With You

Chapter 26

The next few weeks I follow the same routine. Wake up, go to class, study, and sleep. My workload helps keep my mind off of Tyler and I've never been more thankful. The weekend I stayed with Cooper helped me a lot as well. We watched movies, played games, and prank called people (childish I know, but it was fun).

Since Zayden and I are partners in our anthro class for the whole semester, we still have to talk. We have a big project due at the end of the term, so we meet at Starbucks twice a week. When the professor announced it to us, it was a little weird. I asked to switch partners, but their was no one available. Our first two weeks working together was very awkward until we had a heart to heart. Zayden understood where I was coming from and put his feelings to the side for the sake of our grade.

"This is nice. I'm glad we're back cool, Adalyn," he says as he holds the door open for me.

"Yeah, me too."

He walks with me back to my dorms. This has became our routine, we meet up and work on our project. walks me to my dorm, but don't come in the building. When we get there, I smile and wave goodbye.

"Adalyn, wait," Zayden grabs my arm and I turn back around.

"What's up, Zay?"

"I know I shouldn't ask, but I can't help it. Can I please take you out on a date?"

I open my mouth to speak, but words fail me. I stand there without saying anything until he speaks again.

"If you're not ready to get back out there, then it's okay. I just really want to take you to dinner."

I weigh my options out. I'm single and I am still getting over Tyler. It sounds like a nice idea to date, but I don't know if I should go out with the guy I cheated on my ex boyfriend with. So instead of saying yes, I try a different angle.

"I'll make a bet with you." He looks at me in confusion. "If we get the highest grade on the project, then I'll go out with you and if we don't-" He waves his hand at me and smiles. "Don't worry, we will," he winks and walks off.

"You did what?!" Madison screams.

After my conversation with Zayden I went up to my room and called my best friends.

"You're the one kept telling me to get back out there. What was I supposed to say?!" I yell back.

"Uh, yes I did tell you that, but not with him, Lynn! Are you dumb or just plain stupid?"

"Okay, y'all need to calm down and Madison you need to stop attacking her like that," Ava speaks up. "Give her a break. She's lonely and maybe this isn't a bad idea."

"Well, since I'm Team Tyler, I think this is a bad idea," Madison snaps.

"And since I'm Team Zayden, I think this is good for her," Ava snaps back. "Tyler made her feel like she was nothing. It's time for her to move on."

"You guys need to calm down," I say. "Look, we probably won't even get the highest grade, so it doesn't matter. And what is this team shit about?"

"Well, after you told us everything that happened, Ava and I talked on our own and had some disagreements. Everyone but Ava is team Tyler."

"Well, the underdogs always ends up winning," Ava says.

I laugh at them. "You two are crazy, but I can't wait to see you guys at Josh's party."

"I can't wait either," Ava agrees.

My aunt decided to host a draft party for Josh back home since he decided not to attend the draft in person. My uncle was a little upset because he said it gives the NFL a bad look to not have one of their top selections present at the draft.

"I'll talk to you guys later."

I meet up with Josh later in the week for lunch and I tell him multiple times that I am proud of him.

"I'm so proud of you," I gush.

He smiles and tries to hide his embarrassment. "Thanks, Lynn. I really appreciate it."

"I know you're going to be in the first round, but what pick do you think you'll be?"

He finishes up his pasta and shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe the fifteenth pick."

One of the many qualities I love about my cousin is his humbleness. We all know that he'll be picked in the top ten, but he's never cocky about it. He always gives himself the benefit of the doubt.

I stare at him knowingly. "You know you'll be picked way before that."

"I don't care if I'm the thirty-second overall pick in the seventh round, Lynn. Me making to the NFL is a blessing within itself."

"What team do you wanna play for?"

He scoffs and laughs. "Is that even a question? The Cowboys, duh. I'll take any team that's willing to accept me though."

We talk about football for the rest of our lunch date and I know Josh wouldn't have it any other way.