Providence Read Online Free PDF Page B

been given with the proud-father expression that I relished.
    “Going somewhere?” I asked.
    “Why?” He cocked his head, confused at my question.
    “You look like you’re headed to a hot date or something.”
    He laughed. “No…no date. How about you? Anyone forcing strange cuisine on you this evening?”
    “I don’t do that for just anyone,” I said, raising an eyebrow. I was impressed with how I sounded, so much braver than I felt.
    He beamed. “Is that so?”
    I pulled my receipt from the gas pump and looked at Beth, who pretended not to watch. He walked over to me, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
    “How would you like to put that to the test, then?” he asked.
    “Is that a challenge or are you asking me to dinner?” I prompted, looking him square in the eye. I didn’t know where my sudden courage and sass came from, but it was less humiliating than the gaucheness I demonstrated the last two times I had seen him.
    “Both,” he smiled. He leaned against my car, just inches from me. I tried to seem relaxed, although my heart was pounding in my chest over his proximity.
    My face twisted into a frown as I realized my dilemma. “I have study group tonight.”
    He didn’t look ruffled, to my chagrin. “Maybe next time.”
    He walked back to his Escalade and left without another word. I flipped around to Beth and she ducked into the passenger side. The door slammed behind me as I sat next to her.
    “What was that?” Beth asked.
    “I don’t know.”
    Beth’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You passed up a date with him for study group? You’ve wanted to run into him for a week!”
    “I can’t just break my plans anytime he asks me out. How would that look?” I insisted, frowning at the thought of him thinking I was that accessible.
    Beth shrugged. “Who cares?”
    I started my car. “Beth! Be serious. He won’t give me his number,” I shoved my gear shift into drive and pulled forward, “and he just shows up out of nowhere and asks me out.”
    “You’re nuts! You like him. He asks you out. You tell him no? There is something wrong with you, Nina!”
    Back at Andrews, I had to deal with it from both sides.
    “What is wrong with you?” Kim shrieked.
    “Ugh! Not you, too!”
    The smugness on Beth’s face radiated throughout the entire room. “I told you.”
    “I have to study. You two are studying tonight,” I reasoned, mostly to myself.
    “I wouldn’t if I had a date,” Beth said, crossing her legs on her bed.
    “I bet you would if said date asked you ninety minutes before study group,” I rebutted.
    “Okay,” Kim said, spreading her arms between us. “Nigh’s right. Prose before bros.”
    Beth rolled her eyes as she packed her various study items and I folded my notes and stuffed them into my coat pocket.
    Kim snapped her fingers. “Let’s go, ladies. I don’t want to close The Rock down at 2 A.M. like last time.”
    We headed to the John D. Rockefeller library, ducking our heads to hide from the bitter wind. Just as we crossed the street, the snow began to fall in large flakes. The dead grass crinkled under our feet as we cut across to save steps. Beth begged us to drive, but Kim insisted we walk so she could smoke.
    Beth hooked her arm around mine. “Brown needs to generate some type of small transportation system to get us from here to there more easily. Like a trailer hitched to a four-wheeler.”
    “Yes, Oklahoma, let’s hire a hay rack ride. Brown needs culture,” Kim deadpanned.
    Beth narrowed her eyes at Kim. “It was just a suggestion. I’m freezing.”
    “Don’t listen to Kim, she’s not even wearing a heavy coat,” I said, my teeth beginning to chatter.
    “You two are babies, gah!” Kim groaned.
    “It does sound like a hay ride,” Beth giggled.
    When we arrived, our study group was already waiting on us. Carrie and Tracey—from the basketball team—sat on one couch. On the adjacent couch sat Kim’s friends Justin and Kristi. Lisa, a pre-med