Overachiever (Slumming It #2) - S.M. Shade Page 0,2

Florida for the summer. Live it up. We both know you can party when you want to. You aren’t being graded or judged for this. Take the opportunity to have some fun.”

“I will. We only work four days a week. There will be plenty of time for the beach.” I survey my clothes with a frown. “I really need a few things though. A swimsuit, for one.”

A smile leaps across Serena’s face. “Shopping! Let’s go!” Before I can respond, she’s headed out of the room and calling out to Zara to join us.

I’m not exactly drowning in funds—clearly, from my living situation, but I’m more fortunate than most of the people around me. My father, or sperm donor as I often refer to him, may not care enough to want a relationship with me, but he did dump money into an education fund over the years. It pays my tuition and enough is deposited into my personal account each semester to cover my rent and expenses as long as I follow his rules. I’m not supposed to work unless it’s school related or do anything that might cause my academic standing to falter. Between my tendency to be thrifty and how much less I pay in rent with three roommates, I have a pretty good amount in my savings account. I can afford a little splurging shopping trip.

Despite my reservations over this job, the girls’ enthusiasm and excitement rub off on me as we make sure I have everything I need for the summer. New swimsuits, a couple of cute beach towels, a few new outfits.

It dawns on me how much I’ll miss them. “I wish you were coming with me,” I groan while I sort through my new purchases back at home. I need to start a list to make sure I don’t forget to pack anything.

“Not as much as I do,” Serena says, flopping back on the bed and closing her eyes. “I’d kill to spend the summer lying on the beach.”

Our conversation is interrupted when Owen calls out from the front door.

“In Remee’s room!” Zara replies, and he pokes his head around the corner a second later.

“Ooh, girl talk, what did I miss?”

“Just bitching about spending the summer without friends,” I reply, and his hands slam onto his hips.

“Excuse me? What am I?”

“You’d need a team of biologists to answer that question,” Zara says, and he flips her off.

“I’m glad you’re going to be there too,” I assure him.

He sits on the edge of my bed. “Of course you are. That’s what I came by to talk to you about. Taking the bus sucks. We’d be stuck all summer without a car and have to blow money on Rideshare.”

It hadn’t really occurred to me that I’d be stuck without transportation, but he’s right. It doesn’t matter because I wouldn’t trust my car to make it all those miles there and back. It’s not the safest of vehicles.

“I want to drive,” Owen continues. “If you go with me, we can take my truck and take turns driving. We’ll make it there faster.”

It does sound far better than being stuck on a bus overnight. “Okay, but you have to let me pay for half the gas.” Owen struggles to get by like most college students, and unlike me, he’s doing this for the tuition money, not a line on his resume.

“No arguments here.”

Chapter Two

Owen

“Dude, I can’t believe you’re leaving all summer just to get laid by a girl who lives in the same town,” Marty says, hovering in my doorway.

Tossing some socks into my suitcase, I head to my closet to grab my shirts. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have a job in Florida that’ll cover a year’s tuition.”

Graham silently watches our conversation from my desk chair.

Marty snorts and throws his head back—his go-to move when he doesn’t want to hear what he’s being told. “And it just happens to be with Remee, whose name makes you pop a boner.”

“First, stop thinking about my dick. It’s not for you. Second, this has nothing to do with Remee. I didn’t even know she was going. We’re friends.”

Marty folds his arms and a taunting smile crosses his face. “Uh-huh. Drunks tell no lies, and what was it you said? Oh yeah.” His voice raises in a falsetto. “Remee is so fucking hot and sweet and sexy. Oh, if only she could look beyond my unfortunate face and sugared up toddler ways.”

Graham’s laughter is barely audible over the scuffling