Free Demanding Ransom by Megan Squires

bed all night leads to sex, but I think actually sleeping next to someone is likely much
tamer than rolling around lip-locked on the mattress for hours. Whatever. It
seems to work for Cora and I’m not sure how, but she’s found a lengthy list of
guys that have been willing to comply with her prudish demands.
    I push off the desk and wrap my fingers around
my phone. “It’s not hot, it’s annoying.”
    “Oh yeah, it’s really annoying to get middle of
the night texts from gorgeous guys saying they want to kiss you and get you
excited.”
    “Cora, that’s just wrong.” I grimace. “And
that’s not what he said he wants to do.”
    “Umm, yeah it is.” Cora eyes me from her
reflection in her full-length mirror as she coats her lips in a shiny pink
gloss. “Working on your paper all day?”
    I nod and flip through the stack of books I’d
checked out at the campus library earlier this afternoon. “I have to finish.
This quarter can’t be a complete waste.”
    “Well, if you need a break, I’ll be at the
Student Union with the crew studying up for the Spanish 4 final. Necesito un A+
en la clase.”
    “Good luck with that.”
    “Gracias, chica.” Cora tosses a wave over her
shoulder as she slips out of our room.
    It’s a gorgeous day outside, the winter sun
streaking through broken patches in the cotton-like cloud cover hanging above
campus. I’d rather spend it anywhere other than the prison-like dormitory. I’m
just in the middle of contemplating scooping up my things to stretch out and
continue my studies on the grassy quad when a light knock sounds through my
door.
    “Coming!” I shout, scurrying toward it,
reaching for the handle. The door falls open and that familiar face greets me
with an unusually warm smile that races my heart. “Brian. What are you doing
here?”
    “Nice to see you too, Maggie.” Brian pushes
around me and makes himself at home on my bed, glancing across the room. He
looks good as always, with his honey blond hair and piercing blue eyes. And he
looks tan, too. Way too tan for the beginning of December. “Did you have a good
holiday?”
    “Holiday?” I shake my head, confused. “Oh,
yeah. Thanksgiving was good. Quiet, just the three of us, but Mikey was able to
keep the turkey down, so that was a plus.”
    Brian smiles again, flashing impossibly white
teeth under his full lips. “We vacationed in Barbados just like last year. It
was nice.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.” That explains his
unseasonal sun-kissed skin. “Is there a reason you’re here?”
    Brian looks at my bed, scrunches his nose like
a bunny rabbit, and cocks his head. “Did some guy sleep in this last night? It
smells like dollar store aftershave or something.”
    “Yeah—” I begin, but the rhythmic rap on
my open door interrupts me. Both Brian and I flip our heads the direction of
the sound just as Ran pokes his head in; a clear plastic bag filled with water
and a bright orange fish is grasped in his hand. He thrusts an arm toward us.
    “Hey, Maggie. I brought you some more room
décor.” Ran smiles, and though it’s not that same, perfect smile resulting from
the years of expensive orthodontic work that Brian flashed a few seconds ago,
it makes my knees feel shaky.
    “Is this the guy?” Brian presses a finger into
the mattress. “The one who—” He looks down at the unmade bed.
    “I’m Ran.” Ran drops his motorcycle helmet onto
Cora’s bed nearby, delicately placing the fish bag inside it, and extends a
hand toward Brian. “And you are?”
    “Maggie’s boyfriend.” Brian’s hand clamps down
on Ran’s, swallowing it up. “I mean, ex-boyfriend,” he corrects.
    “Well,” Ran smirks, “Any ex- boyfriend of Maggie’s is an ex- friend of mine.”
    Brian shakes his head, clearly not amused and
clearly trying to understand who this Ran guy is and what he’s saying. And why
he may or may not have been in my bed last night. I don’t bother to offer him
an explanation.