Urban Climber 2 by S.V. Hunter Page A

ruffle in my purse for nothing .
     
    Fire Boy clears his throat. “Allergies, you say… at this time of year? You sure about that?”
     
    “It’s not officially winter yet. Shut up!” I grump, refusing to look at him.
     
    “Why is what’s-his-face’s car all steamy?”
     
    “His name is Hugo,” I exhale, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
     
    “I prefer what’s-his-face,” he grins, elbowing me in the side. “So what’s with the condensation, Hemsworth?”
     
    Oh, great. Now, my face is flushing red. It’s burning like nobody’s business. Holy fudge, next thing my nose is gonna start growing, and I don’t know how I could possibly explain that.
     
    “Well?”
     
    “No reason,” I mumble.
     
    His eyes widen. “Who else is in there? Give me your keys.”
     
    I shake my head “No one, and no. I was just fulfilling my obligations, that’s all.”
     
    “Huh?”
     
    I pull him away from the car as I hobble over to the sidewalk. I never should have worn these stupid heels. The blisters on the back of my heels are going to pop any second, and I used up my last bandage yesterday.
     
    “Are you sure you’re okay, Laura? I swear, ever since you took off on the back of Tom’s motorbike, you’ve been different.”
     
    My heart sinks, hearing his name. “I don’t think I have, have I?”
     
    “When you didn’t show all those months back, I told him if he’d done anything to hurt you, I would kick his ass.”
     
    I jerk my head around and stare at Bodhi. “OMG. You said that? He could have killed you, ya know. He’s ripped to the core and a...”
     
    “A what?”
     
    I sigh loudly, dropping my eyes to the pavement. “A god .”
     
    Bodhi laughs at me. “Well, you would know.”
     
    I cover my cheeks before he sees them flush again. “Last lecture. I can’t believe it,” I mutter, avoiding his bright green eyes.
     
    “Yeah,” he pats me on the shoulder as we slowly walk across campus. “It’s gone so fast.”
     
    “I’ll miss you. You know that?” I exhale, turning to face him. “I’ll miss you so much.”
     
    “But you’re coming back next semester, aren’t you?”
     
    “No.”
     
    “What? Why not?”
     
    I can hardly look at him. If I do, I know I’ll cry. “I’m not from here. This is not my life, Bodhi. I’m getting married and then—well, who knows?”
     
    “ He’s gonna miss you, you know. We all will.”
     
    I shrug. “I think he’s well and truly over me.”
     
    “That thing with Perfect Ass?”
     
    My heart sinks. “Oh, so you’ve noticed too?”
     
    He grins widely. “That’s all her, don’t worry. You can so tell there’s nothing happening there.”
     
    I exhale. “I did tell him to leave me alone, so what did I expect—roses?”
     
    “Probably,” he grins. “But I’m telling you, just because he spends time with her doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be with someone else.”
     
    I can’t stop my heart from doing a little dance. “You really think so?”
     
    “Yes, Laura, really . The chemistry you two have is so intense, I’m waiting for the explosion.”
     
    I scrape my fingers down my burning cheeks. “What am I doing, then?”
     
    “You tell me.” He grins. “Sure you want to get married?”
     
    I shake my head. “No, I’m not. I’m not sure about any of it.”
     
    “Well if you’re not sure, then you shouldn’t do it.”
     
    “It’s a done deal, Bodhi.” I throw my arms in the air. “Signed and sealed. I’m well and truly screwed.”
     
    “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You’d think you were majoring in drama the way you carry on. No matter what you say or do, there’s always time, Laura—” The roar of Ash’s motorbike cuts Bodhi off mid-sentence as the engine rumbles to life. “Speak of the devil …”
     
    I bury my face in my hands as his engine reverberates behind our backs and rumbles into the distance.
     
    “Chemistry dismissed.” Bodhi laughs. “And after all this