"Sure. Everyone just needs to be on the same page about the boundaries of your relationships. It's a lot more common than it used to be, and it's not a bad thing."
"I don't think Alex and Ed would ever agree to something like that."
Victoria's eyes glinted. She glanced around and then leaned close. "No, but I bet the three of them would. You might have to choose between Alex, or the werewolf pack, but if you chose the wolves, you'll probably get all three of them."
"We don't know they're werewolves," I whispered. No one was close enough to hear over the loud rock that played, but it still felt weird to be discussing this out in the open. "And Doc's my teacher!" My cheeks heated.
"I bet you twenty bucks that Ed and Allan are." Victoria shoved some pizza in her mouth. "And he's only your teacher for a few months."
I groaned. "I'm not betting you, because I think you're right, still... Don't we have more important things to worry about?"
"I'm your social manager," Victoria stated. "And it's all related anyway. Keeping you safe, keeping you with the werewolf pack, and me not having to deal with drama while I manage your social life." She laughed.
The knot in my chest finally relaxed, and I could feel my heart rate drop a little. The situation was ridiculous, and there was no way something like that would ever happen. Besides, the semester had just started. There were plenty of other single, datable, far safer to be around, girls out there. The guys would find someone else soon enough. Especially when they figured out how dangerous being around me was apparently turning out to be.
We would talk this weekend. I would have to talk to Alex tonight. Somehow, I would have to figure out how to warn him without telling him what really was going on. He didn't need to be involved if I could help it.
"Cheer up, Sofia," Victoria said. "We'll work through this. I'd say things could be worse, but this is pretty dangerous. Still, it really could be worse. You've got a support network, and parents who love you. It'll be okay."
Finally feeling a little better, I nodded. "Thanks, Victoria. I'm really glad I ended up with you as a roommate and friend."
"Hell yeah," she replied. "Now, eat up and remember, call me if you need anything tonight."
"Yeah, you, too. If something comes up, don't hesitate to interrupt my, uh, date?"
She winked. "I've got Doc's number, too. But yeah, if something does happen, I'll let you know."
Satisfied that we had a plan, I re-discovered my appetite and dove into the pizza.
∞ ∞ ∞
"Have fun," Victoria ordered, giving me a quick hug when Alex met us in front of our dorm later.
If things hadn't been crazy, I would have met Alex in town, but I didn't want Victoria to have to get back to the dorm by herself. She went inside, and I went over to Alex. He wore a silvery gray long-sleeved button-down shirt that bordered on being a dress shirt. He wore it with black cargo pants, which dressed it down a little.
"How are you tonight?" He held out his hand and I took it, my conversation with Victoria echoing in my mind as I did so. I would have to make a choice at some point, and it wasn't the choice I had thought I would potentially have to make about dating guys. One, or three?
"I'm doing okay." Victoria had lent me one of her sun dresses. It was dark green and just a tiny bit snug, but it fit well enough. I wore one of my own sweaters and leggings due to the cooling air. I had already put water in my backpack purse, and had that slung over my shoulder.
"You look nice." He grinned, sapphire eyes dancing in the fading light.
"Thanks, you do, too. So, what's the plan?"
Alex tucked my hand under his arm and walked with me to his red Mustang parked on the curb. "I know a great place to stargaze. There's a small observatory that the college owns. We can go there. Ice cream first?"
The warmth of the day lingered enough that ice cream sounded great. So did stargazing. It would probably be safe enough. I wasn't worried about being alone with Alex. Of course, we may not actually be alone, and that was okay, too.
"That sounds good. I think I remember reading about the observatory."
"It's pretty neat. Small scale stuff, but enough that the science classes that deal with astronomy have some place to go, and the students can go, too. I thought you might like it."
"Yeah."
"And the ice cream place in town is delicious. They make all their own stuff. Hope you're not on a diet." Alex grinned as he took the roundabout far faster than Doc's truck would.
"No, no diet."
"Great."
We fell quiet while he navigated the road into town and found a parking spot right outside the ice cream parlor.
Lots of people wandered the sidewalks on this nice Friday evening, and we were lucky to get a place so close. Not that I minded walking, but it was nice not to have to.
Alex made it around the front of the car before I managed to get myself out of his sports car, and he gave me a hand up.
"Thanks."
"Of course." He squeezed my hand and then let go.
In just moments he opened the door to the ice cream parlor, and I walked in. It was crowded, and I got in line and enjoyed the heady sugar scent that permeated the air.
"So, I'm a huge fan of their waffle cones," Alex suggested. He stood right behind me, not quite touching me as we moved through the crowded store.
"I'll get one. I like waffle cones, too. This is a popular place."
"Yeah. It's still warm enough that everyone wants ice cream."
I studied the menu and decided to go with cookies and cream. Despite how long the line was, it didn't take
