Page 66 of Not Fooling Anyone

“What class did you read this for?” she asks, making the final turn toward her lecture hall.

“It was just for fun. I went through this phase in high school where I only read classics. Well, listened to the audiobooks. I thought I wassomuch smarter than everyone else.”

She gives me a deadpan look. “You read this for fun?”

“You took this class for fun, didn’t you? You’re an accounting major. There’s no way your degree requires Russian Lit.”

“Yeah, but I needed another Literature class to fulfill my gen-ed requirement. And this one fit my schedule.”

I shrug. “Well, to each their own.”

There’s a brief silence and then she stops walking, smacking her forehead. “Oh my God.” She turns to me, pointing. “You were the salutatorian of your high school, weren’t you?”

Wow, she made that connection? “What makes you think that?”

“Because no normal person reads this stuff for fun.”

“Now, I do take exception to that.”

“Ethan.” She shakes her head. “Why are you wasting your time with boxing?”

“What?” Where did that come from?

“If you’re so smart, why are you risking concussions? Beating up people for kicks? Trying to be like those guys at the gym going nowhere in life?”

“Is that your issue with your dad talking?” I ask before thinking it through.

She blinks at me, lips parting in surprise.

Shit. I shouldn’t have said that.

She doesn’t run off in a huff like I expect, though, continuing to stare at me until she finally says, “Yeah, maybe it is.”

Okay. Didn’t expect her to own up to that so easily. Getting anywhere deep with her is usually like pulling teeth.

“Come on.” I lay an arm over her shoulders and start walking again toward her building just ahead. “Don’t want you to be late.”

She stops outside the lecture hall doors, turning to me. “Should we meet at the dorm? Or…”

“I’ll drive us. I’ll pick you up here after your class lets out.”

“You don’t have to wait around here just for me.”

Doesn’t she realize I would do a hell of a lot more for her? “I’ll be here. See you after class.”

She nods and reaches up, briefly hugging me. I’m too caught off guard to return it before she’s already gone, giving me a small smile. “In case anyone’s watching,” she says.

Right. I’m sure that was the only reason.

* * *

“Ethan, hey.”

I startle, realizing I was zoned out, and glance toward the lecture hall doors, but they’re still closed. Lexie’s class should be letting out soon.

I focus in front of me and see none other than Lexie’s favorite person there. Savannah. What does she want?

“Hey,” I reply, acting like I’m interested. “It’s Samantha, right?” That’ll mess with her head.

---