Page 40 of Overachiever
Remee whips around to look at me, and I shake my head with a snort. “He’s lying.”
“Fine, I was cliff diving.”
All three of them look at Graham, who is happy to answer. “He was chasing some poor unsuspecting women, tripped and fell on his ass in front of them.”
“He did give them a great frog impression though,” I add, and Remee covers a smile. Damn, she looks good tonight. Sun kissed and bright eyed. I can’t wait to get her alone.
“Are you okay?” Zara asks him.
“I’m great. And you have super sexy eyebrows.”
Zara glances back at us. “They drugged him up pretty good,” I explain. “He’ll be okay. It’s a small fracture. He’ll have the cast for six weeks and has to follow up with his doctor at home. They gave him a prescription for pain.”
“Don’t need them,” Marty mumbles, and a few seconds later, he’s sound asleep.
“You two have to work in the morning, don’t you?” Zara points out, referring to me and Remee.
“Yeah, but we could meet for breakfast first before you leave,” Remee says.
“Or we could go in late,” I add. “Not like they’ll fire us for one late day.”
Remee looks scandalized. “No way. What if that goes on the record and they tell the school?”
Good lord, this woman worries too much.
“Go to bed,” Serena orders. “We’ll see you in the morning. Graham can call us if he needs help with Marty.”
She’ll get no argument from me. Remee is quiet on our walk back down to our room. “Long day?” I ask, and she nods.
“Yeah, I’m going to grab a shower before bed.” She doesn’t look at me as she gathers her clothes and retreats to the bathroom. Something’s wrong. Maybe she’s upset about the others leaving tomorrow. Seeing them may have made her a little homesick.
The shower stops, and I hear her blow dryer kick on as she dries her hair. It takes her far longer than usual to emerge, and when she does, her teeth scrape across her lip in a nervous gesture.
“Are you okay?”
Nodding, she sits across from me on her bed. “I need to talk to you. About what we’ve been doing. I can’t…we can’t do it anymore. The whole friends with benefits thing.”
“I agree.”
Shocked eyes look into mine. “You do?”
“Yes, it isn’t what I want either. I want you, Rem. As my girlfriend, not just a temporary thing.”
Her surprise melts into a look of regret, and I know what’s coming next.
“I can’t. That isn’t what I meant. We need to stop. Go back to being just friends. I’m getting too…emotionally involved.”
Part of me is thrilled she’s feeling the same way I am, but it doesn’t mean anything if it isn’t what she wants to feel. “So am I. I have feelings for you too. That’s why this could work.”
She swallows hard when I slide my hand into hers. “No. I’m sorry. It’s not you. Being with you has been amazing and fun. I’ve loved every second, but I can’t be in a relationship. Not with anyone.”
“Why not?”
“It isn’t in my plan. I have too much I have to accomplish. I can’t be distracted and screw it up. I need to focus on school and my future.”
I’ve never seen Remee in a serious relationship, but I didn’t think it was because she was completely averse to them. She’s always been obsessed with having perfect grades and getting ahead. “I know working hard and succeeding is important to you. Do you think I’d get in the way of that?”
“Not intentionally. But a relationship isn’t a risk I’m willing to take at this point in my life.” Pain glazes her eyes as she looks at me. “I’m sorry. I need to make something of myself first.”
