Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I stare at her, overwhelmed and blinking.
“Sorry, this is Quintin,” Vann answers on my behalf, “and he’s a friend from school, so please treat him nicely. He’s doing the summer Arts program, too. The professor is giving him a hard enough time. That’s half the reason he’s here. Can you leave him alone, please?”
“Classmates?” She glances at Vann over her shoulder. “Toby’s not gonna like this, y’know.”
“Let me worry about Toby.”
“We’ve got ourselves a full house now. And what if your friend here wants to bring home a boy toy? What if I want to bring home a boy toy? Or a girl toy? Or all of the toys? Every one of us is gonna be involved if any butt-bumping goes on under this tiny roof.”
Vann’s eyes are half-lidded with frustration. “Kelsey.”
“Not to mention there’s one bathroom among us. I’m just stating facts here.”
The two of them go back and forth as I awkwardly pull my bag out of the chair and clutch it by my side, now and then glancing out of the back windows. On one hand, Vann should have remembered he had a houseguest already. That part annoys me a little. But on the other hand, we were just caught in the moment of how fun it sounded to spend this weekend hitting the beach, engaging on my alleged quest to rekindle my flame, and clearly he forgot this tiny snag in his master plan.
Also, there’s a pretty simple solution. “I could sleep on the couch,” I quietly throw in.
Vann and Kelsey stop at once, turning my way.
“Really,” I go on with a shrug. “It’s no biggie. I’m just here for a couple of days, right? I’ll take the couch.”
Kelsey gives me a look. “You sure?”
“Totally.” I pull my bag over a shoulder. “I don’t want to impose.”
She gives me a once-over, then shrugs. “Alright. I just liked you a little more. Still doesn’t fix the overcrowding issue, but hey, we’re all friends, right? Just don’t cry when you wake up in the middle of the night with a purring cat on your chest. She likes to stake claim over guests when they’re most vulnerable.” She brushes past Vann, then stops. “There’s a party tonight. Toby and I are going.”
Vann turns to her. “Wait. What?”
“Y’know, if you’re going to live here, you need to stop being the last to hear about things. Hope your friend has a sexy pair of pajamas to wear. That’s the theme. I assume you’re both going.” With that last pearl, she leaves.
Vann stares after her for a moment, then winces as he faces me again. “Sorry about Kelsey. She can be kinda—”
“It’s okay,” I insist. “Couch is no big deal, really.”
“You’re my guest, and I’m putting you on the couch.” He lets out a sigh, then lowers his voice. “Honestly, I don’t know why Kelsey is still here. She’s Toby’s bestie, I know, but we just moved here, and isn’t it our time to get settled in on our own? Make a life for ourselves here?”
Oh, oops. “Sorry. I don’t mean to—”
“Hey, that doesn’t apply to you! You’re my guest, and you’re welcome here. I’m only talking about her. I swear, I thought she was gone already.” A big, creaky groan in the ceiling causes us both to look up. “Hmm. Sounds like the boyfriend’s out of the shower. You thirsty? Come on, drop your bag, I’ll get you something to drink.”
A few minutes later in the kitchen while sipping sodas, I learn Vann can do an accurate and hilarious impression of our professor. I’m in the middle of belting out in laughter when Toby comes down the stairs in nothing but a towel. His pale, wet, lanky form stops at the foot of the stairs, and his big blue eyes land on us with surprise. Water still drips from his spiky bangs, his pouty lips parted.
I wipe a tear of laughter from my eye. “H-Hi!” I greet him cheerily.
He puts on a reluctant smile and waves back.
Vann clears his throat. “Oh, sorry, right, introductions. Toby, babe, this is that guy I told you about, the one in my class. Quintin. He just got informed by his professor that he’s a terrible artist and should go jump into a hole.”
“No, I didn’t,” I mutter.
“And I thought I’d invite him here to hang with us for the weekend,” finishes Vann with a shrug. “For inspiration. Sightseeing. Check out the Rivington. You know, whatever his starved artist’s soul needs.”
Clearly Toby is trying to be polite, but he looks just as startled as Kelsey did a moment ago. “That’s … nice!”
“Yeah, I thought you’d think so!” Vann smiles, proud of himself—and clearly oblivious to the awkwardness in Toby’s voice. “Anyway, Quintin’s okay with crashing on our couch. I kinda forgot about Kelsey—”
“Did you, now?” says Toby flatly.