Page 10 of Bump and Run

Four

Eliza

I takeone step into Talon Hall and Grant juts out in front of me.

“What’d he say?”

I gasp. “Jeez, Grant — you’re like a damn pop-up book.”

“Junior Morgan just bought you coffee and sat down beside you for ninety-seven seconds.”

“You counted?”

“Yup,” he nods. “What’d he say? Tell me now.”

I roll my eyes and move around him to head towards the classrooms. “I think you can probably guess.”

Grant follows so closely our elbows bump together with each step. “Did he ask you out?”

“I slammed on the brakes before he got the chance.”

“What?”His face contorts like I just smacked him. “Why would you do that?”

I pause, furrowing my brow. “You’re the one who said he was a player…”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” he chuckles. “It’s Junior Morgan, Eliza. He plays to win — if you know what I mean.”

“I don’t think I do…”

He sighs. “Junior doesn’t take no for an answer. Once a girl is in his sights, he doesn’t stop until she’s screaming yes and, trust me, you want to be that girl.”

I laugh. “Sounds too good to be true.”

He points over my shoulder. “Go back out there and tell him you’ll go out with him.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

I continue moving across the lobby. “Because, even if I wanted to go out with him, I can’t. He’s on the football team. My dad would flip his shit if he found out.”

Grant deflates, his vicarious dreams dashed upon the rocks. “I forgot about that. You’re supposed to be playing daddy’s perfect, little princess…”

“Yeah,” I remind him. “Sorry, Grant. I won’t be screaming yes for Junior Morgan anytime soon.”

“But you want to, right?” he teases, nudging my ribs.

I blush. I fucking blush. Just like Junior said I would. “No.”

“Liar.”

“I’m sure there are worse ways to spend an evening,” I admit. “But it doesn’t really matter anyway.”

“Find a monologue for the fall semester showcase yet?” he asks me, shrugging as he changes the subject.

I reach into my messenger bag for his book. “Not quite. Need your book back?”

“Keep it. I have like three copies of that thing.”

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