We Were Here: A New Adult Romance Prequel to Geoducks Are for Lovers (Modern Love Stories Book 1) (4 page)

“I’m getting the sense everything you know is from books. Less reading, more living, Caterpillar.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“You’re the caterpillar before she becomes the butterfly. You merely have to get your nose out of your books long enough to see the world is waiting for you.”

At the party, blaring music made it too difficult to talk, but was good enough to dance to. Fine by me. Quinn was a fantastic dancer and had me laughing most of the evening.

Plus, he had been right about all the cute guys.

I wished I’d changed into something less warm. Lifting my hair, I twisted it into a knot at the nape of my neck. Not sure sweaty was the most attractive look. When a song came on I didn’t know, I pantomimed being hot and needing water to let Quinn know my plan.

Random students packed the kitchen. Following people with full cups of beer outside, I found the keg.
Bingo.

“Hi, I’m Roger,” a cute guy manning the tap said. “Beer?”

“Sure.” I took the red cup from him and introduced myself. The flat beer tasted the way old socks smelled.

“It’s pretty terrible stuff, but still does the trick.” Roger smiled at me, lifting his own cup before draining it. Definitely cute. With dimples in his round cheeks and his brown, curly hair, he reminded me of a Disney version of a chipmunk.

Because speed seemed to be the key in drinking bad beer, I imitated him, finishing mine in one long chug.

He refilled my cup. “Want to dance, Margie?” Loud music poured out the door when he opened it again.

“It’s Maggie,” I shouted over the noise. It didn’t matter. Given the choice between swallowing more bad beer and dancing, I would’ve always chosen dancing.

I followed him to the crowded dance floor. Unlike Quinn, who was fun and a little silly to dance with, Roger was all about the close dancing. I felt his breath sweep over my face.

He placed his hands on me and swayed my hips in time to his own rhythm, moving farther and farther into my personal space.

The beer must have gone to my head because when his tongue invaded my mouth, I didn’t immediately shove him away. He moved his thigh between mine and pulled out a full on Swayze style dip move.

Okay, that was different. And impressive, given his tongue was doing its own dirty dancing with mine.

I’d gone from reading a book to making out in the middle of a party in less than two hours. I wasn’t sure which was the better option. Not that Roger was a bad kisser. He seemed really into it and knew all sorts of tricks, but I’d only met him five minutes ago.

When his hand grabbed my butt, warning sirens sounded in my head like the sounds European police cars make.
Wee woo. Wee woo. Wee woo.

Too much. Too fast. Too grabby.

Pulling away, I returned his hand to my waist. He leaned forward to suction his mouth back to mine, but I dodged him. I was unable to spot Quinn’s blond head through the mass of people.

Someone tapped me on my shoulder. I glanced at the guy attached to the fingers. He wasn’t familiar, but he was cute—tall, big glasses, dark hair, kind of skinny.

“May I cut in?” he asked.

“Yes!” I replied without hesitation, squirming my way out of Roger’s grasp.

“Hey, where are you going? We had a thing going on.”

“Sorry. My boyfriend showed up!” I shouted over the music as I walked away from Roger.

Cute stranger grabbed my hand. “Quinn sent me over, but I’d still like to dance.”

“Quinn?” I craned my neck to find him.

“He’s over in the corner arguing about Warhol with a bunch of artsy girls who all look like Wednesday Addams.”

Of course Quinn had found a group of cool girls. Not sure why, but the thought made me feel insecure.

“I’m Gil, by the way. If knowing my name makes you more likely to dance with me.” He gave me a funny little wave. “Hi.”

“I guess you know I’m Maggie.”

“Maggie. Quinn only said I had to go rescue the hot redhead from the overly sexualized woodland creature.”

The music picked up again with a new song.

“Did you say woodland creature?” I shouted.

“What?” He leaned down so I could speak into his ear. He smelled of soap and boy.

“Overly sexualized woodland creature?”

Smiling, he nodded. “Quinn’s words not mine.”

We danced together for the rest of the song. It wasn’t as silly as when I danced with Quinn, nor was it an invasion of the body snatchers like with Roger.

When the song ended, he gestured over his shoulder off the dance floor. I led the way and he placed his hand on my shoulder protectively.

Quinn clapped his hands when he spotted us. “You rescued fair Maggie from the soul sucking!”

I furrowed my brow. “Soul sucking?”

“From this vantage point, it looked like he tried to suck out your soul via your mouth. I sent Gil in to save you, and your soul.”

“Then I owe you a big thank you, Gil.” I smiled at him.

He grinned back. “You do owe me.”

Quinn interrupted our goofy staring contest. “Let’s go. I think we’ve had enough fun for the evening.”

I glanced at my watch. “It’s barely midnight, Quinn.”

“And I’m going to turn into a pumpkin. Plus, Gil has to be up at the ass crack of dawn to row a boat.”

I studied Gil. “On a Saturday?”

“Six days a week.”

“You’re crazy. No way could you get me up in the dark to exercise.” Nope. I shook my head and crossed my arms as if he would force me to join him.

“That’s what I’ve been saying.” Quinn slapped him on the back. “After he explained what a coxswain really does, and let me tell you, the name is misleading, I said no thank you.”

Gil shrugged and gave me a shy smile, then pushed his glasses up his nose. “I obviously have a thing for self-flagellation.”

“I should have guessed you were into weird stuff.” Quinn handed me the leather jacket. “It’s always the quiet ones.” He winked at me.

“Are you wearing my jacket?” Gil asked.

“Sorry.” I paused with my arm stuck inside one of the sleeves. “Quinn loaned it to me.”

“It’s fine.” He pulled it over my shoulders. “Looks good on you.”

The leather smelled the same as him—soapy and a little spicy like cloves.

We walked back to our dorm discussing music we liked. As we passed the mail cubbies, Quinn grabbed my book. Gil stopped walking, then closed his eyes for a couple of beats.

“Just my luck,” he whispered before opening his lids again.

“What?” Quinn asked.

“Nothing.” Gil shook his head.

I paused to say goodnight outside my door. It swung open to reveal a disheveled Jennifer, who clearly wasn’t wearing a bra under her big T-shirt. Or pants.

“I thought I heard voices.” She focused on me then the guys behind me. “Gil, what are you doing with Maggie?”

“You two know each other?” I glanced between them as an image flashed in my head. Dark hair. Long legs. Brown Wallabee boots. “Ohmygod. You’re the tongue masher!”

“What’s a tongue masher?” Quinn asked.

“He’s the reason I’ve been kicked out of my room!”

“Oh, that makes things interesting, doesn’t it?” Quinn’s Cheshire grin returned. Facing Jennifer, he introduced himself.

She tugged her shirt farther down her legs. “Hi.”

“You’re dating Gil?” Quinn continued to be the only one speaking.

Gil shuffled his feet. “We hang out.”

“Geez, Gil. Make it sound serious.” Jennifer flipped her long, blond hair over her shoulder.

Quinn slung his arm around my neck and backed us down the hall. “Darling, we don’t want to get involved in their lovers’ quarrel, do we?”

“It’s not a lovers’ quarrel.” Gil stared at me.

“Can you settle this tomorrow? I’m tired and want to go to sleep.” I ducked under Quinn’s arm and squeezed behind Jennifer. “Or in the hall? Either works for me.”

“Goodnight, Caterpillar!” Quinn waved from the other side of Gil.

I didn’t know Gil well enough to read his expressions, but the likelihood of any roommate tongue action tonight seemed the last thing on his mind. Meeting my eyes, he gave me a small wave and a shy smile as he stepped away. “Nice meeting you, Maggie.”

Jennifer glared at him. “No goodnight kiss?”

He obliged her with a soft peck on the cheek and a promise to hang out tomorrow.

Her interrogation began the second the door closed. Why was I hanging out with him? Where did we go? How long were we together? Did he try to make a move on me? What was the story with Quinn?

Then she told me how she let Gil touch her special flower. I didn’t ask for clarification. If my suspicion was right, I didn’t want to know.

On and on she droned until I escaped the room to brush my teeth.

Leaving the bathroom, I ran into Gil again in the hall.

“Hey. About Jennifer.” He stopped and leaned against the wall.

“No need to explain anything.” I rested my back on the opposite wall.

“Are you sure?” His voice cracked into a chuckle. “For some reason I feel like I need to explain myself or apologize for something.”

“Why? You’re both single and adults.”

“I know, but we’ve kicked you out of your space a lot recently. Quinn said you’ve been hanging out in our room or the lounge. That’s not fair.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“The lounge couch smells like urine. No one should have to have to hang out on the urine couch.”

“No, really. Most of the time I’m in the library.”

“Still. We’ll give you back your room.”

“Okay.” I felt awkward and embarrassed, and I wasn’t sure why. It was sweet he apologized. It didn’t really make sense, but I wasn’t going to make him feel bad for trying to make it right.

“Can I ask you a question?” He rubbed his hand over his hair and adjusted his glasses.

“Sure.”

“Is that your Roxy Music poster?”

Above my bed hung a huge poster of Roxy Music’s
Avalon
cover. “It is.”

“That’s cool. They’re one of my favorite bands.”

“Really? Mine too.”

We started talking about songs and albums, both slumping down the walls to sit. His long legs extended across the carpet and I criss-crossed mine. A few fellow residents stepped over us on their way in or out of the bathrooms.

I recognized Lizzy, another freshman in my world views’ lecture. She wore a pink fluffy robe and carried a coordinating pink bathroom caddy. A pony-tail pulled her dark hair away from her face, drawing attention to her perky nose and rosy skin.

“Hi, can I join you? Or is this a private pow-wow?”

Gil and I shrugged. “Sure.”

I made the introductions. “Sit with us.”

After setting down her caddy, she joined me on my side of the hall. “What are you talking about?”

“Music and bands,” Gil answered. “Our mutual love of Roxy Music.”

“Really? I have a huge crush on Bryan Ferry.” Her voice became animated. “Did you know he’s playing a concert at the Greek in Berkeley next month? I’m trying to talk my roommate into driving down with me.”

“I could be up for a road trip.” Gil rubbed his hands together.

I’d never traveled anywhere on my own without my family or school chaperones. The idea excited me. “You mean get in the car and drive from Washington down to California? For a concert?”

“Sure. Why not?” Lizzy sat up on her knees. “It would be so much fun. If we split the gas and find a place to stay for free, we’d only have the cost of tickets and food.”

“Let’s do this. I bet Quinn would be up for an adventure.”

I nodded in agreement with Gil. “He seems the type who is always up for trouble.”

“I swear I heard my name.” A short brunette with green eyes stuck her head around the corner.

Dressed all in black and wearing unlaced, knee high Doc Marten boots, she reminded me of Winona Ryder. With smudged lipstick. A guy with curly brown hair followed behind her, sporting his own version of lipstick smudged lips.

“Selah!” Lizzy jumped up. “We’re going on a road trip to Bryan Ferry!”

Selah didn’t look sure. “We are?”

“Yes, Maggie, Gil, and Gil’s roommate are going to join us.”

“They are?”

Lizzy nodded. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”

“What? When? Where? Who?”

I like Selah already. No nonsense, cut to the chase.

“We’re the who. I’m Gil and that’s Maggie.”

She eyed us. “Are you a couple?”

I laughed, maybe a little too hard. “No, he’s dating my roommate.”

“Is your roommate coming on this trip, too?”

I waited for Gil to answer. “I don’t think so. We’re already five people. Six would be too many. Unless one of us had a VW bus.”

For someone who had spent hours making out with Jennifer, Gil didn’t seem too committed. From my last conversation with Jennifer, she was far more invested.

“Quinn has a hatchback. We could take that. Plenty of room in the back for our stuff.”

“Come with us,” Lizzy pleaded. “Berkeley, end of the month, concert at the Greek.”

“My brother goes to Berkeley.”

Lizzy’s dark eyes sparkled. “Can we stay with him? We only need floor space for sleeping bags.”

Sleeping bags? Floor? I didn’t remember signing up for camping.

“I’m not sleeping on the floor.” Selah protested.