Still Jaded (Jaded #2)

I whistled as I drew close to Raz. "That's a first. I'm already hated and I haven't said a word. It usually happens after I've opened my mouth."

Raz shifted twice on his feet, readjusted his backpack over his shoulder three times, and then, when he was settled, shot out his hand. "I'm Raz. I'm in Corrigan's house. You have a spectacular game room."

"Game room?" It sounded sexual.

"Yes. You have an original Pac Man and three Froggies. They must've cost a fortune. I was in love last night."

"You made love to Pac Man?"

"Nah," flashing perfect white teeth while chuckling, "that'd be funny though. I'm studying to be a programmer. I want to develop programs like that."

And the stupid frat boy image went out the door.

"Mmm, wouldn't have pegged you for that type," I mused as the line shifted, and I was one person away from my coffee.

"I have to say that I love Corrigan, like truly love him, but not in the g*y way. I just love the dude. He's a complete dude for all dudes, you know."

How could I have thought this guy wasn't smart?

"Thank you?" I wasn't sure what to say, but he was helping to pass the time.

"I figured you might not know who I am, but I know who you are. So, here I am. I'm Raz." He held his hand out once more. As I shook it, he continued, "Yeah, I don't know what her deal was. She must've heard about your celebrity beau and done one of those things, like, jealousy things."

"Jealousy things?"

Raz nodded. He didn't blink. He was so serious. "My sis calls 'em jealousy fits. She suffers 'em all the time, but our preacher's trying to help her with them. I think its part of having a vagina."

"Or low self-esteem." The line shifted again. Hello coffee counter.

As I gave my order, Raz bobbed his head next to me as if he had all the time in the world. "Anyway, I saw you in line and got so excited because I remembered your game room. I am hyped for the party."

"It's you and Pac Man all night again?" I grinned, but then I got my coffee. All sense left my body. Heaven.

"Yeah, man. Not a lot of girls are into it, but I love that stuff. That's gonna be my future." He snagged a sugar for himself. After he opened it, he tipped his head back and swallowed the contents. Then he continued without missing a beat, "Anyways, you're a rad girl. You're buds with Corrigan, and Bryce Scout is my soccer god, so I consider you family. If you ever want me to throw coffee on the likes of that Dorothy chick again, let me know. We're like the mafia in that way."

"Her name was Dorothy?" That perked my ears.

"Hmm what?" Raz tried to look confused. He failed.

"She never introduced herself." I caught the lie, and he crumbled, but did so cutely. "She's in one of my political science classes. The girl is chick-smart, man. I didn't like how she treated you, though. You're family, so chick smart nothing. She's gotta go down."

"Let me guess, that's how you roll?"

Mental note: stop at the coffee kiosk every morning. So entertained.

He bobbed his head some more. "That's how my brothers roll. We take care of our own, and like I said, you're familia. You and your beau."

"Bryce will be happy to know that."

"I'll see you later tonight. We're playing sloshball. It's the ultimate game."

He bounded away in all his glorious surfer good looks, but I had to admit, I enjoyed the morning. Then, I thought about the party at their fraternity, and the knot came back again.

CHAPTER FOUR

After my classes that day, I went to Donadeli's, Of course, it wasn't Donadeli's anymore. It had been sold. Marcus' family had moved. No one wanted to stay around a place where people knew your son had killed two girls, raped one of them, nearly killed Corrigan, and attempted to kill the object of his obsession—me. I would've left too.

So the old hangout was now called Sparky's. It was owned by another Italian family, but had been given a makeover. Instead of an Italian eatery, Sparky's resembled a fifties diner, complete with roller skates for the servers.

As soon as I slid into my normal corner booth, I glanced up and realized why Dorothy might not have liked me. She was one of the servers, and, judging by her grim look, I was pretty sure I was currently seated in her section.

I knew then that she had waited on me before.

As she started to roll my way, I sat back and considered calling Raz to come and eat with me.

"Can I get you a beverage to start?" she asked. The smile was forced.

"So you did have a change of clothes." I gestured towards her uniform, a pink vest over a black ruffled skirt. Her two dreadlocks had been pulled up in a ponytail, held together by a black ribbon. "I wouldn't want to wear that to classes either."

She kept her glare in check. "Do you want something to drink?"