Page 23 of The Baller

“Yeah, hope so.” I forced a smile and shook her outstretched hand. “I’m Radley. This is Millie.”

“Hey,” she nodded over.

“Anyone else want to join Mr. Kerchinsky?” Professor Hawkes called out.

No one said a word.

“Good. And let this be fair warning: I understand the fraternities are going through their pledge processes, but none of it is to take place in here. I will not tell you again.Moving forward, your phone is to be dropped in the lockbox by the door at the beginning of every class.”

A loud groan echoed off the walls, though thankfully no one looked at me. I shrunk down in my seat all the same.

“Good, now, laptops away. I want your full attention. Today we’re going to be focusing on the notions of romance, and how Shakespeare portrayed it throughout his works. What does romance mean to you?”

I could almost feel Millie crowing next to me.

I definitely felt the elbow digging in my side as she whispered, “Hot boys saving the day.”

SIX

LUX

I gaveup trying to go back to sleep… or sleep at all.

The banging around in the kitchen meant Ace was in there trying to make breakfast, or maybe it was Parker. It was definitely someone who wanted breakfast but didn’t know how to cook. Tanner never bothered, plus there was no way he’d be out of bed yet.

I’d get out there and nothing would be done and I’d end up making it anyway, so whoever it was could wait another fifteen minutes.

I threw back the covers, ignored my phone on the nightstand, and padded through to the shower. I didn’t bother waiting for it to warm up before I stepped under the water. A blast of cold might help my brain fire up enough to make a decision,any kindof decision about what I should do with the number burning a hole in my cell.

Never had I ever spent an entire night debating on whether to text a girl or not.

Never in my life.

But she wasn’t just a girl.

If she wasjusta girl, I’d have texted her before she’d gotten home. If she was just a girl, I’d have walked her home and kissed her goodnight, or better yet, invited myself in.

If she was just a girl…

The rumble of my stomach snatched me back to reality, followed by a loud crash, and an even louder clunk and clamor of pans. I switched off the shower before some real damage was done, and got dressed.

As soon as he spotted me, Ace stopped pouring out glasses of juice and held his hand up. “Wait, don’t move.”

I skidded to a halt. Ten seconds later I still hadn’t moved, nor did I understand why I was still standing there.

The familiar opening bars ofHail to the Chieftrumpeted out from the speakers around our huge living room. It was one of the reasons the four of us decided to take this place – the state of the art, surround sound media system, which provided the perfect combination of atmosphere and immersive experience for when we fired up the PlayStation. Personally, I preferred it for movie nights; I swear to God it’s like you’re actually inTop Gun.

It was the first time the United States Presidential anthem had ever been played in here, however.

The idiot in the kitchen was grinning so wide that he could audition for the next Joker.

“It’s not that funny.”

“It really is.”

I leaned over the kitchen island and switched it off, leaving the apartment blissfully silent once more. “Your face says otherwise. Are you sure it’s not broken? At least you don’t sound like your tongue’s too big for your mouth anymore.”

Ace gingerly ran a finger down the length of his nose.

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