Page 20 of Method Acting

“It’s not funny,” I said. I mean, it wasn’t that funny.

“Tell me,” Jimmy said. “Are you mad because he called you a generic Hollywood fossil? Or are you mad because he’s not interested in you?”

I stared at him because obviously it was the first one... and maybe a little of the second. Okay, maybe more of the second one than I liked to admit.

Tater snorted. “Have you ever had anyone ever be not interested in you?”

“Fuck off, both of ya. I’m hitting the gym.”

Jimmy patted his stomach. “Gotta keep the trilobite in shape.” Tater laughed.

I hated them both.

And using that petulance and the irritation at Amos brushing me off, I shoved my headphones in, pumped up my gym playlist, and hit the treadmill first, then weights, then did laps in the pool.

By the time I was done, I was exhausted and starving, and my mind was clear.

More or less.

We came out of the aquatic hall, bag over my shoulder, towel around my neck with my hair still kinda wet, and we all but ran into Georgia and Taylah and their group.

“Hi there,” Georgia said to me.

I tousled the towel through my wet hair. “Hey,” I replied. I knew the look she was giving me. The smile, the eyes. I’d seen them before; I’d acted on them before. She was a great girl, smart and fun, and she lived by the no-dating rule, same as me. I mighta been interested in that look, for one night...

Except I was supposed to be acting interested in someone else.

A certain someone who thought I was generic.

Georgia certainly didn’t think I was generic.

“We’re heading down to Shenanigans,” she said, still smiling at me. “You guys should come with us.”

Man, I was so tempted . . .

Jimmy clapped me on the back. “Sounds good, right?”

I groaned. “I wish I could.” I met Georgia’s gaze so she’d know I wasn’t flaking out because of her. “I really do, but I have a homework assignment for drama class. It’s a group thing. I can’t skip out.” Then I looked at Jimmy. “But you guys should totally go.”

I knew they’d really liked to have gone and they certainly didn’t need me to. I wasn’t the social glue here.

Jimmy gave Georgia a bit of a smile. “You girls don’t mind if it’s just me and Tater?”

“Not at all,” she said, giving him a bit of a once-over.

Yep. He was totally going.

Bolstered by this confidence, Jimmy gave me a shit-eating grin. “A homework assignment with anyone from your drama class in particular?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I said, giving him a shove. “And have some wings and beer for me.” I rubbed my stomach. “Man, that sounds good.” I took a step back. “Have fun, guys.”

“Here,” Jimmy said, taking his and Tater’s gym bags and shoving them into my chest. “Take these for us? Thanks.”

They laughed, and I carried everything back to our house. Mundell House, part of the Liberty Court, was just a short walk from campus. I loved the house we lived in. I loved living with my friends. I loved the parties, the weekends of watching football or hockey or playing volleyball on the beach.

I loved this campus. Especially this time of year when the days were barely warm and the evenings were getting cool, right on the beach. T-shirts during the day, hoodies at night. The breeze, the trees, the sunset.

It was freaking beautiful.

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