Page 16 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I would’ve turned them down in a heartbeat a few months ago, but I made myself that promise for a reason. I don’t want to look back and realize I missed out on the college experience.

“Okay.” I can tell, looking at their faces, that “okay” is not the answer they expected.

“Did the queen of celibacy just say okay?” Dia asks Aveena.

“Check her for a fever,” Aveena teases.

I throw my pillow at Aveena, missing her by an inch. “Will you stop? I’m not that much of a lost cause.”

Dia’s phone pings before Aveena can answer. She checks the screen, a cunning smile making her lips twitch.

“What?” Aveena and I say in unison.

“Change of plans. Finn wants us to meet him and the guys at Munchie’s later.”

Munchie’s is a twenty-four-hour diner right on campus. It’s where drunk students go when they’re craving a late-night snack. They have burgers, fries, milkshakes—any comfort food you can think of.

“The new guy will be there. What do you say?”

Remember your promise, Lacey.

“Sure, why not?”

Next thing I know, she’s texting her fiancé to accept his invitation.

The place ispacked.

I didn’t expect anything less on a Friday night, but if I’m being honest, this is too much for me. High school Lacey was the definition of a social butterfly, but now? I can’t shake the feeling that I don’t belong.

Finn spots us near the entrance before I can back out. He waves us over, and Dia leads the way to the guys’ table, which is covered in unfinished junk food and milkshakes.

TJ, Theo, Xavier, Finn, and this Aaron guy are sitting in a circular red leather booth, bickering about something. I’m careful to avoid making eye contact with TJ as we approach the group.

I wonder if he’s mad at me for the other day.

Not that I care.

Theo smiles when we reach the table. “You ladies ever heard of this thing called a cell phone? Five more minutes and we were sending out a search party.”

He’s got us there. We’re two hours late. It’s getting to be a real problem with us. Once the girls and I start yapping, there’s no stopping us.

“You again.” A familiar voice calls for my attention.

I lock eyes with Aaron across the booth.

“Lacey, is it?” he asks.

He’s staring at me so intently I get weak in the knees.

“I… Yeah, it’s Aaron, right?”

Damn it, Lacey, be cool.

He smirks. “Twice in one night, huh? I’m starting to think you’re following me.”

I chuckle nervously. “Oh, don’t worry, I wouldn’t do that. I mean, not that you’re not worth following. I’m sure you’re a perfectly acceptable target for a stalker. I’m just sayingI’mnot one. I’m a normal person. Although, if I were one, I wouldn’t mind stalking you. You… You seem interesting enough to stalk.”

Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

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