I text Daphne after Spencer drops me off wondering where my crazy roommate is sleeping tonight, or rather who with. I can’t help but feel somewhat responsible for her. She sends me a string of emojis letting me know she’s good. I think. I’m not exactly sure what three eggplants, a unicorn, and a boat mean, but I think it’s her way of telling she’s finally hooking up with the rowing crew she’s been crushing on for months.

More power to her.

Me? Forever the virgin, who’s too scared to ever take the risk and give myself to someone.

I wash my face, get in pajamas, and run my fingers over my record collection, looking for the perfect album to put me to sleep. The night was exhausting in so many ways, but also, there’s this tingling sense of hope that runs over me.

Maybe it’s crazy to think that Spencer might really want the chase with me, that maybe he isn’t all talk.

That kiss was real.

Really powerful.

At least for me. Or maybe it’s all part of his charm. The man has a reputation for a reason.

My phone buzzes. I frown when I see a text from my mom. It’s nearly midnight here, she should be sleeping, but I know she’s been having more and more trouble lately managing her pain.

Mom: Dad just told me Tatum won the game! Go Tigers!

I smile, feeling so lucky to have parents who are so invested in my life.

Me: It was pretty epic. He earned bragging rights for sure.

My thumbs hover over the keypad. She has enough on her mind that I don’t want to burden her with my boy trouble, and job problems. I still haven’t told them that I was fired. She and Dad aren’t in a place to help me with any of them anyway.

Me: Miss you.

Mom: Miss you more, sweetpea. Just had Dad pull out Christmas decorations. Will wait to do the tree until you get home.

Hot tears fill my eyes and I wipe them away. How am I going to get back home when my checking account is in such a sorry state?

Me: Can’t wait. The countdown is on :)

Mom: 22 days until your break!

I swallow. Okay, the countdown is literally on.

Me: G2G. XOXO

I set down my phone, wishing things were easier. Spencer and Winslow and Tatum and poor Ava. It was a complicated blur of a night. I pull out The Partridge Family Christmas Album feeling a strong tug of nostalgia for home. I take the record out of the sleeve and place it on the platter, and set the tone arm down. The familiar sounds of Christmas fill my room, and I get in bed, hoping for sweet sleep.

I wake to my phone buzzing again. My first thought is something’s happened with Mom, but when I look at the incoming text, I see it’s Jill. We met last year because the two of us were both looking for extra jobs on the bulletin board outside the student center. We bonded over the fact we are both work-study students who are also thrift store junkies. Clichéd, maybe. Frugal - for sure. After scouring the racks at the Goodwill together, we decided anytime we needed a shift covered on campus we’d have one another’s backs.

She still doesn’t know I lost my gig last week. I’ve been a waitress for campus events for two years and she’s been a janitor. Both jobs have their perks. She has more job security since she works alone. Meaning no chance of losing her paycheck over tossing champagne in someone's face.

Jill: You up for it? It’s a 4 hour shift.

Me: Yes. Please!!!!!!

Jill: LOL. Simmer down. You strapped for cash?

Me: Aren’t I always?

Jill: Touché. I’ll drop off the keys if that’s cool?

Later, after Jill’s brought me the keys and given me the details, I dig through my drawers for something to wear. I settle on ripped boyfriend jeans, Converse, and an oversized black sweater, figuring I don’t need to make a fashion statement this afternoon. I tie a red bandana in my hair and call it good.

As I’m about to leave, Daphne struts in. I look at the clock. Eleven am. She is carrying two cups of coffee, however, and hands me one.

“Where are you going?” she asks, she’s wearing a guy’s hoodie and it reaches her mid-thigh, right where her boots end. Some people may call this the walk of shame, but Daphne owns it.

“I’m going to cover Jill’s shift.”

“Boo!” Daphne pouts before taking a sip of her coffee.

“Thanks for this,” I say, lifting the cup to cheers her. “I take it the rowing team showed you a good time?”

“They were no Princeton Charming, but yeah, we had fun.” She grins, and I shake my head.

“Spencer and I are not a thing, so don’t get any ideas in your head.”

“You’re not interested?”

“No way. He’s so not my type.”

“I wish you didn’t have to work,” she says.

I groan. “You’re telling me, sweetheart.”

“I miss you though,” she says. “We haven’t hung out in ages. I was hoping we could chill today.” She’s always finding something to keep her busy. Sometimes though, I worry about her. She keeps a pretty positive outlook most of the time, but I’ve seen her get down, missing class and needing to regroup at home for a few weeks.

“Rain check?” I pull my tote bag over my shoulder, keys in hand. Before I can go, though, there is a knock on the door. Frowning, I pull it open.

Standing there with a bouquet of red roses is Spencer Beckett.

“What’s this?” I ask.

He offers me the roses. “It’s me thanking you for everything last night.”

I lift my eyebrows and take the flowers. “This isn’t necessary.”

“I thought you asked for romance.”

I laugh. “I’m more practical than this. I’d rather have a rose bush than a bouquet.”

“And what would you do with a rose bush, Charlotte Hayes?” he asks.

Twisting my lips, I shrug. “Plant it. It would last longer than these.” I bring the bouquet to my nose and inhale. The sweet scent of flowers fills my nostrils and I sigh. These are some really gorgeous roses.

“Just say thank you,” he says, his signature smile making my heart beat fast. “It’s the polite thing to do.”

“Where are my manners?” I tease, pressing a hand to my chest. “Thank you, Princeton Charming. For this grand gesture meant to sweep me off my feet.”

“You are trouble, you know that?”

I nod. “I do.”

Daphne interjects, taking the roses from me. “I’ll put these in water. And don’t you have a job to get to?” she asks me pointedly. I see she is trying to help me get away from Spencer, and I appreciate it.

But I also realize my earlier comments about him to her weren’t exactly honest. Flirting with Spencer is fun. Really fun. And I don’t want it to end.

“A job?” he asks. “I thought—”

I cut him off. “I’m covering a friend’s shift.”

“I was hoping we could go out today, maybe ice skate, something Christmassy. Something romantic.”

“Sorry to be a heartbreaker, but I’ve got work to do. And the sooner I start cleaning the library, the sooner I will be done.”

“I can help,” he says. “Two people are better than one, right?”

“Ha. Campus royalty can’t be seen with commoners. Besides, do you even know how to run a vacuum cleaner?”

His eyes go wide, and he laughs. “I’m a quick learner.” I start to shake my head, but he persists. “Please. Let me help. I’m trying to thank you for helping Ava last night. Let me be the good guy.”

“As opposed to?”

“Whatever it is you think I am.”

My lips twitch. Dusting shelves would be a lot more fun with Spencer Beckett at my side. I shrug, feigning nonchalance. Inside my heart pounds. “Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yeah, fine.” I press a hand to his chest, his face lights up with a smile, and I walk past him into the hallway. “You wanna come help me clean, I’m not going to stop you.”

The law library is closed on Sundays, so it’s just Spencer and me. I flick on some lights and turn to my work-buddy.

“You up for this?” I ask, trying hard to control the grin that tugs at my lips.

“It’s like you don’t think I know what it means to work up a sweat.”

“Do you?”

He smirks, closing the distance between us. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Charlie. I know all about working up a sweat.”

I laugh. “I think we’re discussing two very different types of work.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t mind watching you show me how it’s done. This work of yours.”

I laugh, stepping toward the supply closet. “You just want to see me bend over as I wield a broom.”

“Fair enough.” He joins me in the closet, and I feel the electricity between us rise. “So, what do you want me to do?”

Kiss me. The thought comes out of nowhere. I swallow hard. “I...uh...you should...”

He leans closer, that cocky smirk playing on his lips. “I should what, Charlie?”

It’s terrible how much I want him. His kiss. His touch. The way he looks at me, like he’s ready to devour every inch of my body, makes my core clench in need. I’d let him -- consume me. In this moment if he asked, hell if he just took, I’d give in, unable to resist.

His breathing is ragged, matching my own, but he doesn’t kiss me, he just presses his forehead to mine and keeps his hands at his side.

“We better get to work.” His warm breath tickles my lips. “Because once I get you out of here, you’re all mine tonight.”

As much of a cliché as it is, I want to be his, even if it’s just for one night.

“I hope you don’t think just cause you’re helping me clean I’m going to have sex with you. Maybe that’s the way it works with your other girls, but I’m not them.”

He laughs. “Trust me, Charlie, one thing I’ve come to realize is that you’re nothing like anyone I’ve ever met before. And this—” He takes the broom from my hand. “Is all new to me too. But I’ll make you a bet.” He’s grinning at me, like whatever he’s about to propose, he’s already won.

“What kind of a bet?”

He moves toward me, and I take a couple steps back until my ass hits the shelves. His gaze rakes over me, lust and need burning in his eyes. “By the end of today, it’ll be you begging to be in my bed.”

“I don’t beg.”

“Not yet.” He kisses the tip of my nose, then winks. “But you will.”

He chuckles and moves out of the room, broom in hand, and I’m left wondering if making bets with Princeton Charming may just be the way I can get what I want. Him.