Page 27 of Clichés & Curses

I knew Nina meant no harm. I would have told her a lot sooner about it, if it weren’t for my fear of being struck down by the curse with this arrangement with Colton. While I would have loved to take my time and figure out how to tell Nina without getting her hopes up, I was glad it was finally out in the open.

‘It’s okay. To be honest, I’m glad you know now.’ I smiled instead.

She gave me a smile in return. ‘So, where have you two been practicing?’

‘At the bubble tea shop a few streets from here.’

Nina nodded before a look of suspicion covered her face. ‘Wait. Didn’t you start getting flowers since the second week of classes as well? Does that have anything to do with Colton?’ She raised her brow at me.

Damn her deductive skills.I blamed it on all the true crime podcasts she was always listening to.

‘There was a grocery store that also sold flowers near the bubble tea shop. So, I usually just buy them after we practice. Then, he drives me home.’

‘He drives you home?’ Nina screeched out.

‘Yes, he does. But it’s not a big deal. He was just being a good friend.’ I shrugged it off.

Nina just gave me a teasing smile and said, ‘Whatever you say, Clara.’ Picking up her mug, she took another sip of the chocolate milk.

‘I’m serious, we’re just friends,’ I told her.

‘Mmhmm,’ she hummed knowingly, taking another sip. ‘I’m just saying, you still have the rest of the semester to go. Anything could happen.’

I just took a sip of my own chocolate milk from my mug.

She was right, anything could happen. I just had to make sure whatever it was, didn’t give room for the curse to linger around.

Chapter Seven

A thought occurred to me as I was walking up the steps to the baseball team’s house.

I had never caught a single glance of Colton the first time I went to a party hosted by the baseball team. But the second time around, it was Colton who had invited me to the party.

It just went to show that life, truly, is full of surprises.

Taking slow and steady breaths, I tried to calm down my nerves, feeling grateful that we had decided to pregame before coming there. The music got exponentially louder once Nina opened the front door to the house, me tagging along behind her with Claudia and Lily.

On our way to the kitchen to get some drinks, we were intercepted by Miles.

‘You made it!’ he exclaimed when he saw us.

‘Hey,’ I greeted him. Remembering he hadn’t met the other two yet, I said ‘This is Claudia and Lily. They lived across the hall from us in the dorms during freshman year.’

‘Nice meeting you two.’ He nodded in greeting. ‘Now, let’s get you girls some drinks.’ Leading us into the kitchen, he poured us drinks in red solo cups.

He passed one to each one of us. ‘Here you go.’

I thanked him, taking it from his hand.

‘So, here’s the rundown. Drinks are in the fridge and the ice cooler, the dance floor is in the living room, and beer pong is happening in the dining room if you’re up for it,’ he explained. ‘I’m still looking for a partner for my round, by the way.’ This, he directed at Nina with a flirtatious glint in his eyes.

‘That depends on how good your aim is,’ Nina retorted, before taking a sip of her drink. Miles might have caught her off guard the other day, but it wouldn’t be the case that night. With the added liquid courage from the two Fireball shots we had each gulped before coming there, Nina was fully prepared to face her crush head-on.

Miles’ head jolted back slightly at her response, surprised but intrigued at her newfound confidence which wasn’t there the last time they had seen each other. ‘Are you questioning my skills?’ he asked.

Nina arched a brow at him. ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’

Keeping her gaze on Miles, she took another sip from her cup—her eyes daring him to take up her challenge.

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