Over the next few days, I don’t have any more hockey team run-ins. Which might be in part because Ava and I stock up on noodles and have lunch in our room most days and when I do go to the dining hall, I avoid the back table. My brother’s teammates all seemed nice, but I’m not interested in continually being referred to as Adam Scott’s baby sister.

Adam texts me every day to check in and invites me over to his place to hang out. I finally give in and agree to dinner Thursday night.

“Are you going to the dorm social tonight?” Ava asks that afternoon as we’re hanging out in the room. I’m watching a new makeup tutorial, and she’s letting me practice on her. I know a lot of people like to use themselves as a model, but I’ve never been one for wearing much makeup. Putting it on other people, though, makes me insanely happy.

“Can’t. I’m having dinner with my brother. Tomorrow night? I’ve heard several fraternities are having parties.”

“Trent is coming to town this weekend. I meant to ask how you felt about him staying in the dorm? If it makes you uncomfortable, we’ll get a hotel.”

“He’s coming to visit already?”

She grins wide and the raspberry red color I’ve put on her lips looks fantastic. “Yeah, we’ve worked it out so we can visit each other almost every weekend this semester.”

I hadn’t given much thought to what we’d do when he was visiting. I grab a gloss and she parts her lips to let me coat them with a little shine. “He should stay here, of course.”

“Cool. Thank you. Trent was stressing about coming up with the money for a hotel. The only one in town that’s reasonably priced looks like it also rents by the hour.” She pulls her mouth down into a grimace. “But it’ll be fun. You’ll like him.”

“I’m excited to meet him. What are you guys going to do?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe the football game, maybe skipping it to make out.” She blushes.

I nod, suddenly imagining a weekend of trying to ignore the sex sounds coming from the other side of the room.

Adam picks me up after he’s done with classes for the day. I smile when his familiar Jeep comes into view. He stops at the curb outside of my dorm and I hop in.

“How’s the first week?” he asks as he drives toward his apartment.

“Good. I think I’m finally getting a feel for the campus. It’s sort of confusing—all the old buildings look the same. And what’s up with the floor numbering in Emerson?”

He chuckles lightly. “How long did it take you to figure out there are two second floors?”