Page 45 of Just This Once

Fuck.

Losing it, I snagged the receiver and punched the accept button viciously so I could snarl, “Oh my God,what?”

“Hey, Grumpy,” she greeted in a cheerful voice that made the hair prickle on the back of my neck. “Whatcha doing?”

“Trying to avoidyou,” I growled.

“Well, better luck next time.”

“Did you seriously have to call three times in a row like that? It’s fucking annoying.”

“Well, if you had answered on thefirstring,” Hope countered practically. “I would’ve only called once.”

“What do you want?”

She paused briefly before evasively asking, “Where are you?”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Why?”

“Because I have a request. And do you realize you haven’t asked for your car back yet?”

Gritting my teeth, I ground out, “If I tell you to just keep it, will you leave me alone?”

“No,” she answered without hesitation. “But Iwillkeep it. Thanks.”

“Great,” I grumbled. “Good talk. Bye now.”

“Wait!” she cried. “You didn’t tell me where you were.”

“You already asked your question,” I reminded her.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes,” I bit out irritably. “You asked about the car.”

“That wasn’t my original request, though.Thisquestion has to be askedin person, trust me.”

“Why?”

“Because it just does,” she snarled, sounding about as irritated with me as I felt with her.

“And if I’m not in the mood for your presence?” I taunted.

She groaned. “Oh my God. Then I’ll ask again tomorrow where you are. And the next day. And the day after that. I’ll just keep asking until you finally tell me. Over and over again for infinity without end, until?—”

“Jesus,” I groaned. “I’m in the cafeteria at the HaveU Student Union.”

She paused before sniffing. “What the hell are you doing there? Is the food just that good that you had to keep going back…even after graduation? Or were you trolling for women?”

It really grated on my nerves that she knew me so well.

Glancing at a gorgeous girl strolling by, I slumped lower in my seat because she did nothing for me.

“None of your fucking business,” I told Hope.

“Wow, you’re such a sweetheart. But seriously, are you with any of the guys right now? Is Alec there?”

“No. I’m alone. Why?”

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