Free Moving Forward (Moving Neutral, Book Three) by Katy Atlas Page A

the English building to my dorm, and I let Tanner in with my key card.
    “Welcome to Columbia,” I said, as I opened the door to our concrete hallways, decorated with fliers for student activities and random photos people had pasted to their doors.
    “What makes you think I’ve never been in a Columbia dorm before?” Tanner asked with a wink. 
    I blushed, angling my head down the hallway so Tanner couldn’t see it.  “Sorry, I thought Emma Harris was more your style.”
    “See, I knew you were jealous.  You need a better poker face, Snow.”
    “I’m not jealous,” I glared at him, pulling him through the hallway as quickly as possible to avoid getting spotted.  A Columbia freshman on a bad day could be as bad as any of the Los Angeles paparazzi, I’d learned.  The last thing I needed was a grainy YouTube video of me dragging Tanner Cole into my dorm room.
    Mercifully, probably because of exams, the dorm hallways were empty, and I unlocked ou r door in one swift motion. 
    “Get inside,” I whispered, to which Tanner let out another laugh.
    “Jeez, Snow, you sure know how to treat a guy.”
    “You’re not a —” I caught myself and clamped my mouth shut.
    Tanner looked at me curiously, eyes sparkling.  “I’m not a … what?”
    I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from laughing.  “I was going to say,” I grinned, feeling a little silly, “that you’re not … a guy.”
    Tanner laughed wickedly, bridging the distance between us in one long step.  “Well, that’s an invitation if I ever heard one,” he ran a finger down my arm.  “However are we going to prove it to you, Snow?”
    “ Ah-hem… ”
    Tanner and I both froze, and I glanced across the room, eyes wide and terrified.
    “Casey, you didn’t tell me we were going to have visitors ,” Darby’s voice sounded stern as she stepped out of our shared closet.  She took a step into the room and looked around, her face landing almost instantly on Tanner. 
    I watched as her eyes widened into saucers, and then a giant smile flashed across her face. 
    “Casey,” she lilted to me, walking across the room and linking her arm in mine.  “Who’s your friend?”
    I took a deep breath, making plaintive eye contact with Tanner.
    “Darby, this is Tanner,” I said, trying to keep my voice flat and even.  “Tanner Cole.”
    Tanner caught my hint immediately, holding out a hand for Darby to shake.  “And you must be the roommate?”  While Darby smoothed out her dress, Tanner caught my eye and winked.  “I’ve heard so much about you.”
    Darby’s smile faltered for a moment, but recovered.  “All good, I hope,” she singsong-ed, her voice betraying a hint of worry.
    “Every word,” Tanner grinned, flashing a smile at Darby.  “Though she failed to mention your bewitching southern accent.  Is it… North Carolina?”
    I watched a smile spread across her face.  “Raliegh,” she said, blushing.               
    “A southern belle.”  Tanner grinned.  “Snow, you could probably learn some manners from this one, huh?”
    I shook my head at him, trying not to roll my eyes.  Darby was grinning ear-to-ear, though — it was the happiest I’d seen her in my presence since the first day of school.
    “I just have to get changed and then we’ll be out of your hair,” I said, changing the subject smoothly.  “Congrats on exams, Darb.”
    “Oh, thaaanks,” she drew out the word to accentuate her accent.  “What are y’all doing tonight anyways?”
    “I’m taking Snow —” Tanner started, but I cut him off with a withering glance.
    “Something chill.  Drinks with a group of friends.  Low key.  With a group.”  I didn’t look at Tanner’s face, but I could see he was enjoying watching me flounder as I tried to correct the mis-interpretation that we were going on a date.
    I ducked into the closet, pulling out the first dress I could find out and slipping it over my head.  “Does this work?” I