Page 30 of To Love Jason Thorn

“Lucy,” I whispered and knocked on her doorquietly. When there was no answer, I opened it and saw she was already deep insleep. Closing her door, I padded down to the kitchen to grab a water bottleand get back to my room before I came face to face with Marcus, just in case hewas the one who had slammed his door.

When I was safely back in my room, I turnedon the lights and finally found my lost phone down on the floor by the bed.

Seeing the two notifications for new textmessages from Jason, my heart decided it was time to have a heart attack. Ihugged the phone to my chest, took a deep breath, and exhaled. Wanting to bealone in the dark, I turned off the lights again and got back in bed. My phone wasstill tightly clasped in my hands.

Just like it was years and years ago, I thought.

Now that there was nobody around and I wasall alone with my thoughts, everything that had happened that day seemed like adream. Seeing Jason’s name light up my screen was doing inexpressible things tomy heart.

Before I could work myself intohyperventilation, I opened his texts.

Jason: I can see why you didn’t want me to read this.

Oh shit!

Jason: Are you awake?

My heart stuttered to an almost stop.

Does he hate it?

He hates it.

The last text had been sent fifteen minutesago.

I contemplated saying, Yes, I’m awake,but decided against it. We had seen each other, talked to each other enough fora day. I didn’t want him to see me as the old Olive who trailed after him toget his attention.

If he wanted to say how much he hated my book,tomorrow was just as good as any day.

Chapter Nine

Olive

Someone poked my cheek. “Wakey wakey,sleepyhead. It’s time to get up.”

“Go away,” I murmured, digging my headdeeper into my pillow.

“It’s almost nine o’clock,” whined Lucy aboveme. “You have to get up.”

I opened my eyes and saw Lucy’s upturned facelooming over me with an overly bright smile. Quickly, I closed my eyes shut.

“You’re like those annoying house cats wealways watch on Facebook,” I mumbled. “Why do I have to get up? I don’t have aclass today.”

“Because we need to get out and celebrateyesterday’s meeting. And I’m not a cat—I’m offended, woman. I’m a cute puppyeveryone wants to take home.”

Unable to stop myself, I yawned again andreluctantly opened my eyes. Thankfully, she was no longer inches away from myface.

“What time is it?”

“Nine.”

“We’re celebrating at nine in the morning?Whose brilliant idea was that? I’m gonna say no. Come back at a reasonablehour.”

“Come on, Olive.” She pulled at my covers.“You don’t have a class, but I do. So get up, get up, get up.”

“Jesus, you are like a five-year-old.”

“If you don’t want me to dump a bucket ofcold water on you, you’ll get up, get yourself together, and be by the door inless than half an hour.”

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