because I know Courtney would never do anything to hurt me. But my stomach clenches with jealousy anyway, and I get up to throw the rest of my coffee away as the purr of Aaron’s motorcycle fades. A voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to Cherri, the girl Nick left me for. They stopped dating over a year ago, but the pain will never fade for me. Especially when I recall how she pursued him relentlessly even though she knew we were together. She says, “Why you turned down the hottest man I’ve ever seen, I’ll never know.”
I glare at her. Her name is pronounced like the fruit, and I wonder who names their kid after a berry as I say, “There’s more to a guy than looks.”
“I know.” She flips her bleached-blond hair over her shoulder as she says, “We work in the math lab together, and he’s super sweet too. You just made a big mistake.”
My jealousy might make steam come out of my ears. As tempted as I am to light into Cherri, I don’t. Instead I turn away and go back to my dorm room. And when I get there I pull out Aaron’s leather jacket to clutch it to my chest as I inhale the scent of the man that my heart wants, even though my head is sure it’s a mistake.
Chapter 11
I ’ve been kicking myself for the past two days since Aaron took Courtney for ice cream. I stare at the leather jacket I keep folded on the end of my bed. When I pick it up to smell it for the millionth time I realize Aaron’s scent is fading, and I’m surprised by the tears that fill my eyes. Courtney told me he was nothing more than friendly to her, and they had a great time. I suspect there might have been some conversation about me, but she didn’t mention it. And I didn’t ask.
I sniff quickly and drop the coat when the door opens and Courtney enters our room. She frowns at me as she says, “I can’t sit back and watch this any longer. Go find Aaron and tell him you want to be with him.”
“You know I can’t.”
“Why? Because of some idea you have in your head that he’ll hurt you?” She sits next to me on my bed to ask, “Aren’t you miserable without him anyway?” She has a point, and her grip is light on my arms as she holds them. “There’s something between you two, Olivia. Live life a little, and act on it.”
When I don’t say anything she lifts up his jacket. “At least return his coat.”
I nod. “You’re right. I’m not sure why I keep holding on to it.”
Courtney raises her eyebrows at my statement, but I ignore her as I get ready to walk over to Aaron’s house. It’s mid-afternoon, and I have no idea if Aaron will be home, but I don’t want to lose my nerve. I need the closure of telling him in no uncertain terms thanks, but no thanks.
As my feet tap out my approach I notice two scooters outside of the duplex. When I get closer I discover one is yellow and the other is lime green, and they’re adorned with flowers that give them the appearance of something from the ’70s. I smile at Colleen and Maggie when they come out of their apartment holding two pink helmets with decals that match the scooters.
Colleen squeals when she sees me. “Olivia! Oh goodness, it’s about time you came back. Your boy’s heart can’t be mended no matter how many bear paws we give him.” She winks at me.
Maggie’s helmet clicks shut, and she elbows Colleen, as I say, “It’s okay. I know what he is.”
“Oh good.” Colleen grins at me. “Did you like our jokes?” Her round face is childlike under the pink helmet, and her eyes twinkle with adventure as she climbs on her Vespa. “Aaron loves our puns.”
I can’t help but smile back and say, “I did. You two are quite clever.” I hold up Aaron’s jacket. “Do you know if he’s home?”
Maggie hasn’t gotten on her scooter yet and says, “No, he’s not. But if you’re returning the man’s jacket, this can’t be good.”
“No. Most certainly not,” says Colleen, and she dismounts her vehicle. “Give me that, and I’ll
I glare at her. Her name is pronounced like the fruit, and I wonder who names their kid after a berry as I say, “There’s more to a guy than looks.”
“I know.” She flips her bleached-blond hair over her shoulder as she says, “We work in the math lab together, and he’s super sweet too. You just made a big mistake.”
My jealousy might make steam come out of my ears. As tempted as I am to light into Cherri, I don’t. Instead I turn away and go back to my dorm room. And when I get there I pull out Aaron’s leather jacket to clutch it to my chest as I inhale the scent of the man that my heart wants, even though my head is sure it’s a mistake.
Chapter 11
I ’ve been kicking myself for the past two days since Aaron took Courtney for ice cream. I stare at the leather jacket I keep folded on the end of my bed. When I pick it up to smell it for the millionth time I realize Aaron’s scent is fading, and I’m surprised by the tears that fill my eyes. Courtney told me he was nothing more than friendly to her, and they had a great time. I suspect there might have been some conversation about me, but she didn’t mention it. And I didn’t ask.
I sniff quickly and drop the coat when the door opens and Courtney enters our room. She frowns at me as she says, “I can’t sit back and watch this any longer. Go find Aaron and tell him you want to be with him.”
“You know I can’t.”
“Why? Because of some idea you have in your head that he’ll hurt you?” She sits next to me on my bed to ask, “Aren’t you miserable without him anyway?” She has a point, and her grip is light on my arms as she holds them. “There’s something between you two, Olivia. Live life a little, and act on it.”
When I don’t say anything she lifts up his jacket. “At least return his coat.”
I nod. “You’re right. I’m not sure why I keep holding on to it.”
Courtney raises her eyebrows at my statement, but I ignore her as I get ready to walk over to Aaron’s house. It’s mid-afternoon, and I have no idea if Aaron will be home, but I don’t want to lose my nerve. I need the closure of telling him in no uncertain terms thanks, but no thanks.
As my feet tap out my approach I notice two scooters outside of the duplex. When I get closer I discover one is yellow and the other is lime green, and they’re adorned with flowers that give them the appearance of something from the ’70s. I smile at Colleen and Maggie when they come out of their apartment holding two pink helmets with decals that match the scooters.
Colleen squeals when she sees me. “Olivia! Oh goodness, it’s about time you came back. Your boy’s heart can’t be mended no matter how many bear paws we give him.” She winks at me.
Maggie’s helmet clicks shut, and she elbows Colleen, as I say, “It’s okay. I know what he is.”
“Oh good.” Colleen grins at me. “Did you like our jokes?” Her round face is childlike under the pink helmet, and her eyes twinkle with adventure as she climbs on her Vespa. “Aaron loves our puns.”
I can’t help but smile back and say, “I did. You two are quite clever.” I hold up Aaron’s jacket. “Do you know if he’s home?”
Maggie hasn’t gotten on her scooter yet and says, “No, he’s not. But if you’re returning the man’s jacket, this can’t be good.”
“No. Most certainly not,” says Colleen, and she dismounts her vehicle. “Give me that, and I’ll
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