Going Geek Read Free

relief is so loud that my fellow passengers turn and the driver glances at me in the mirror. Oh, how I miss the days of car services and taxis.
    Winthrop looks like an Ivy League college, all redbrick buildings, stretches of pristine green lawn, and huge, centuries-old trees. In the tradition of East Coast prep schools, it’s elegant, staid, and just the teensiest bit pompous. I love it so much.
    My plan is to go straight to my advisor’s office. If anyone can bust heads in housing, it’s Ms. Randall. I get out of the van, and the driver helps me haul my suitcases onto the sidewalk. I scurry away, putting as much distance between the van and me as possible.
    As he pulls away I truck down the central path through the academic quad wearing a super cute straw fedora and black leather shorts with a slouchy tee, towing two designer suitcases behind me. Scores of people pass—each one more preppy and drab than the last. Sorry, but I could never date a guy who felt the need to wear anything with whales on it.
    They all step off the path to avoid getting run over by me. I always feel very conspicuous on this campus, but it’s important to have a brand, and mine is definitely LA Fabulous. It’s kind of hilarious.
    A warm, calloused hand closes over mine and takes one of the suitcase handles from me. Leo. I know it’s him even before I turn to smile up into his handsome face. “Hey.” He gives me a quick peck on the lips. It takes all of my self-restraint not to launch myself at him. My hat gets knocked to the ground when I hug him, but I don’t care. I feel him smile against my hair as I refuse to let him go. We haven’t seen each other in nearly three months, but boarding school can feel like a fishbowl, so we’re forced to be chaste in public. That’s Leo’s idea, not mine. I don’t care, but Leo doesn’t like to make people uncomfortable. It’s not like we have a choice; we’re constantly surrounded by people who know us—after school, weekends, breakfast, doesn’t matter. So if they have to deal with a little PDA once in a while, so be it.
    Leo has some distance because he’s a day student. He might spend most of every day and night on campus—even a good part of the weekend—but at the end of every night, he gets to brush his teeth without an audience.
    “Did you come just to see me? Classes don’t start for two more days.” I scoop my fedora off the ground and loop my arm around his as we resume walking. Leo’s now wheeling both suitcases like the sweetheart that he is.
    He chuckles. “Yes. I wanted to see you, but I’m also a Winthrop Key, remember?” he asks, referring to the new-student orientation committee.
    “Of course. You’re such a do-gooder.” I grin.
    Leo kisses my cheek. “You should try it sometime.” He ducks out of my reach, laughing as I swat at him. “So you ready for Ms. Randall?”
    “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
    Poor Leo endured about a dozen phone calls during which I schemed ways to get reassigned to Lincoln. He was definitely concerned, but unfortunately, since he has obviously never dealt with housing, he didn’t have much to say, other than that I should talk to Ms. Randall. I’ve been trying to minimize my panic, because I don’t want to stress him out when he’s so busy with school and soccer.
    We approach a wide building with steps that span the front and four sets of glass-paned double doors. I reach for my suitcases. “Let me bring these in. Maybe she’ll take pity on me if I seem really pathetic.”
    He looks both doubtful and worried. “I don’t see her going for that. Better to go in strong.”
    “Okay, yeah, you’re right.” I try to discreetly wipe my hands on my shirt. Leo gives me a quick hug and turns back down the central path that cuts through campus. I watch him go. His easy, athletic gait, strong calf muscles, and broad shoulders sweeten the view.
    With a groan, I pull my luggage into Parsons Hall, Winthrop’s administrative building. I