Page 73 of Study Buddies

“That’s part of getting a degree. Well, except for the basement thing.”

“It’s not one of the fun parts,” he grumbled, sounding like a sullen little boy.

“I agree, but it’s kind of the most important one. Do you know what you want to do after?—”

“No.”

“Well, you’re studying exercise science, right?”

“That’s just what athletes pick because they have to major in something.”

I tried to wrap my head around that—the idea that the degree wasn’t important, just the opportunity to play sports was. It was a foreign concept to me. And kind of depressing—especially since Kyle didn’t think he’d continue with baseball after college was over.

It was easy to dismiss him as just a jock—a really hot jock—but every day I was learning new things about him. Maybe evenpeeling back the layers a little. But there was one thing I still didn’t know much about. “Can I ask you something?”

He nodded. “I already said you can ask me anything.”

“I didn’t know how long that was in effect.”

“As long as you’d like.”

“So if I asked you to stop leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor, you’d do it?”

He smirked. “I said you can ask me anything, not that I’d do it. But maybe if you ask nicely…” His voice trailed off suggestively.

Normally, my body responded to that tone in his voice, but that wasn’t where my head was at right now. “Never mind.”

“Too scared?” he challenged.

“No.” At least I could say that honestly. “It’s nothing.”

“Victoria…” But that teasing voice wasn’t working on me at the moment.

“It’s a mood-killer, and I’m sorry I brought it up.”

“You haven’t brought it up yet,” he pointed out. “Look, we’ve still got twenty minutes left of the drive. I’m sure the mood can recover. So, out with it, Victoria.”

Biting my lower lip, I looked out the window. This was heading in a bad direction, and I wish I’d kept things light, but my emotions had been all over the place today, and I didn’t see any way out at this point. “What really happened with you and Lucas in high school?”

Kyle stilled, but his voice was neutral. “How much do you know?”

“Jayden told me the basics.”

He snorted. “Now there’s a reliable source.”

“What do you mean?”

“First off, he wasn’t a part of it. Secondly, he’s Lucas’s best friend.”

He had a good point. “I know it’s none of my business. But… you two are always so angry at each other. It’s upsetting. To me and to Jayden.”

“But is it reallybothof us who’re angry, Tori?” I was beginning to see a pattern of when he called me Tori, and when he used Victoria. Victoria was for when he was teasing and flirting. Tori was for when we were on more serious topics.

“All right. Lucas is the one that’s angry most of the time. But you egg him on.”

“True.” He shook his head slightly, lost in thought. “It’s kind of hard not to. He’s so self-righteous and full of himself all the time. My dad bought his act.”

“What do you mean?”

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