Page 62 of Wanted You More

I blow out a raspberry. “I don’t typically struggle with them. Some would say I’m too nice to boys. That’s the problem. I’m trying to turn a new leaf.”

Kennedy processes that, cocking her head. “By too nice you mean that you…”

The look on her face makes me laugh. “It means I’m not a virgin,” I tell her, watching her face turn pink.

From behind me, I hear, “Good to know.”

My eyes widen to the same size as Kennedy’s as we both turn around to see Lincoln’s amused smile.

“Shit,” I curse, standing a little taller. “I didn’t know you were here already.”

Lincoln’s eyes twinkle with mischief. It reminds me of Marybelle, making me miss her ten times more than I already do. She sent me a selfie of her in full makeup, giving me a duck face with a caption that said, “good luck finding better friends than me.” It made me laugh.

The boy Kennedy and I are here to have lunch with says, “Oh, no need to apologize. I’m all for hearing any other fun facts you want to share.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m sure you would.”

Kennedy sticks her hand out. “I’m Kennedy, Austen’s roommate.”

He stares at her hand for a second with a slick grin before taking it in a shake. “Lincoln. I’m also not a virgin, if that matters.”

If it’s possible, Kennedy turns redder than she already was.

I elbow her playfully. “He’s messing with you, Ken.” Giving him a look, I say, “That tidbit wasn’t needed, but thanks.”

“No problem.” Lincoln jabs his thumb behind him toward one of the many little stores inside Waylon. “The pizza place is back there. They have the best specialty slices and they’re pretty cheap.”

All good things to hear, since I don’t work at Sips anymore since it didn’t fit into my college schedule. I applied for a few places on campus that I’m still waiting to hear back from, but the odds aren’t looking good. Dad told me he’d transfer money into my account every month, but I don’t want to have to rely on him for anything, especially allowances.

Kennedy and I follow Lincoln as he points out a few lounges for students to hang out in along the way. If nothing else, he’ll be a great inside source for the best places at Chamberlin.

When we grab our pizza and drinks and find a table in the corner, I sit next to Kennedy before Lincoln can try getting a chair beside me. He notices the move and chuckles, pulling the seat out across from me.

“I don’t bite, you know,” Lincoln remarks, grabbing the red pepper flakes on the side of the table and shaking some onto his slice. When his eyes lift, I know he’s about to say something mildly inappropriate. “Unless you ask me to, of course.”

He delivers the cheesy line with a grin at me and a wink toward Kennedy.

She clears her throat. “So, Lincoln. Austen said you’re a sophomore. What are you majoring in?”

The boy across from us lets the conversation move to safer territory. “Digital art. I want to be a web designer and illustrator and work for myself one day.”

“Impressive,” I answer with surprise. “If you’re a sophomore, why are you taking intro level classes in your degree?”

He lowers his pizza. “Because I was undecided last year until I took some classes to figure out what I liked. Sound familiar?”

I can’t help but smile. “A little.”

Lincoln looks at my roommate. “What about you?”

“Political science,” she answers, picking a piece of pepperoni off the cheese. “I come from a family of activists. My mom spent some time overseas when she was in the Peace Corps. That’s how she met my dad. I grew up wanting to help people, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

Future president, I think to myself again.

I take a healthy bite of my lunch, wondering what I could do to make a difference. It seems like everybody else has an idea of what their life will be like, and it feels like I’m using college as time to stall.

Kennedy asks, “What made you choose digital art?”

A sheepish look makes him look more boyish than charming, which is reassuring. “I saw a behind-the-scenes documentary on an animated movie, and it made me interested in digital illustration. I took a class on digital art last year and decided to fill my schedule up with more classes this semester.”

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