Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Girls squeal, guys high-five, and I shake my head. Yeah, he’s still a fucking douche.
“Get together with your group one final time, and I’ll come around the room to chat with you.”
Everyone starts the process of relocating to their group, and I gird my loins to do the same. All the work on The Winter’s Tale project for the last three weeks has been done by splitting it up or collaborating through email, and Scottie hasn’t once tried to change that. There haven’t been any in-person pleas or texts or calls, and I’ve tried not to let that get to me.
It has, of course, because for all the stupid shit I’m angry at her for, there’s at least one other part of me that loves her. But I’ve tried.
Scottie’s on the other side of the room, in keeping with her bid to avoid me entirely, staring down at her notebook in concentration as she jots something down. Shockingly, normally self-involved, makes-everyone-come-to-her Nadine is magnanimously on her way over to Scottie, so I grab my backpack to do the same.
I slump down into the empty seat beside her on one side, and Nadine takes the one on the other, but she doesn’t look up at either one of us.
Again, I’m not surprised.
“Tell me someone printed off our final thesis,” Nadine comments on a sigh, her beleaguered body melting into the seat like she just finished climbing Everest. “Dane had me up all night, if you know what I mean, and I didn’t have time to head to McKinley before I came to class.”
I’m not sure if Nadine thinks her mention of Dane makes Scottie jealous, but if it’s possible at this point, I think she cares about Nadine and Dane’s TMI even less than she cares about me. Her face, her body, her voice—they’re all unfazed.
“I did,” Scottie and I both say in unison. Scottie’s eyes just barely meet mine, but they’re quick to glance back down at her desk.
“Well, look at you two,” Nadine purrs. “You’re like the cutest little nerds. I love it.”
I roll my eyes and pull out our printed fifty-page thesis from my backpack, and Scottie does the same thing.
“Uh-oh, which one are we going to turn in?” Nadine questions sarcastically, her evil little giggle making my ears bleed. “What a dilemma.”
“Why don’t we write Scottie’s name on hers and my name on mine and turn our project in like that?” I offer, so annoyed with Nadine’s never-ending shit I can’t bite my tongue.
A stifled laugh falls from Scottie’s lips. I hate how much I enjoy it.
“Don’t be an asshole, Finn,” Nadine scoffs. “I was just teasing you guys.”
“Teasing. Right.” Fuck, this chick is a waste of oxygen. She barely even responded to our emails about this stupid thing, let alone did her fair share of the work.
“So, Scottie,” Nadine says, changing the conversation completely. “Any big plans for winter break?”
“No, not really,” Scottie answers.
“You’re not going home to spend time with your mom and dad?”
“I’m going home on Christmas Eve, but I’ll come back to campus on Christmas Day. My dad and sister are supposed to be working anyway.”
“What about your mom?” Nadine questions in surprise. “Surely she wants you to stay home for longer than a freaking night for Christmas.”
Scottie shifts in her seat, clearly uncomfortable with Nadine’s prying, but Professor Winslow stops in front of us and cuts off the conversation entirely.
It’s the first time I’ve felt thankful to the guy. Because as much as I’d love to know more about Scottie’s family dynamic, I’m all too familiar with being the one who doesn’t want anyone to know.
“Are we ready to turn in our thesis?” Ty asks with a grin on his face. A Santa hat is now on his head, and he’s switched out his normal gray tie for a red one.
Both Scottie and I hold out our printouts at once, and he laughs. “It looks like I finally found a group that is prepared. Maybe even overprepared.” He looks over at Nadine. “Pray tell. Is there a third version of this group’s masterpiece?”
Nadine opens her mouth, but Scottie beats her to the punch, making a sense of pride swell in my chest. I love seeing her stand up for herself to someone who’s been nothing but shit to her. “Nadine said she didn’t have time to print it out because she was with her boyfriend all last night. Right, Nadine?”
Nadine rolls her eyes, but an angry blush reddens her cheeks and mars the skin above her overly exposed breasts. “I didn’t print it off because you and Finn said you had it covered.”
“No,” I chime in. “We never said that. You must have assumed since Scottie and I have done such a good job handling everything else. But it’s all good, partner. Scottie and I made sure our project is getting turned in on time.”