Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Are you kidding?” Cassie laughs. “I’ve had that setting turned on for years. I always know where you are. Always.”
Georgia Brooks is not amused. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”
“Of course I do, Wheorgie,” Cassie says, a proud smile on her lips. “I sound like an intelligent goddess.”
My mother’s best friend has been calling her variations of Wheorgie and Whorge and basically any combination of the word whore and Georgia combined. It’s their thing. Well, it’s Cassie’s thing. Though, I’ve certainly heard my mom drop the nickname Casshead a time or two.
But to prevent any emotional damage, I refuse to ask them where the nicknames came from. I mean, there’re certain things you don’t want to know about your mom. Or your mom’s best friend—even though Cassie Kelly doesn’t hold much back.
“No, Cass.” My mom shakes her head. “You sound like you belong in a true crime documentary.”
“Oh, please,” Cassie says, waving a hand. “It’s for safety. And also because I’m nosy.”
My mom shoots her a look, but I’ve long stopped being surprised by Cassie Kelly’s antics. She’s chaos cloaked in Chanel perfume, and Ace is basically her spiritual clone.
Which becomes even more obvious when he strolls through the door right on cue.
I aim a finger at him. “Of course you were in on this.”
He grins. “You called it the one, Jules. And who am I to deny my mother her God-given right to stalk your mom?”
I roll my eyes at him, but Cassie is quick to take over the conversation again. “You two have been friends since you came out of us. I honestly quite like the idea of you being in the same building.”
Ace nods like this has been the plan all along. “If you’re taking this one, I’ll take the one across the hall.”
“Have you even looked at it?” I ask with a scoff.
“I’m looking at this one. It’s got floors and a kitchen and, most importantly, you. Feels like a win.”
I gawk at him. “That’s your entire decision-making process?”
Ace shrugs like he hasn’t just completely hijacked my solo-living fantasy.
Leave it to my best friend to take my months of research and narrow it down to a split-second decision for himself. I guess he figures I’ve done the legwork, but I can’t imagine being that loose with my future home.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like the idea of having him close. I mean, we spend every freaking day together as it is. But I kind of thought moving in here on my own might give me a little independence going into the school year. My introspection has been hard at work since I started hanging out with Drew, and after inviting Ace to join us at practically every opportunity, I’m starting to wonder if I’ve become dependent on using him as a crutch.
And things are going well with Drew. I really don’t want to ruin it by being so insecure in my own independence that I’m constantly obsessing over where my best friend is and what he’s doing and wishing he could be there too to carry the conversation more.
Drew’s a great guy—with unfettered interest in me. And he’s the first guy I’ve dated in college. I don’t want to ruin it.
“Lia?” Ace says, eyes searching mine. “You cool with me living across the hall?”
This is it. My shot to say something. To stand up for the very independent woman I’m pretending to be.
“Yeah. Of course.” I smile. “You’re my bestie. It’ll be great.”
Ace beams like I just handed him the deed to the building. “Get your Amex, Cassie. We’re going housewares shopping.”
His mom groans. “Maybe I should assign that to your father.”
Ace snorts. “If you want the centerpiece of the apartment to be a stripper pole, then sure. Grand idea.”
“Say your goodbyes, Acer,” she says, already halfway out the door. “We’re hitting Target before I change my mind.”
Ace pulls me into a hug, warm and familiar. And I let myself melt into it for just a second.
“You good?” he asks quietly, and like magic, I actually am.
Living near Ace will be amazing. Any problems I have with exerting my independence are my own, not his.
“Yeah,” I say. “We’re going to have the best year.”
He kisses my temple and backs away, only half listening as Cassie calls for him again. “There’s a party on campus later,” he says. “You coming?”
“I have a date with Drew.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Another one, huh? That makes three, right?”
“If you count the first one, which I’m not sure we should.”
“It counts. All things interrupted by Gunnar still have to count or none of us would ever have anything, you know?”
I laugh. “True.”
“Well…” He shifts toward the door. “Text me or call if you get done with him…or done with the date…or whatever…and want to meet up. I’m hitting up Scottie, Finn, and Blake too.”