Page 18 of Patrick

Darcy raises a skeptical brow, and I’m not sure how to read her, but so far, I’m not feeling warm and fuzzy about her. And that’s too bad since we’re both fashion design majors. I was hoping we could geek out on all things design.

Standing, I want to escape to my room before one of these girls starts talking in greater detail about the salacious rumors they’ve heard about Trick. I’m not so in control that I wouldn’t feel the pinprick of hurt listening to them, whether or not I have a right to feel betrayed.

“Did you hear the rumor that he had a threesome with—aren’t you going to stick around and gossip?” The pretty plump girl with an eager smile lighting up her gorgeous face, highlighted by long dark fluttering eyelashes that are astoundingly real, aims her earnest deep brown eyes at me. I’d consider giving up my left pinky fingernail for those eyelashes.

“No thank you. I need to finish putting my room together and go over my schedule and the campus map. Classes start tomorrow, and I’m new, remember?” I smile and wave at the group as I go to my bedroom suite off the kitchen and close the door firmly behind me.

Thank god neither Ricci nor Nina disputed my professed ignorance about the campus, but I only slightly exaggerated. I had only two days to explore the campus with them, and I’m still not sure where one of my classes is. In truth, I desperately need to call my sister Carmela—in the privacy of my room.

Taking out my phone and pressing Carmela’s icon, I squash a flash of guilt about Ricci kicking out the girl who had this room last semester, but she swore the girl didn’t really want to stay anyway.

Dad came through when he agreed to let me take the last of the four bedrooms with Nina and Ricci in their apartment. I scored big. The Hamlet may be a student apartment complex, but it’s extra exclusive and located perfectly on the edge of campus. The other three bedrooms are upstairs, so mine is separate and relatively private—and right near the back door for potential secret visits from a certain young man.

I’m pondering whether or not to keep his first visit secret when Carmela answers my call.

“I made contact.” My voice almost squeaks with nervous excitement. If Nina could see me now, she’d take back everything she said about me being in control and confident.

“Wow. Hello to you too. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by contact, but whatever, that was hella fast work.”

She pauses, and I get my nervous energy under control.

She asks quietly, “How are you?”

“I don’t know, Mel. It’s weird, but I really don’t know. I’m a confused, excited mess, and every other minute I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. Then I look at him or even think about him and realize I have no choice. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t take a shot at…” I don’t even know what I’m taking a shot at. Happiness for now? Forever love? One thing it won’t be is a happy ever after, not with our families being enemies, not the way they barely tolerate the others’ existence and compete ferociously at every opportunity.

“I get it. You’re doing what you need to do. And don’t worry so much. After all, I have your back, don’t I? And I’m still part of the family.”

“Of course you are.” A nervous hiccup bubbles up, and I cover my mouth, still trying to simmer down. I add, “For now. I’m not sure if Dad and our brothers wouldn’t disown both of us if it came down to it.”

“I’m sure they won’t. Mom isn’t like Dad. You know she barely puts up with the tough guy talk about the Jennings. In fact, last week I could have sworn I saw her talking to Mrs. Jennings outside the local hairdresser—you know the one on Main Street?”

“Lulu’s Beauty Babes? I doubt Mom goes there.” I scrunch my brows, trying to figure that one out, but I can’t. There’s no way Mom would have her hair done at that salon. She’s famously loyal to Chez Josef Salon.

“They were outside, but whatever. I met Lulu at the Fourth of July fireworks, and she’s a fun lady. I like her. Maybe I’ll try her salon.”

I laugh. “I bet you would.”

“Don’t be such a snob, Sof, especially not when you’re about to slum it with the original bad boy of the Jennings family.”

“Fine. You’re right. And he’s not a bad boy. Don’t believe all the rumors.” I don’t believe them. Not the one about the threesome or any of them. Not really. If there’s one thing I understand acutely, it’s that gossip is gossip, at best an exaggeration of the truth. At its worst, gossip is flat-out lies.

I remember how Ricci and Nina gossiped about Trick in high school, and I know he never did more than kiss that girl Marilyn at that party that time. And he actually apologized to her later for all the gossip.

“I know. I like Trick. He was always straight up with my friends who knew him in high school. My friends weren’t gossips.”

“Right. Speaking of Ricci and Nina—because I know your pointed comment about friends and gossip was about them—they’ve been super sweet to me, so don’t speak ill of them.”

My sister laughs. “Of course they are. They’re just like lap dogs.”

“Stop it. They’re just girls trying to have fun, like the song says. Trying to figure out life.”

“I guess they’re not doing too bad since they chose you for a friend.”

“Aww. Look how sweet you are.” I can feel Mel’s eyeroll over the airwaves, and I smile.

“What’s next?”

“I’ll invite him over, and we’ll see what happens.”