“Since when?” The smile on her face is my first indication that I’ve screwed up. She doesn’t look jealous. She looks happy. Really, insanely happy.

“Oh, it’s recent.” The big smile she’s giving me is unnerving. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”

She shakes her head. “Oh, God, right. I’m Gabby.”

“Gabs, what are you doing here?” Nathan comes into the kitchen pulling a navy t-shirt over his head. Monochrome t-shirts are all I’ve seen him wear, but he pulls it off like they were Burberry instead of Hanes.

“Zeke’s in Vegas for the weekend, so I came back early.”

Nathan looks between us.

“I just met Chloe. Your girlfriend.”

I glance from Nathan to Gabby. I can’t tell if she’s buying the story or not, but I’m ready to fall on my sword.

“I can explain.”

Nathan sweeps in beside me and wraps an arm around me. “Chloe’s a transfer. We met a few weeks ago, but I wasn’t sure if she was interested so I didn’t say anything.”

“I’m really happy for you,” Gabby says to Nathan and makes a sweet face at him. Something about the way she says it and how I can feel how much she actually means it makes me feel awful for lying to her.

Gabby shocks me by taking my hand and turning a mischievous smile to Nathan. “I need to hear the details from your girl. I’m stealing her so she can tell me how you made an adorable ass of yourself asking her out.” She looks at me. “He did, didn’t he? I can just picture it.”

I laugh uneasily, and Nathan offers me a reassuring smile.

“Relax. Gabby’s good people,” he murmurs in my ear, and I hand him his drink before Gabby pulls me outside.

She’s a fiery little ball of energy. Short and petite, big blonde hair and green-blue eyes. She has some scarring on one side of her face, but she’s stunning. I wish I could dislike her, I mean, the girl keeps a swimsuit in my boyfriend’s bedroom, but she’s just too damn nice.

After I’ve given her the quick version of the crazy how-we-met story Nathan and I concocted, she changes her focus to getting to know me.

“Where’d you transfer from?” We’re seated on two lounge chairs facing one another and she rests both elbows on her knees, totally hanging on every word. I thought she had been putting on a show for Nathan’s sake, but the longer we sit here, the more I’m convinced she’s truly interested in getting to know me.

“Golden in California.”

“That’s awesome. I’m a transfer, too. Well, sort of. I was an online student, so this is my first semester on campus.” Gabby smiles a little shyly. “Are you a sophomore?”

“Senior actually.”