“The van is loaded,” Dom says as he and Alex come back into our hotel room. “Are you guys almost ready?”
I’ve been ready. I nod in Steph’s direction. She’s still curling her hair. Keesh is applying lip gloss but she’s good to go too.
“Come on, babe. You look beautiful. Let’s get out of here.”
Steph looks up at her man and with a silent stare she sends him a message. He must understand her because he sits down at the desk in the corner of the room. Alex plops down next to me on the bed. He scoots back, leaning against the headboard, and pulls me into him. With my back rested against his chest, I relax while he threads his fingers through my hair.
The five of us shared one room last night. Two beds and a loveseat for sleeping arrangements. Dom and Steph took one bed, and Alex and I took the other. Alex tried several times to give up the bed to Keesh but she wouldn’t have it. She planted herself on the loveseat and wouldn’t budge. I’m glad she didn’t. I love waking up with Alex next to me. Three months is a long time to go without seeing each other and I want to make every second we spend together this week count, even those when we’re sleeping.
“Okay, all done.” Steph winds the cord of her curling iron around its handle and grabs her purse, tossing the strap over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
“It’s about time,” Keesh says. “I can’t believe you took longer than I did.”
“Every once and awhile, I feel like getting all girlied up. Don’t hate.”
“Oh, I’m not. Wish it happened more often.” Keesh winks at her before walking out the door.
“Bitch.”
Keesh peeks her head back in. “Heard that.”
Steph follows her. “Good.”
Alex’s eyes meet mine. “This is going to be an interesting day, I know it.”
I nod. “I can’t wait.”
On our way to San Luis Obispo, I send my mom an update. I text her every time we leave and arrive at a new place. It’s probably overkill but I know she appreciates it. Steph is just as bad. She doesn’t just text, she calls her mom every five minutes. Keesh is somewhere in between.
“This reminds me a little of Davis,” Keesh says as we make our way into town.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Small town. Flat.”
Dominic follows the signs to head onto campus. He pays the fee and parks in the closest lot.
“It reminds me of high school. I feel like we’d have a seven minute passing period to get from one class to another here.” Steph holds her hand above her eyes to shade the sun.
I do the same, looking around. “It’s not that small. I hear they have their own equestrian center. There has to be riding trails and stuff like that.”
“Have you ever ridden a horse, Meg?” Alex asks.
“Nope.”
“Does it interest you?”
I look up at him with wide eyes. “Hell no. I’d be too scared. A big beast of an animal between my legs holding all the power and all I can do is hang on for dear life? No, thank you.”
Dom pats Alex on the shoulder. “Sorry, bro. Doesn’t look good for you.”
My face heats up, and it’s not from the sun. “Oh my god. That’s not what I meant. You guys take everything we say and turn it in to sex. I thought we left Josh at home.”
“Hey, Alex. Maybe we can fit you with some reigns so Meggie can hold on,” Keesh blurts out through her laughter.
“Come on, sickos. Let’s tour.” I start to walk away, but Alex slows me down with an arm hanging on my shoulder.
“Hey,” he says. I look up at him. He bends down while we’re moving and kisses my nose. “That was funny.”
I smile. “Yeah, it was.”
I feel a tug on my hair. It’s Dominic, behind me. “Yeah, almost as funny as you flashing everyone on the way to Mammoth.”
I glare at him for a sec, and then turn back around.
Alex squeezes my shoulder and I glance up at him. “Almost,” he mumbles. And then he kisses my nose again.
He’s lucky he’s so damn cute or I’d kick his ass.
“I’m tired already,” Steph says. “And we still have like five more schools to go.”
I rest my head on Alex’s shoulder. “So am I.”
Dom reaches across the center console to her. “We can cut out some of the ones for tomorrow. They’re close enough to home that we could visit them any weekend. Or maybe on one of your minimum days.”
Keesh sighs with relief. “Sounds good to me. I was worried about not getting enough exercise on this trip. Now, I’m afraid I’m gonna be too beat to play when we get back to school.”
“So who picked Santa Barbara? Please tell me you didn’t, Meg?” Alex asks.
“It wasn’t me,” I say with my eyes closed. “I know it’s a beach campus. Keesh liked it.”
“Yeah. I love the beach. And it’s far enough away that I won’t be tempted to visit home every day, but close enough that I can come home when I want. I like that.”
Keesh makes sense. Why didn’t I think of that? I should probably look for some more schools that fit into that category. Just ones that don’t involve sandy butt cracks. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I can just picture being in class and feeling sand everywhere. Beneath my feet, on my desk, in my hair. No thank you. Alex was right. Once a year, during spring break, is plenty of beach time for me.
Steph turns around in her seat to face us. “You know, Meg. Just because you go to college near a beach doesn’t mean you have to go to it. I bet there are other things to do.”
She has a point, but it still doesn’t sound appealing. “Yeah, but my roommates or whoever I make friends with will always want to go. It will be the thing to do, and I don’t want to be the one to stay home, or go and be miserable.”
“You shouldn’t fight it,” she says. “You look hot in your bikini.”
Alex jumps at that. “Yeah, I think Meg should go with her instincts. Hanging out with a bunch of college dudes in her little red bikini doesn’t sound good to me at all.”
My friends laugh at him.
“What little red bikini?” Steph asks.
I lift my head off Alex’s shoulder and stare at him with big eyes. “Oops, sorry, babe.”
I glance at my friends. “It’s not all that little, but it’s something I bought for us.”
He wraps both his arms around me and squeezes tight. “For my eyes only.”
“Meggie,” Keesh nudges me. “I’m proud of you. Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Are we there yet?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“Hey, I was thinking,” Alex says, after we’ve parked and grabbed all the informational materials at the Santa Barbara campus.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” Dom jokes.
“Nah, seriously. Why don’t we hang back and let the girls tour the campus on their own? Get a little taste of college without us.”
I don’t really want a taste of anything without Alex. But I get it. “Okay. Girls?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Keesh says.
Steph and Dom shrug.
“Let’s hit it, girls. Let’s go find us some boy toys to keep us company,” Keesh says with a sly grin.
The guys plaster their faces with big fake smiles. “Have fun.”
They both wave as we turn on our heels to leave.
The girls and I walk away, side by side, down a path to who knows where. Neither of us take out a map. We just walk as if we know where we’re going.
“Where do you wanna go?” Steph asks.
“Let’s just walk around and pretend like we belong. We’re college girls for the next hour.” Keesh tilts her face to the breeze and sighs. “What would we be doing right now if we went to school here?”
I glance at my cell. “It’s just after three. Maybe we’d be finishing a class and stop off at the student union for a coffee or smoothie.” Sounds reasonable.
“Then let’s do that,” Keesh says. “Now, how do we get there?” Steph and I giggle. I start to take out my campus map, but she stops me. “No. Don’t. We go to school here. We can find it on our own.”
She’s taking this a little too far. Looking at directions won’t kill us. I’m sure the first years used a map for just a little while. I hope we find it soon. I’m thirsty.
After about ten minutes of scoping out the scenery and trying to blend in, Steph spots the University Center. Perfect. It’s complete with a bookstore and food court.
“Let’s grab a drink first and then do some shopping,” Steph says.
We’ve been tacking on a souvenir at each school. I got a new hoodie at Berkeley. They still don’t have one that says, “My Hot Sexy Stud of a Boyfriend Goes To Berkeley.” When I suggested it to the cashier there, she didn’t even smile at the joke. Way too stuffy for me. I thought I was funny. I also got one in San Jose. Nothing like a new wardrobe of sweatshirts for the winter to make me a happy cozy camper.
After browsing the selection, we each get a cute tee in different colors. They have Hawaiian flowers on them, along with the school name. Keesh leads us through the building and out a door on the opposite side we entered.
“Is that the ocean?” I ask, grimacing.
“No, it’s their lagoon,” Keesh answers.
“Kinda creepy,” Steph says.
“More like kinda cool.” Keesh travels down the steps onto a lawn and sits.
Steph and I follow.
The three of us sit quietly, watching birds fly by. Checking out the couple who are not at all shy about making out only a mere fifteen feet away from other people. Maybe we should have sat somewhere else. Although, there are a lot more people around and the cozy lovers don’t seem to mind.
“This is going to be us next year,” Keesh says.
I nod. It might not be at this particular school, but definitely us. “Weird. I still feel like a little kid compared to everyone we see here.”
“That’s because this place is unfamiliar. You don’t feel like a kid around Alex.” Keesh raises a brow at me.
I think of the last few kisses we’ve shared. “Yeah. I guess not.”
A phone chimes and Steph steals a glance at hers. “We should get going. Dom wants to know if they should send out search and rescue.”
“Hey, are you leaving? We were just about to sit down with you,” says a male voice above us.
We get to our feet, and I take in the site of two very tall, very tan boys—men—in cargo shorts, tees, and flip flops.
“Yup. Time to go,” Steph says, tucking her arm through mine and moving away.
Keesh doesn’t move. “Yeah, that’s too bad. Maybe next time.” She gives them her best smile.
“Maybe tonight. Interested in a party?” the darker haired one asks.
“On a Monday?” Steph’s voice rises to a squeal.
“You guys aren’t from here?”
“No, just visiting.” Keesh keeps the conversation going. But Steph and I are ready to bolt.
“Then, stop by.” He takes out a pen, grabs Keesh’s hand and starts writing. “See ya there.” Before we can say anything, they’re gone.
“Wow,” we all say, together.
“Whose idea was it to go to that party last night?” Keesh groans.
“Yours,” Steph says, opening the drapes. What used to be a completely pitch black room is now glowing with sunlight.
“Shut those damn curtains before I kick your ass,” I shout, shading my eyes with my hand.
“Wake up, you drunk asses.” She throws her own pillow at Dom. He catches it in the air and covers his face.
Alex throws an arm over me and pulls me toward him. “How ya feeling?”
“Like I’m gonna die.”
“And I thought our parties were crazy,” Keesh mumbles from the floor. “That was like a four-house ten-keg party.” She pauses. “Overlooking the beach.” And just when I think she’s finished, she adds, “On a Monday.”
I roll to the side of the bed and try to focus on her with my blurred vision. “What are you doing down there?”
“I don’t know.” She gazes up at me with a silly smile. “Are you still drunk? I think I am.”
I flop over on my back, my head swirling. “I think I am.”
“You guys drank enough,” Steph says. “Act like you’ve been there before. Sheesh.”
“Hey, it was our first college party,” Keesh says. “I wonder what they do on the weekends. I don’t know if I’d survive it.”
“What’s your excuse?” Steph jumps on Dom. “You’ve been to college parties? How you feelin’?” She playfully slaps him on the head. “Huh?” She tickles his side. “Huh?” She tickles some more. He barely moves.
“I didn’t have to drive. Don’t get to do that very often.” Which is true. Dom always drives. She jabs at his side again. He takes her in his big hands and flips her over, landing her body under his. “You want some of this?” He gives her a taste of her own medicine.
“You guys, stop moving. You’re gonna make me sick.” I turn over to Alex, wrap myself around his warm body, and doze off.
The van is quiet on the way to our next stop in Los Angeles—an all girls’ school near Brentwood, the fancy-shmancy part of L.A. Alex is driving. Dom is sitting shot gun, Keesh and I are practically comatose, and Steph is taping away at her phone playing SongPop. One more eighty’s love song, and I might take her cell and throw it out the window.