Page 29 of Cabin Mate

My heart plummets inside my chest at the idea of her spending the evening with Todd. Will she hold his hand across the table? Allow him to stare into her big blue eyes? Or even slide her hands into his hair when he kisses her?

I give my head a subtle shake and try to think of something else. Anything else.

“Didn’t Britt ask you out after class this morning? You should take her to a movie! She’s probably way more fun than me anyway,” Molly says with a light-hearted chuckle.

Impossible.

“Yeah.” I force a laugh. “She’s hot. I should call her.”

Molly rolls her eyes but her expression is amused. “Is that pretty much your only prerequisite for a girl?”

“No,” I say defensively. I want to say more but stop myself.

I want to tell her my prerequisites are sparkly blue eyes that are like looking straight into a sapphire, a heart-shaped face framed by dark hair with cute bangs, a body dressed like a modern version of an old lady, and extra points for an antique spoon collection being her prized possession.

She tilts her head forward, waiting for me to go on. “So? What are they!”

“Hot and desperate,” I tease.

She bursts into laughter and shoves me with her dainty hands. “You scandalous rake! I can’t wait to meet the girl who reforms you into a gentleman someday.”

If only she realized the only girl I can picture marrying is sitting right in front of me.

“Oh! My father sent me some new dresses. Help me choose one.”

I gulp, knowing this is way out of my depth and I think Molly would look sexy in a gunny sack. “Yeah, sure.”

She jumps up from her seat on the bed and strolls to her closet. She rifles through the clothing before pulling out a pale blue skirt and jacket combo and a little black dress with tiny straps to hold up the top.

“The blue one,” I say quickly, not wanting anyone, except for myself, to see Molly in that little black dress.

“Really?” she asks, looking between the two dresses. “I just knew you’d say the black one.”

I shrug. “The blue has that understated class that’s kind of your signature.”

Her eyes widen and she smiles. “Brooks, that’s so sweet!”

She walks toward me and my breath hitches when she stands on her toes and puckers her lips slightly. I’m very aware of the way my heart is racing at her close proximity … but then my heart rate plummets when her lips land briefly, very briefly, on my cheek.

“You’re the best friend a girl could ask for,” she says with a genuine smile before patting me on the arm and hanging the black dress back inside her closet. She glances over at the clock next to her bed. “Oh! I better start getting ready. See you Monday at class!”

Molly spins on her heel and takes her outfit into the bathroom with her. Knowing a dismissal when I see one, I let myself out of her dorm room and begrudgingly pull out my phone.

Maybe Britt will be the one to make me forget Molly?

Chapter 13

Brooks

After landing in Vermont, I guffaw with laughter when a Mercedes-Benz pulls up to get us from the airport.

Molly sighs. “Don’t even start.”

A man in a suit, who looks like a modern version of a butler, gets out and takes Molly’s bag and then mine. “Miss Vanderbilt, Mr. Windell. I trust your flight was comfortable?”

“Yes, very much so. Thank you, Harold.”

I open the door for Molly, and she slides into the back seat. I get in beside her and quickly, before Harold finishes putting our bags in the trunk, I whisper, “I trust your flight was comfortable??” I snicker. “Should I ask him if his mother is in good health?”