she’d gained in their first semester.
She pulled out the little plastic box she always carried and tapped several orange Tic Tacs in her mouth. “Been drinking,” she said, chewing.
“Who’d have guessed? Look, you can leave your car and I’ll drive you back. I’ll be the DD.”
“It’s okay, I’m going to throw up soon. I’ll be better then. Anyway, news!” She pulled Reena through an equally jammed kitchen and out the back door.
There were more people in the yard. Did the entire campus at College Park decide to blow off studying for finals?
“Scott Delauter’s totally flunking out,” Gina announced, and did a little butt boogie to accompany the statement.
“Who’s Scott Delauter and why do you boogie on his misfortune?”
“He’s one of the housemates. You met him. Short guy, big teeth. And I dance because his misfortune is our jackpot. They’re going to be one short next semester and another of the group graduates next December. Jen says they can squeeze both of us in next term if we bunk together. Reena, we can get out of the pit.”
“Move in here? Gina, come back to my world. We can’t afford it.”
“We’re talking about splitting the rent and stuff four ways. It’s not that much more. Reena.” Gina gripped her arms, her dark eyes dazed with excitement and cheap wine, her voice reverent. “There’s three bathrooms. Three bathrooms for four people. Not one for six.”
“Three bathrooms.” Reena spoke it like a prayer.
“It’s salvation. When Jen told me, I had a vision. A vision, Reena. I think I saw the Blessed Mother smiling. And she was holding a loofah.”
“Three bathrooms,” Reena repeated. “No, no, I must not be drawn to the dark side by shiny objects. How much is the rent?”
“It’s . . . when you consider the split, and how you won’t need the food allowance on campus because we can cook here, it’s practically free.”
“That much, huh?”
“We’re both working this summer. We can save. Please, please, please, Reena. They have to know pretty quick. Look, look, we’ll have a yard.” She swept her arm out toward it. “We can plant flowers. Hell, we’ll grow our own vegetables and set up a stand. We’ll actually make money living here.”
“Tell me how much, Gina.”
“Let me get you a drink first—”
“Spit it out,” Reena demanded. And winced when Gina blurted out the monthly rent.
“But you have to factor in—”
“Ssh, let me think.” Reena closed her eyes, calculated. It would be tight, she decided. But if they made their own meals, cut out some of the money they blew on movies, CDs, clothes. She could give up new clothes for the wonder of three bathrooms.
“I’m in.”
Gina let out a whoop, caught Reena in a hug that danced them both over the grass. “It’s going to be awesome! I can’t wait. Let’s go get some wine and drink to Scott Delauter’s academic failures.”
“Seems mean, but oddly appropriate.” She swung around with Gina, then stopped dead. “Josh. Hi.”
He closed the back door behind him then gave her that slow, shy smile that curled her toes. “Hi. Heard you were here.”
“Yeah, I thought I’d take a break from studying. My brains were starting to leak out my ears.”
“Got tomorrow for the final push.”
“That’s what I told her.” Gina beamed at both of them. “Listen, youtwo get cozy. I’m going to go throw up now, in what will shortly be one of my own bathrooms.” She gave Reena a last boozy hug. “I’m so happy.”
Josh watched the door slap shut behind Gina. “Should I ask why Gina’s so happy to puke?”
“She’s happy because we’re going to move in here next semester.”
“Really? That’s great.” He moved in a little, and with his hands still in his pockets dipped his head to kiss her. “Congratulations.”
Nerves sizzled over her skin, a sensation she found fascinating and wonderfully adult. “I thought I’d like living in the dorm. The adventure. Me and
She pulled out the little plastic box she always carried and tapped several orange Tic Tacs in her mouth. “Been drinking,” she said, chewing.
“Who’d have guessed? Look, you can leave your car and I’ll drive you back. I’ll be the DD.”
“It’s okay, I’m going to throw up soon. I’ll be better then. Anyway, news!” She pulled Reena through an equally jammed kitchen and out the back door.
There were more people in the yard. Did the entire campus at College Park decide to blow off studying for finals?
“Scott Delauter’s totally flunking out,” Gina announced, and did a little butt boogie to accompany the statement.
“Who’s Scott Delauter and why do you boogie on his misfortune?”
“He’s one of the housemates. You met him. Short guy, big teeth. And I dance because his misfortune is our jackpot. They’re going to be one short next semester and another of the group graduates next December. Jen says they can squeeze both of us in next term if we bunk together. Reena, we can get out of the pit.”
“Move in here? Gina, come back to my world. We can’t afford it.”
“We’re talking about splitting the rent and stuff four ways. It’s not that much more. Reena.” Gina gripped her arms, her dark eyes dazed with excitement and cheap wine, her voice reverent. “There’s three bathrooms. Three bathrooms for four people. Not one for six.”
“Three bathrooms.” Reena spoke it like a prayer.
“It’s salvation. When Jen told me, I had a vision. A vision, Reena. I think I saw the Blessed Mother smiling. And she was holding a loofah.”
“Three bathrooms,” Reena repeated. “No, no, I must not be drawn to the dark side by shiny objects. How much is the rent?”
“It’s . . . when you consider the split, and how you won’t need the food allowance on campus because we can cook here, it’s practically free.”
“That much, huh?”
“We’re both working this summer. We can save. Please, please, please, Reena. They have to know pretty quick. Look, look, we’ll have a yard.” She swept her arm out toward it. “We can plant flowers. Hell, we’ll grow our own vegetables and set up a stand. We’ll actually make money living here.”
“Tell me how much, Gina.”
“Let me get you a drink first—”
“Spit it out,” Reena demanded. And winced when Gina blurted out the monthly rent.
“But you have to factor in—”
“Ssh, let me think.” Reena closed her eyes, calculated. It would be tight, she decided. But if they made their own meals, cut out some of the money they blew on movies, CDs, clothes. She could give up new clothes for the wonder of three bathrooms.
“I’m in.”
Gina let out a whoop, caught Reena in a hug that danced them both over the grass. “It’s going to be awesome! I can’t wait. Let’s go get some wine and drink to Scott Delauter’s academic failures.”
“Seems mean, but oddly appropriate.” She swung around with Gina, then stopped dead. “Josh. Hi.”
He closed the back door behind him then gave her that slow, shy smile that curled her toes. “Hi. Heard you were here.”
“Yeah, I thought I’d take a break from studying. My brains were starting to leak out my ears.”
“Got tomorrow for the final push.”
“That’s what I told her.” Gina beamed at both of them. “Listen, youtwo get cozy. I’m going to go throw up now, in what will shortly be one of my own bathrooms.” She gave Reena a last boozy hug. “I’m so happy.”
Josh watched the door slap shut behind Gina. “Should I ask why Gina’s so happy to puke?”
“She’s happy because we’re going to move in here next semester.”
“Really? That’s great.” He moved in a little, and with his hands still in his pockets dipped his head to kiss her. “Congratulations.”
Nerves sizzled over her skin, a sensation she found fascinating and wonderfully adult. “I thought I’d like living in the dorm. The adventure. Me and
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