Page 18 of Rival Season
“Great contact name,” I say approvingly.
“It’s factually correct.” She chuckles. “I can’t believe your plan is already working, Penn.”
Her phone pings again.
Cheater Chadwick
Do you want me to order us some dinner? Spaghetti carbonara, your favorite, right?
“Wrong,” Hazel mutters. “It’s Fettuccine Alfredo.”
“How long did you guys date?” I ask.
“A year,” she says mournfully. “And he apparently didn’t listen to a word I said the whole time.”
Can’t say I’m too surprised at that, but I keep my thoughts to myself. Instead, I say, “Well, sounds like you’re much better off without him.”
She nods almost angrily. “I’ve definitely come to realize that.”
“Hey, Matthews!” Fisher’s voice suddenly comes from outside the door. “Noah said to let you know that dinner’s almost ready. He’s wondering if your lady-guest will be joining us?”
I look over at Hazel.
“I couldn’t possibly intrude—” she starts.
“Yup,” I call back, taking that as a yes. “She’ll stay. We’ll be out in a bit.”
“K, well in the meantime, you kids have fun. Stay safe!” Fisher calls tauntingly as his footsteps carry down the hallway. I clock Hazel’s horrified expression and try not to laugh as she keels over sideways and buries her face in my comforter.
“Noooo,” she moans. “Your roommates totally think we’re in here…”
“Doing it?” I offer with a grin.
She groans again.
“Oh, sorry,” I tease. “Did you prefer the term having sex? Making love?Coitus?”
Hazel sits up, her cheeks blazing, and throws a pillow at me. “Stop it, Penn!”
“Not what we want Weatherby to think you’re saying right now,” I say with a smirk. “We want him to think you’re saying,yes, Penn. Don’t stop, Penn. You’re so much better than my greasy ex Chadwick Weatherby ever was, Penn.Oh, and you’re so much stronger and sexier than him, too.”
Hazel watches me imitate her feminine voice looking half amused and half scandalized, her mouth open as she gapes at me. She finally schools her expression and tips her nose in the air. “I would never say those things.”
“Maybe not with Chadwick…” I mutter, and our eyes catch for one hot, loaded moment before her phone pings with another text and we both quickly look away.
Hazel tilts her phone so we can both read the text.
Cheater Chadwick
Food is on the way, so come back soon, Hazel. It’s not polite to keep people waiting.
Oh Chadwick, you idiotic fool.
“Dinner’s ready,” Noah hollers from the kitchen.
“Hungry?” I ask Hazel.
Her eyes are dancing, she looks happier than I’ve seen her, and I can't help but feel glad to have contributed to her current happiness. “Starving, actually.”
