Page 6 of Play It Off

“My roommate.” I don’t expect him to remember every little detail about me, but I wish he did.

“Where is she?” He looks around the front of the crowded bar, frowning.

“I don’t know.” A hiccup escapes me, and I cover my mouth, embarrassed. “I gotta go.”

Somehow, I extract myself from his hold and turn on wobbly feet, heading for the door. I push my way through the crowd, ignoring the way Gavin calls my name. It means nothing. He’s not interested, and the thought of how I basically draped myself all over him tonight is humiliating.

When I finally make it outside, I tip my head back and inhale the cool, salty air. Going to UCSM has its perks, the biggest one being that we get to live by the ocean. Which makes me think of the song “Cake by the Ocean” and how it’s about going down on a girl, and all my hopes and dreams of anything remotely like that happening with Gavin are dashed completely.

“Sienna.” Gavin’s deep voice is full of relief, and I whirl around to find him striding toward me. “I’m walking you home.”

“I don’t need you to escort me. I’ve got this.” I try to give him a thumbs-up, but it ends up being my middle finger instead.

My true feelings coming out? Most definitely.

He actually laughs, the jackass. “I think you do need my help. Come on. Which building are you in?”

“Rosewood,” I mumble, dropping my arm by my side. Wishing I could give him the finger again. “It’s right down the street.”

“I know exactly where it is,” he says with confidence.

“Snuck into a few of the dorm rooms, hmm?” I raise my brows.

Gavin frowns. “Sorry?”

“Hooked up with girls in the freshman dorms last year? Right, Gav?”

I never call him Gav. I sort of hate that nickname. But our cheeky little server called him that, and I just know—I Know—they’ve done it.

“Come on, Sienna.” He loops his arm through mine and steers me down the sidewalk, heading in the direction of our campus and my dorm hall. “You need to go to bed.”

The wordbedsparks hope in my heart, which is the dumbest thing ever. “Are you going to tuck me in, Gav? Is that how you get into girls’ dorm rooms? With promises of helping us go night-night?”

“Are you okay?” He sounds genuinely concerned, and I hate it. I don’t want his concern. I want lust and longing and illicit touches. Desire and kissing and hot sex. Yess, sex.

Sex with Gavin would be amazing, I just know it.

For the rest of the walk, I don’t speak. I never answered his question because I don’t think it’s necessary. He can figure out that I’m not okay just by my remaining silent, which is something I rarely do.

By the time we’re in front of my dorm building, I don’t want him touching me anymore. Guiding me anymore. I’ve got this.

“I can manage to get to my room on my own.” I pull my arm from around his. “Thanks for walking with me. I appreciate your concern.”

Gavin doesn’t even catch the sarcasm in my tone.

“I’m taking you to your room.” His voice is firm. He’s not going to let me get out of this, and I accept defeat, again remaining quiet as he walks with me toward my dorm hall entrance. “I want to make sure you get in safely.”

“Okay, Dad.” I roll my eyes and grab my key card, waving it in front of the black pad so the doors unlock. We’re inside in seconds, Gavin looking around the lobby with curiosity.

“What floor are you on?” he asks.

“Four.”

We take the elevator up, me standing on the complete opposite side from Gavin because I’m sick of being close to him. I can still smell him,though. Look at him. Note the way he’s checking his phone and tapping out a response to someone. I’m dying to know who it might be.

Not that I have any right to ask him. And he probably won’t tell me either. It’s none of my business.

The elevator doors slide open, and I dart out, turning right and heading down the hallway of endless doors. Coming to a stop when I realize my room is on the left side.

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