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hesitation. There should be meds for hesitation. It’s like a subconscious version of admittance that is completely out of my control and always seems to screw me over. If some genius doctor ever created a remedy, I would be the first in line to try it. Unless, of course, that doctor was Preston. Then I would run the other way.
    Kara and I had clicked immediately; her upbeat personality setting off my mellow one so perfectly it was as though the housing office had a list of traits and assigned roommates accordingly. The last thing I wanted to do was push her away because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut around her best friend.
    I slipped through the door to Fresh Foods and saw Kara already seated by the windows.
    “Hey,” I said as I walked up.
    She cocked her head at me. “You don’t like Preston very much, do you?”
    My eyes went wide. “What? No. I like him. I definitely like him. He’s . . .” What? I couldn’t tell her what I really thought. I wasn’t sure even
I
knew what I really thought. “I like him fine. Why do you ask?”
    “He and I had Spanish together just now, and he mentioned that you two had bio together this morning.”
    “And he told you what I said.” I dropped my bag in the free chair beside Kara and slumped into the seat across from her. “I don’t know why I even asked what his major was. It isn’t like it matters. He came to sit beside me and I got all . . . I don’t know. It was weird, and I just . . . I don’t know.” I glanced up to see Kara staring at me. “What?”
    She shook her head, grinning. “Nothing. I just didn’t realize he’d had that effect on you. I kind of thought you were immune or something, but clearly—”
    “Oh no.” I waved my hands to stop her before she made any assumptions. True or not. “I’m not into him, if that’s what you mean. I just act stupid around him. I don’t know why. I’m sorry. I hope you’re not mad.”
    “Are you crazy? I don’t care. He’s a friend. That doesn’t change the fact that we’re friends, ya know?”
    I let out a breath. “God. I’m so glad you said that. I’ve been making a complete ass of myself around him, and I know you two are so close, and we live together, and God. I was so worried you were going to get pissed by default.”
    She studied me as though she were trying to figure out something overly complex. “No, it’s all good. Let’s get some food.” She motioned toward the line and then turned back. “But just so you know, and Preston would be so pissed if he knew I was telling you this, but he isn’t an idiot. The opposite actually. He’s sickeningly smart. The king of never studying, yet aces the test. There were just a few years when he stopped caring.”
    “Kara, is there something . . . I don’t know, I get the feeling . . . I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”
    She smiled. “It’s okay. He’s just been through a lot.” She looked away as though she’d said too much.
    I wondered what happened to cause this tension between them. I knew better than to ask, so I changed the subject. “So, was he telling the truth about you two when you were little?” I asked as we sat back down with our lunch.
    She laughed. “Oh, yes. But it was destined to never work.”
    “Oh really, why is that?” I asked.
    “Aside from the fact that he’s like a brother to me, he breaks all my dating rules.”
    “Dating rules?”
    “Yeah. No babies of the family. No trucks. Oh, and no tattoos.”
    I nearly choked on my sandwich. “Preston has a tattoo?”
    “A small one, but still, they’re tacky and I don’t do tacky.”
    I couldn’t help but laugh at how judgmental she was being. Most people had opinions on things like tattoos, but not everyone was willing to voice their opinion so openly with people they hardly knew. I decided I’d wait until later to tell her that I too had a tattoo. I wondered where Preston’s was located. I hadn’t noticed one when he was shirtless in