It’s tempting, really. If anyone can make me feel better, it’s Adam, but I’m not sure I want to feel better yet.

Being single is a wonderful and liberating thing. “Single and ready to mingle.” “I’m every woman.” “Put your hands up.” “Truth hurts”. There are so many songs about it, I can’t even list them all. But the thing about the single girl anthem… it’s usually born out of a lot of tears from the last heartbreak.

The girl power and celebration of singledom only comes after you’ve cried your eyes out and burned every item that belonged to the last man who did you wrong.

I’m still somewhere between the two, but I catch Adam’s drift—it’s probably time to re-enter the land of the living.

I let out a cleansing sigh. “Tomorrow. Breakfast tomorrow, I promise. I need to help Ava get our room organized.” I glance over to the boxes stacked on top of my desk that I still haven’t unpacked.

Adam doesn’t look convinced.

“I said I promise.”

He holds his pinky out and I roll my eyes but link it with mine.

“I’ll swing by on my way to the dining hall. You’ve got an eight o’clock, yeah?”

I nod and groan. I am so not a morning person. “Yeah, but you don’t.”

“Preseason workouts this week and next at six. I’ll be heading over to eat around that time anyway.”

“Six o’clock in the morning?”

“Yeah. In the morning.” The deep chuckle that follows makes me smile. He stands and ruffles my already messy hair.

“Stop it.” I swat at his hand. He knows I hate it when he treats me like I’m twelve. In his mind, a three-year age gap makes him so much wiser.

“Be ready at quarter `til,” he says as he moves to the door. “I’d hate to have to bang on the door and wake up the entire hall.”

“God, you’re obnoxious,” I say, but he’s already gone.

I get up and shower, hoping it washes away some of the lingering sadness along with the cracker crumbs. Back in my room, I look around it with fresh eyes and cringe. Ava’s side is organized and decorated with bright colors and then there’s my side. Even I can admit it looks a little depressing. Okay, a lot. White concrete walls, gray bed frame, and desk. The only color is my pale-yellow comforter.

After I’m dressed, I finally unpack. I didn’t bring a lot of personal items because so many of them reminded me of Bryan. I fill the closet with my clothes and shoes, organize all of my school stuff on the desk, and I tape up a few pictures of my family and friends from high school on the wall.