Page 71 of Frat House Fling

“No,” I said with a small sigh.

She studied my face. “But something’s happened, right?”

Predictably, I blushed. “Yeah. You can say that.”

“So what’s the issue? Is he sending you mixed signals or something?”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure. Things had been tense in the house lately, but that wasn’t the main problem. “No, that’s not the problem.”

Naomi leaned forward, her expression concerned. “Then what is?”

She kind of felt like an older sister to me, and older sisters were the ones you were supposed to ask for advice. “Well, see, there’s this other guy too. Ian.”

She smiled, an eyebrow raised. “Ah, now I get it.”

“Is it awful of me to kind of have feelings for both of them?” I looked out the window at the people on the sidewalk rather than facing my friend after that admission.

“No,” she said immediately. “That can happen sometimes.”

“So what do you do? Just keep getting to know them until you choose?”

“That’s one possibility,” she said.

“I don’t even know how either of them feel about me.” Theo and I had done some intimate things, whereas Ian and I hadn’t. But I’d felt closer to the pre-med student these past few weeks, and it felt good to provide support to him instead of always being the one who needed help.

“Maybe that’s the first step. Figuring that out.”

“And then picking one? If they’re both interested, I mean.”

She took her mug in both hands as if warming them. “Look, Hailey, you’re young. You don’t have to decide anything right now. You can keep your options open. If you like both of them, spend time with both of them. As long as you’re not doing anything behind anyone’s back.”

“They’re friends. That kind of makes it more complicated.”

Naomi sipped her hot chocolate. I understood now why she hadn’t gotten a caffeinated drink. “It can be complicated. Maybe it’s also a good thing. You like them. If they have any brains, they like you too. And they like each other. So it’s less of a love triangle and more of a partnership.”

I frowned, trying to follow that logic. “Aren’t partnerships just between two people?”

“Not always,” she said. A secretive smile played across her lips. Then she set her cup down. “Why not just keep getting toknow them for right now? And focus on your class. It sounds hard. Things will work out in the end. They did for me.”

“I’m glad they did.” But I was very worried about whether they would for me.

A few nights later, Ian actually joined us for dinner, and I was glad that I’d made a chicken dish that was one of his favorites. But he went right up to his room after dinner, not staying for drinks and conversation, and Theo and I exchanged glances as he left. But at least he’d joined us for a while.

Back in my room after the dishes were done, I thought about what Naomi had said. Theo was important to me, but besides a few flirty exchanges, we hadn’t done anything since that day I’d gone to my room.

And Ian and I hadn’t done anything, not even kissed, but I couldn’t help having feelings for him. And not just because he was going through a rough time, but because he was a good guy. I still wondered, from time to time, if he might be Night Owl, who still texted me from time to time.

I opened my textbook, but I was too restless to focus, so I went upstairs and took a shower. Even though it was late at night, I took some time to make myself look and feel my best. Then I changed, pulled on my robe, and went back downstairs.

Instead of going to my room, I bypassed it and went to Ian’s. A strip of light was visible under the door, so I knew he was still up.

Before I could change my mind, I knocked on the door.

“Room service,” I announced.

20

HAILEY

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