Page 2 of Let It Be Me

“Well, you totally deserve it. You work your ass off.” Bree is double majoring in nutrition and food science and making both look easy.

“You should apply for something. Work experience is such a boost for your résumé.”

I shrug. “Plenty of food science jobs out there. I’m not planning on trying for some super-competitive career anyway.”

“What do you want to be?”

“Quality assurance tech probably.”

“To start out, yes, but what do you want to do after that?”

“We’ll see what happens. Maybe I’ll just stay there.”

She looks at me, surprise on her face. “Oh.” Clearly she’s never even considered such a mundane existence for herself.

“I’m late but congrats on the internship.” I don’t care that Bree is unimpressed by my goals. I’ve seen that expression too many times in my life, though, and I’m not letting it ruin this day. “See you tomorrow.”

But just as I turn, I catch sight of Wythe’s statuesque form at the front of the room. She’s looking right at me, and when I meet her eye, she says, “Ruby, a word please?” Her expression is cool.

Bree gives me a subtle warning. Damn her for always wanting to sit up front.

“Ruby, I’ll be brief,” Wythe says as soon as I reach her, not bothering to keep her voice low. “My class policies are strict, and I’m afraid you’re about to butt up against them if you’re not careful.”

“Class policies?”

“Three unexcused absences and you get a zero for the semester.”

“I haven’t been absent?—”

She holds up a manicured finger. “And tardiness of more than five minutes is considered an unexcused absence.”

This woman would get along great with my dad. I nod. “So I have one unexcused absence for being late today.”

“Correct. And it’s only week two of classes.”

I should be mature and say “thank you for the warning,” but the condescending energy she’s giving stokes my stubborn side. “I understand. That won’t be a problem.”

Her pause is a total power move. She’s certain I have a long list of unexcused absences ahead of me, and she’s probably right. “I hope not.”

“Thank you,” I force myself to say, and when she nods, I turn around and give an eye roll that I’m not particularly proud of. Old habits die hard.

That’s when I come face-to-face with another student waiting for Wythe’s attention. Surprise wipes my mind clean of my irritation with my professor.

It’s not the fact that I haven’t seen Allison Blair Lennox since December or that a semester studying art in Paris hasn’t changed her smug face one iota that surprises me; it’s that apparently she’s in my nutrition class. The art major. Miss Perfect. Lorenzo’s ex-girlfriend. And now my classmate. All summer long.

I had such hopes for Allison when she went abroad spring semester: to fall in love with a handsome Frenchman, to land a modeling contract in Paris, to have her art discovered and hung in galleries all over Europe; anything that would get her out of my life without requiring a funeral. Instead, she came back to Shafer to fuck with me again.

She gives me a disdainful look as I pass, those icy blue eyes lingering on my cheeks, which are probably flaming. Of course the one person on campus who revels in my failures just had to be the sole witness to my little scolding. I attempt to appear neutral, but it’s anyone’s guess what vibes my expression is giving off. I’d love to hate Alli purely, but it’s not that simple. As rude as she was to me, as stuck-up as she is, Alli was so good to Lorenzo. She’s the only one of his exes who ever made me scared to lose him. She knew how to love him with all she had. And I know she has no intention of stopping.

With Alli behind me, I glance over my shoulder to see Wythe give her a warm, bright smile, as I’m sure all her teachers do. Alli’s quite the charmer when she wants something from you. But most people would be surprised to see what’s left when all that charm evaporates.

Stepping out onto Shafer’s bright, grassy quad, I take out my phone and find a text from Brad, saying we should celebrate my job by getting dinner together tonight. I can’t help smiling. I never thought it would feel this good to have a crush on a guy who’s actually a nice person. But I tell Brad I’ll need to take a rain check on our celebration. There’s someone else I want to celebrate with first.

TWO

lorenzo

“The Phantomfinally opens up the patio tonight.” Cash reracks his barbell and sits up from the weight bench, his bare back leaving a damp spot on the vinyl. “Five-dollar beer pitchers. Who’s in?”

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