My One Night: An On My Own Novel by Carrie Ryan (life books to read .txt) 📕

could use coffee or something hard to drink. It was the worst exam ever. What do you say?

I swallowed hard. “Shit,” I whispered.

Me: How about I bring you some coffee? And a baked good. Meet you at your house?

I knew she was having a shitty night and probably didn’t need to talk. Maybe I wouldn’t. Perhaps I would listen to her complain about the test, and then we could talk about nothing at all.

I just didn’t know what else to do.

Elise: You know what? That sounds wonderful. I’ll text you my address. See you soon. Wait, you know my coffee order?

I smiled.

Me: I do. Unless you’ve changed your normal order.

Elise: No, I kind of want to see what you come up with.

I couldn’t help but smile, even after the shitty altercation with my dad.

Me: Deal. See you soon.

I set the phone down and headed to our coffee shop, wondering why it could be ours after such a short time.

And wondering if I would open myself up to a girl I had told myself I couldn’t fall for.

Chapter 10

Elise

I ran down the hallway, into my bedroom, leaving Corinne and Nessa in my wake.

“Is there a reason you’re running?” Nessa asked as she followed me.

“Dillon’s on his way here. With coffee.” I looked around my room frantically, straightened my comforter, then looked at my reflection. “Crap. Why did I say he could come here?”

“Because you like him? And you’re sort of dating him?” Corinne asked, and I looked at her reflection in the mirror as she nodded pointedly at Nessa.

“We’re not dating.” I paused. “Are we dating?”

“Well, let’s see,” Nessa began, holding up her fingers. “One, you go out to eat with him.”

“Two,” Corinne continued, “you’ve slept with him. More than once.”

Nessa nodded. “Three, you guys constantly text and talk about your days. I’ve even heard you talk to him, gasp, on the phone.”

I glared at them both. “You are not helping.”

“Your room is pristine,” Corinne said, looking around the place. “You look great. You even washed your hair this morning, so it’s not like you’re going to cover him in dry shampoo.”

I sighed. “Oh, come on.”

“What’s he coming over for?” Nessa asked, walking towards me.

“I don’t know for sure. But he said he’s bringing coffee. And I think I might’ve asked him over. Or to go out for coffee, at least. I don’t know. My test sucked.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you think you didn’t do well?” Corinne asked.

“No, I think I did fine. I was just stressed, and it wasn’t what I expected. But whatever. I have more important things to worry about, like the fact that Dillon’s on his way here.”

“Okay, he’s on his way over. With coffee. Even though it’s evening, but okay,” Corinne said.

I sighed. “I like coffee. And Dillon didn’t even have to ask me what I wanted.”

“Ooh,” both girls said.

I laughed.

“Right? I mean, he could totally be wrong, but at least he’s trying. And I think I accidentally made it a quiz for him, and that’s not right. I’ll have to make it up to him later.”

“Yeah, you will,” Corinne said.

I flipped her off again. “Okay, am I dressed?”

They looked down at me and nodded. Nessa tapped her lips. “Tight jeans, cute boots, double tank tops under a sweater with one shoulder showing. Your hair is done. You have some makeup on but not too much. That way, it doesn’t look like you added more for him. Maybe a little bit of lip balm or gloss and call it a day.”

I blinked at Nessa. “That was quick. And spot-on.”

She smiled. “You look great. Now, come on, plump up those lips, and make sure you put a sock on the door.”

I cringed. “None of you guys share a room with me. Why do I need a sock on the door?”

“Please do not put a sock on the door. Play music or something. Or always play music so that way I don’t know what you guys are doing in there,” Corinne added.

“Wait, did someone say put a sock on the door?” Natalie asked as she walked in. “Oh, by the way, this is Mackenzie.” She gestured to the girl at her side. “We’re doing a group project together. What’s going on?”

“Oh, hi,” I said, wanting to die from sheer mortification. “Hi, Mackenzie. Nice to, uh, meet you.”

Mackenzie, a girl with gorgeous hair and eyes, tilted her head and smiled. “Wait, you’re going out with Dillon, aren’t you?”

 I blinked, then recognition hit. “I think so. Oh! You’re Sanders’ girlfriend, right?”

Mackenzie grinned. “I am. This is nice. I didn’t realize you were roommates with Natalie. Small world. Or, I guess, small campus.” She grinned again. “And if you’re talking about socks on the door, I guess Dillon’s on his way over?”

“I’m not putting a sock on the door,” I said with a laugh.

“I’m just saying,” Nessa began, and I groaned.

“Stop it. Go act natural. Or away from here.”

“Is this his first time here?” Mackenzie asked, and my roommates all nodded.

“This is his first time here. And he’s bringing coffee. Apparently, he already knows her order,” Nessa stage-whispered.

Mackenzie’s eyes brightened. “Oh, that’s so sweet. Dillon seems like a great guy. I know the guys just moved in with one another, so I don’t know them all that well, but he’s always very respectful. And I’ve never seen him with more than one person at a time, if you know what I mean.” She paused, blushing. “I’m sorry. Was that too much information? I was just saying that he would never cheat, and he’s a great guy. And even though he’s super handsome, and I know that other girls and guys have all commented on it, he totally only has eyes for you. And I’m going to shut up now because I was trying to be helpful and warm and all that, and I feel like I’m just digging a hole. Does anyone have an extra shovel? I could use it.” She put her hands over her face, and I just laughed.

“I think that