The Scammer - 22

Me: Kammy where are you?

For the last three days, I’ve tried calling Kammy several times. But there’s been no word from her. I consider waiting outside

the dorm, but I’m afraid someone will spot me and give Kammy a heads-up. Or worse, someone sees us talking and reports back

to Devonte. I don’t want her to suffer consequences like I almost did. This conversation needs to be an ambush.

I wait for Nick in front of Webber Hall to finish with classes. After the party, things went pretty much back to normal, and

we fell into a comfortable routine.

I see him walking across the Quad from the Malcolm Center, his face in a tight knot. But as soon as he spots me, he lights

up and my heart flutters. Despite everything I’m facing, Nick is the small dose of happiness I never imagined I would have

again.

“Hey you,” he says as he approaches.

“Hey you.”

He gathers me up in a hug that feels so real. And after living with Devonte all those weeks, sometimes I don’t know what’s real and what’s fake anymore.

“How was your day?” he asks, as we head for the bus stop.

“Not bad,” I say.

“Ready to go home?” he asks. “’Cause, and I cannot believe I’m saying this out loud . . . I’ve been dying to watch the next

episode of Love Island .”

We take the bus, chatting the whole way about our favorite contestants and looking up the audition requirements.

“You’ll need to get a tan. But I mean, it’s a $100K prize. Why not go for it?” I insist.

“So I can go on there and look like Boo Boo the Fool? I don’t think so.”

“Not Boo Boo the Fool!” I laugh so hard I snort, making Nick laugh just as hard.

“Okay, do you think Kordell and Serena are gonna win?” I ask, as we hop off the bus two blocks from the frat house.

“No! They are the worst!”

“But they’re the cutest couple,” I whine.

“I thought that title went to us,” he says with a wink.

I can’t stop the stupid silly grin from spreading across my face.

Is he flirting?

“You know, you’re really good at this whole fake boyfriend thing,” I say, trying to divert for my own sanity. “It’s like you’ve

had experience. You should reconsider your stance.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

I shrug, feigning confidence. “Suit yourself. But you know, I won’t be around for much longer to hate-watch Love Island with. You’ll have to find yourself another accomplice.”

A shadow of disappointment crosses his face. “This is true.”

I measure his tone, unable to get a reading, and slow to a stop. “What is it?”

Nick sighs and faces me. “It’s just hitting me that once you’re gone . . . I won’t have to admit that this . . .” He swings

our hands. “. . . is slowly becoming the best part of my day.”

I grin. “Well, I guess you’ll live.”

He smiles, pulling me closer. “Or maybe not.”

I stare up into his eyes, daring myself just to imagine what a real kiss would feel like from him. And just as I think of

stealing one for myself, I hear my name.

“Jordyn?”

The sound of her voice stops me in my tracks. I spin around and gasp.

“Mom!”

Standing beside their parked black Mercedes is Mom and Dad. I immediately drop Nick’s hand. How much did they see?

Dad looks from Nick to me and then turns back to Mom.

“Oh so THIS,” Dad barks, waving at us. “This is where our money is going and not YALE?”

I’m almost too stunned to speak. “What—what are you doing here?”

“We came to visit our daughter,” Dad snaps. “Except she’s not where we thought she’d be. Where we’re paying for her to be.”

Nick clears his throat, stepping forward, offering his hand.

“Um, hello Mr. and Mrs. Monroe. My name is—”

“Son, not now,” my dad says, holding out his palm. “We’re talking to our daughter. Stay out of this!”

Nick’s eyebrows shoot up. He steps back, giving me an apologetic look. At least he tried.

“How did you know I was here?” I ask. How the hell did they find me?

“Your roommate Vanessa called,” Mom says, holding the strap of her Chanel handbag.

My heart stops beating. I could collapse right then and there.

“You . . . you talked to Vanessa?”

The shock renders me lifeless. How did she get their number?

Does she know? What does she know?

“What did she say?”

Puzzled by my reaction, Nick frowns.

“Doesn’t matter,” Mom snaps, outraged. “We’ve seen all we need to!”

“We’re paying for a dorm,” Dad says, “while you’re shacked up with some boy in a goddamn frat house!”

“No, it’s not like that,” I shout.

“Wait, sir, if I could help explain,” Nick starts but my dad flashes him a sinister look. A look I know too well.

“Didn’t I say we weren’t talking to you?” Dad barks, his voice becoming louder.

Emboldened, Nick steps up. “But sir, you’re not even listening. There’s a reason why your daughter—”

“Nick, forget it,” I say, stopping him. “He doesn’t care.”

“Oh I care,” Dad says with a haughty laugh. “If not I wouldn’t be here.”

Mom huffs, seemingly disgusted by the entire conversation.

“Jordyn, get your things,” she says. “We’re taking you home.”

“Home? It’s the middle of the semester!”

“No, not to Connecticut! Back to your dorm.”