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"C’ to the door with my beer "You can introduce "

Chapter Six

It was the first day of March and spring was technically a feeeks away Could’ve fooled e, an icy wind blew throughto juggleI’d woken up with the sa up with for the past feeeks I worried about my family I hadn’t spoken to Andie since that fateful phone call and once my dad found out about it, he also refused to talk to ize, it was turning into a long and very silent stalehed onto lie for the first tiokay these days

"Need a hand?"

I glanced up at the faray eyes "What are you doing here?"

"I just finished class I was heading back to the apart , he s Hero of the Year andwith my best friend’s heart, he was actually theand funny and kind, and I loved hanging out with hi in the opposite direction "I’ Claudia at the Library Bar for coffee"

His expression lightened at the mention of Claud "I’ll come with I haven’t seen her in a few days She’s been busy with school"

I nodded but didn’t say anything The truth was Claudia was takingto wean herself off Beck in the hopes of getting over hiood?" Beck looked down at me, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, the fabric of his T-shirt flapping in the wind He wore a long-sleeved ther?"

"It wasn’t this cold yesterday" He shrugged "I’ve stopped guessing how to dress for the weather here"

"True" It was a perpetual guessing game One second it was chilly but the sun was out; the next second brought torrential rain and winds

"So you and Jake?"

I so did not want to discuss ood"

He nudgedto break his heart, are you?" His voice was teasing but I knew better

"Are you going to break Claudia’s?"

A h"

"Hey, here’s a question that won’t get either of us punched: do you kno Melissa is doing these days?"

Beck raised an eyebrow "Melissa?"

"Melissa You know, dark hair, legs forever, one hundred percent drop-dead gorgeous and one hundred percent nicer than rinned "She may be nicer, but she is way less fun"

I so stroked, I’ okay?"

"Melissa’s a nice girl but we’re not close We never were She’s one of the few people who doesn’t understand that underneath this roguish charold"

"Come on, don’t undervalue yourself It’s at least 82 percent"

Laughing, Beck wrapped an arfor you"

"Well, I appreciate that" I hugged hieous face "So you really wouldn’t know if she’s okay?"

Beck pulled out his phone, fingers flying over the keys "I texted Maggie She should know They’re friends"

"Maggie, ave a reassuring so there I do have souess," I said, sounding a little doubtful The last thing I wanted was Claudia returning to the apartie’s rooht just be the straw that would break the camel’s back About to stick my nose in and ruin our pleasant camaraderie, Beck’s next question halted me

"So, why do you want to know if Melissa is okay?"

I shrugged, feeling that fauilt "I’d think that was obvious"

As we climbed the steps to the student union, Beck fell silent Once inside, he turned to ht You and Claudia are not like other wo that as a compliment since I happen to know for a fact that Claudia and I are freaking aweso sad flashed in Beck’s eyes as he sue with that"

I wish I had a ic potion to shove down his throat anda chance on Claudia didn’t cohed inwardly and followed his tall body upstairs to the Library Bar

I almost slammed into him when he drew to an abrupt halt just inside the doorway I peered around hiaze across the room

Claudia was cozied up in a booth with Lowe Her laptop was open in front of her but they were sitting turned into one another, laughing about solanced down to see Beck’s fists tightening

"They’re just friends," I assured hiested otherwise but I had assurances not only froo there, but from Claudia also Only yesterday she told uy and not have to worry about any sexual tension

The che, but the whole point was for Claud to have so the job

"I didn’t say a word" Beck glowered down at me

And just like that, I had Broody Hero of the Year on my hands "You need to work on your poker face It sucks" I strode away before he could reply

"Hey there, hot stuff," I said as I slid into the booth

Lowe grinned "Hey, yourself"

"Oh, as pretty as you are, babe, I was talking to Claudia"