Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
And yet, because I’m Ace Kelly’s roommate, I find myself here anyway.
You also find yourself having fun.
I don’t know how or why, but wherever Ace Kelly is, a good-ass time isn’t far behind. Though, the CIA would have to waterboard me to get me to admit that to him out loud.
As the cheerleaders leave the field and the game starts up again, I pull my phone out of my pocket to check to see if I have any missed texts from my siblings—at least, that’s what I tell myself. But I end up scrolling through the one-sided conversation from Scottie from before our encounter at the breakfast buffet. Before I basically told her to stay the fuck away from me.
I sigh. I should have deleted these, but I didn’t.
I’m so sorry for everything I’ve gotten you involved in. Please let me know if I can help with anything.
I have notes from class if you need them. I can’t believe you’re in trouble because of me.
Dane told Nadine, who told everyone here, that you guys are just on probation for now. I’m so sorry, but I guess it’s good for once that Dane is a nepo baby. ☹
I know you probably need some time. Reach out when you’re ready.
I hope you’re okay, Finn. I’ll always be sorry.
Fuck, I’m such a dick.
My fingers hover over the keys for a brief moment before I start to type out a message.
I’m so bad for you, but maybe we could try anyway.
Delete.
I’m sorry I’m such an asshole. Maybe I took things too far. Let’s be friends.
Delete.
I know it’s my fault, but I miss you.
Delete.
This fucking sucks, but it’s for the best. She’s way better off without me.
“Yo, Finn, by the way, you already have plans tonight,” Ace declares, pulling my focus away from my phone. I shove it back into my pocket.
“Huh?”
“Two words. Computare Caterva,” he says quietly and then waggles his brows at me like I should know what he’s talking about.
“Are those words English?”
“You haven’t heard about Double C?”
“Ohhh. Double C. Yeah! I totally know.”
“Really?” he asks excitedly.
I frown and shake my head. “I have zero fucking clue what you’re on about right now.”
“Ah, man. You are in for a treat. I can’t wait for you to thank me later.”
I roll my eyes. “Somehow I don’t think that’s how it’ll go.”
“Believe me, it will. I got you an invite into the most exclusive, top-secret thing on campus.” He winks. “Be ready to go by eleven tonight.”
No room for excuses. It’s not a choice. And just like that, Ace Kelly, roommate extraordinaire, strikes again.
Finn
Through the darkness, Ace guides us across campus, past Newton and the dean’s office in Stewart until we reach Nash Mathematics Center. There isn’t much I know about this mysterious mission to what Ace claims will be the coolest part of our college experience, but I know if it’s much farther of a walk, I’m giving up and going back to the dorm.
“Ace, I swear if you’re taking me into some back alley to watch a bunch of dudes do a séance-style circle jerk or some shit, I’m going to kill you,” Blake remarks, mirroring my thoughts impressively.
“Ditto on the killing.”
“Cool your jets, boys,” Ace chides, waving a hand before circling around to the back of Nash like a cat burglar in a cartoon. His stride is animated, and his toes are pointed as he high-steps.
In the center of the massive building, a set of cement steps that lead to nothing but more darkness makes Ace’s eyes light up and his posture straighten. “This is it. We’re here.”
“We’re here?” Blake asks, annoyed now. “What the fuck is going on?”
I still don’t know why Blake Boden is with us, seeing as the guy just won one of the biggest games of the year and could be celebrating with his teammates while co-eds hang on his every word, but I’m not mad about it. So far, he’s doing a hell of a job of asking all the questions I’d be forced to ask on my own if he weren’t here. Plus, I thought the star quarterback of a Division I school with the kind of national attention that he has would be stuck-up or cockier than shit. Instead, he’s kind of wholesome. Confident, sure, but not at all the kind of fuckface I like to beat the shit out of.
“Relax, Boden,” Ace says, an ironic command, given our current location in front of a creepy, abandoned stairwell. “We’ll go down in a sec. Just waiting on Julia to get here.”
“Pretty sure Blake’s primary concern isn’t the holdup,” I reply with a howl. “We want to know what the fuck’s down there in your little mystery cave.”
Before Ace can answer, Julia’s hurried voice cuts through the stillness around us. “Hi, hi! Sorry we’re late! We had a little wardrobe emergency, and—” She stops talking as the three of us turn to look at her, a small smile forming at the corner of her mouth before she continues. “Right. You dudes don’t care about clothes.”