“It’s only a few months.” I said the words more for my own benefit than my mom’s.
“Don’t rush the time away. You’re only a college sophomore once. Spend time with your friends, date other guys. Live it up.”
“I know.” I kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll call you when I get in.”
“Drive safe.” She gave me another hug. I held onto her as long as I could.
“I will.” I grabbed the last of my stuff and got in my eight-year-old CRV. It was time to face reality.
***
“Are you okay?” Juliet picked up her phone on the first ring.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m only about twenty minutes from campus.” I turned off at the now familiar exit for Charleston, South Carolina.
“I’ve been calling you for weeks. I’m so sorry. Aaron is such a jerk ass.”
“Jerk ass? That’s a new one.”
“It’s good though, right?” Juliet always knew how to make me laugh. She had this sarcastic side to her personality that with most people I usually couldn’t stand, but it completely worked for her.
“I think it’s the perfect description for what he is.” Or jackass, or biggest idiot in the world. I could go on and on forever.
“I’ve been so worried. When Reed told me…”
“I don’t want to mess up anything with you guys. Please don’t worry about it.” Juliet and Reed were probably the cutest, most balanced couple I knew. She was so happy with him that I refused to get in the way.
“Mess anything up? Reed agrees Aaron screwed up big time, but he also said maybe it was for the best because you deserve better.”
“Reed said that?” Juliet’s boyfriend was a great guy, but he was also Aaron’s best friend.
“Yes. He knows how amazing you are.”
“I left some stuff in Aaron’s room. Could you get it for me? I don’t want to go over there or see his bed ever again.”
“Already done. I wondered where your extra phone charger went.”
I felt a weight lift off me. Getting my stuff was one of the things I was dreading most. “Thanks so much.”
“Not a problem. I did it right after kicking him in the groin. Now that was the more fun part.”
“What?” I nearly swerved into the shoulder of the road, but I corrected at the last second. “You didn’t.”
“Oh yes I did. And when he screamed like a baby, Reed told him to man up because his actions were anything but that of a man.”
“Wow. Crazy.”
“Mallory was mad I got to him first, but she did slap him.”
I smiled picturing my other roommate pouting because Juliet beat her to the punch. “I have the best friends.”
“Because you’re a great one. I can’t wait to see you. I promise it’s all going to be okay.” Juliet’s words hit home even more than my mother’s. Maybe it was because she was going to be there with me. Facing Aaron was going to be hard no matter how I did it, but it would be much easier to do with my friends at my side.
“I know it is, plus I did something crazy the other night. I have to tell you about it.”
“Oh?” Her voice lilted. I had her attention.
“It involves a hot guy, and I don’t even know his last name.”
“Cara!” She shrieked.
“What? What did she do?” I heard Mallory in the background. I hadn’t realized she was there, but I didn’t mind. The three of us generally told each other everything. I hoped they weren’t too annoyed at me for avoiding their calls for the past few weeks.
“I’ll tell you guys later. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. See ya, Cara.”
“We love you!” Mallory yelled.
I smiled as I turned toward campus.
Juliet and Mallory were waiting on the front porch of our sorority house when I arrived. A spot right out front was open—making me immediately suspicious. Suspicious or not, I wasn’t going to pass by the space. Juliet ran down the steps and yanked open my door before I’d even cut the engine. “You’re here!”
I unbuckled. “Who did you boot from this spot to save it for me?”