasn’t sleeping.

  “Tell me the truth now,” she said. “How important is the class you’re going to be missing tomorrow?”

  Damn. She was good. Butter me up with my favorite meal and then lay the mom guilt thick and heavy, right on top. “It’s for my major. But I emailed the professor. He understood, and I have someone giving me his notes.”

  Mom closed the refrigerator door and came to sit next to me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let yo
u come. I know how hard you’re working to get into grad school, and missing classes is only going to hurt.”

  “Mom, stop. Really. Applications have already gone out. Missing one class isn’t going to make a lick of difference whether they accept me or not.”

  She came around, putting her arms around me and squeezing. “You know how proud I am of you, don’t you?”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “I mean it. These last few years have been hard on us all, and you never let it distract you. Never let it affect how hard you work.”

  I cleared my plate and put it in the dishwasher, then went to work making sure she’d have water to run it tonight.

  The pipe had done a number on the old plumbing system. In reality, the whole thing probably needed replacing, but that wasn’t in the budget right now, so I tinkered and duct taped and mended everything the best I could. It wasn’t perfect, but I was pretty sure it would last her until she could get a real plumber out in the next few days. It was nearly one in the morning before I had the hot water flowing again, and I was spent. I flopped into my twin-size childhood bed, not even bothering to change out of my clothes before I drifted right to sleep.

  I drove back onto campus early the next morning as the sun was rising, drained from the barely four hours of sleep I got. But it was worth it, seeing the smile on Mom’s face when she turned the faucet and had hot water again. She’d packed me a cooler of homemade goodies before I left, and I dove into the stash of snickerdoodles—my favorite cookie—before I even made it out of the driveway.

  The hour drive was quiet, but I desperately needed caffeine, so I headed straight for The Beanery as I made my way to campus. There was no way I was going to make it through a ninety-minute lecture of world economics without a redeye today. I stepped out of my truck, pulling a hoodie on over my T-shirt to fight the early morning chill, and momentarily froze in my tracks. Sitting inside with her nose in a book was Hadley.

  I drew a deep breath, reminded myself to act natural, and walked up to her.

  “Hey, Hadley. What are you doing here so early?”

  Her eyes swept up to me as a smile stretched across her face. God, I wanted to kiss that face so badly. “Hey! I should be asking you that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you up and about before eleven.”

  I waved over at JT behind the counter, and he nodded, knowing exactly what I wanted to drink. “I gotcha. Be ready in a few.”

  “Thanks, man.” I called back, digging out an extra dollar to shove into the tip jar.

  I couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that overtook my face as I slid in the booth across from Hadley. This morning really was shaping up to be perfect. “So you ready for the Haunted House to start up this weekend?”

  She blew out a breath. “This has been so much work. Honestly, I’m ready for it to be over already.”

  “Overwhelmed?”

  “Understatement of the century.”

  “Anything I can do to help?”

  She smiled up at me, making my heart leap in my chest. “You’re already helping so much. I really appreciate everything. I know it’s not easy between classes and all.”

  I shrugged. “For you? Any time. I mean it.”

  She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “You’re seriously the best.”

  “You’re going to make me blush!” I teased. We sat and chatted for another few minutes about plans for the haunted house. Honestly, I could have sat there for hours just listening to her, but one look at the time and I realized I needed to go. I’d already missed one class today.

  “Can I walk you to class?” I scooted out of the booth, and she did the same.

  She glanced out into the parking lot. “Didn’t you drive your truck?”

  “It’s fine. I have one class and plan on coming back over here this afternoon, anyway, so I can leave it.”

  “Sure then. Thanks.” She stood and frowned. “Crap. I forgot my jacket.”

  I didn’t even hesitate, pulling my hoodie off and handing it to her.

  “No, I couldn’t. You only have a T-shirt on.”

  I shrugged. “I’ll be fine.” She didn’t look convinced, so I placed it in her arms. “Take it.”

  Hadley pulled it over her head. She was tiny, and it practically swallowed her, falling just a few inches above her knees. She had to roll the sleeves up a few times before she looped her arm in mine. I savored how nice it felt having her so close and fought the urge to tell her so.

  Almost. It wasn’t time yet.

  There was a comfortable silence as we strolled through campus, and when we reached her building, she pushed up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. “Thanks for walking with me. And for the hoodie.”

  She began to take it off, but I put my hand on hers. “Keep it. You might get cold later.”

  Honestly, I just liked knowing she was wearing something of mine. No, I more than liked. I fuckin’ loved seeing her in it. I wanted her to wear it everyday. To sleep in it. To have her sweet strawberry smell blend into the fibers.

  She walked into the building and out of sight, and I picked up my pace as I headed to class, praying that the next time Hadley gave me a kiss, it wasn’t just on my cheek. And I was about to put phase two of my plan in play to make sure that happened.

  CHAPTER SIX

  I WAS SURVIVING ON MOSTLY caffeine and adrenaline. I was pretty sure my hair was turning grey, and I’d only had about three hours of sleep in the last four days. But this fundraiser was getting done. Things were falling into place, and it was setting up to be one of the biggest and most lucrative fundraisers in Westin University and Gamma Delta’s history. I was so freaking proud of everyone who’d volunteered to help with everything, from decorating all the different themed rooms and making costumes to the dozens of people who’d signed up to play parts every night.

  Tonight, several of the key volunteers were gathering in the common area of my dorm to go over and finalize everything for the weekend’s grand opening. I needed all the last minute details complete before we could open.

  I grabbed my laptop and planner before heading for the door.

  “Hey!” Piper called out behind me. She was sliding into a pair of ballet flats and pulling her hair up into a messy bun, running late as usual. “Do you need to grab the hoodie you borrowed from—?”

  “No!” I called out. “We’re just going down to the common room.”

  “Yea, but won’t he be there? You can give it back.”

  She was right. He would be there, but I honestly didn’t want to give it back. It was really soft and smelled good. I liked how big it was, the way I could pull my knees up and have it engulf me, keeping my whole body warm in the middle of the night. True, I had my own hoodies and hell, several different blankets I could snuggle up in, but the hoodie just made me feel… happy. I wasn’t ready to let that go.

  I decided to pretend like I didn’t hear the question so I could avoid giving it back for a few more days. After this haunted house is done, I promised myself. Then I’ll give it back.

  Most of the people I’d invited were already there, milling around the leather couches and the big screen TV the university provided. I took a seat in one of the bean bag chairs on the floor and powered up my laptop, looking for the “to do” list I’d created earlier.

  “Hey, Hadley!” Chloe called, plopping down next to me, twisting a strand of her long blonde hair in her fingers. “So I got a request from the Phi Kappa house to see if the concession stand would also sell hard cider and other alcoholic drinks. They said they’d be willing to pay more, and it could really advance our revenue stream.”

  I shook my head. “We can’t. The dean won’t let us. Trust me, the Phi Kaps aren’t the only ones who’ve asked.”

  Chloe laughed. “Yeah, you can see where people’s priorities are, that’s for sure. Oh well, I don’t think it’ll be that big of an issue. The whole campus is talking about the haunted house, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be swimming in
money.”

  “From your lips,” I murmured, glancing around the room to see who we were waiting on. I had two papers due on Friday, and I hadn’t started either of them since I was dealing with this whole fundraiser. If everything got done tonight, I could at least start them and have some hope of passing this semester.

  Aiden and Davis were talking about last week’s football game. Aiden waved as I glanced his way, and I smiled back. I was really glad he was here. He had great connections in town, and half of the donations we’d obtained were because of him. Davis had been able to convince his fraternity to partner with us, and most of his house was volunteering to play parts, which was a huge help.

  Chloe and her roommate Aisha were flipping through a magazine. Both of the girls were in the theater department, and between them I think they sewed over half of the costumes we were using.

  Caleb and Ethan were watching the SportsCenter highlights on the TV. I walked over to the pair. “So you’re sure you guys don’t mind using your own vehicles for the haunted hayrides? I know it puts a lot of liability on you if something goes wrong.”

  “No big deal, Hadley,” Ethan said, giving me a wink. “Besides, we have liability insurance, and we’re going to be going what, like ten miles an hour? I don’t think anything serious could happen at that speed.”

  “He’s right. It’s going to be fine.” Caleb reached over and rubbed my shoulder, immediately releasing tension. I sighed contentedly as he continued to work the knotted muscles. “You’re doing a kickass job here, Hadley. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  He let me go as Piper hurried into the room, late as usual.

  “Sorry! Sorry!” She rushed over, pulling up the last seat. “Ooh! Are those cookies?”

  She reached out toward a large leather ottoman where a plate of cookies had been placed. She grabbed two, taking a big bite. “Mmm, snickerdoodles are my favorite! Who brought these?”

  “Wait. They’re snickerdoodles?” Chloe asked. “Oh my god, I love those! My mom makes the best snickerdoodles like, every Christmas. I swear I could eat a dozen in one sitting.” Chloe snagged a cookie, breaking it in half. “Soo good!”