a's

att disappeared into the family room to watch a basketball game. I took in the home details, soft crea

eautiful, by the

I try," she replie

underneath her. Then came the look. The one th

she asked. "Or are yo

s a long story... but I have five days before th

me everything." She popped open a fresh bottle of red cranberr

irl. Her

onday: First

o take me out before the semester even began. I tried to tame my wild curls into a messy bun and gave my

rabbed my bag stuffed with books and my laptop, plus my wristlet with my ID, keys, and emergency

t step, the smell of

, Lucy!" I gr

she gave me a once-over. "¿Qué ll

with it)?" I asked, even though I

este año,(You're very pretty maybe try a dr

resses," I replied, half laughi

Ustedes son del mismo tamaño. (Don't worry. I'll get you

o. She smiled and

ll wear

plated for me. I took a bite at the counter, sti

li

ing a runway, already mid-convers

f, hoping she'd walk past wi

d on me. "There's a fat pig in the kitchen stinkin

uiet, eyes

a, annoyed. "Where

ced it in front of her with some granola and yo

e, or you'll be rep

d I heard her mutter under her breat

ed invol

h, Plushy, I forgot you were there, and t

," I said quietly, s

actically inhaled that thi

y bag and walked out the door before

nal marketing courses before graduation. I was ready to be challenged, but I

asier, just Human Resources and Fridays I had off. Finally, some breathing room. Maybe this wa

ticed it was smaller than usual. Intimate. Thirty stu

d set up my laptop and phone, ready t

someone clear

s seat

nd my breath cau

was

le

he f

His smile. My heart d

's free,"

d into the chair next to me. He flashed me a smile that m

my own damn name. "Um..

"Nice to me

ays, but I was also hiding in the hallway, awkward, invisible. But here

bitch," he added. "But hopefull

ght-lipped smil

Professor Tate walked in

g beside me... and my heart didn'

sen

Jalen through that slut Talia,

ampus for a week because your mom got sick? You assumed I me

said, brushing it of

shb

r him to finish setting up. His TA moved around the room

ed at his watch and said, "Welcome, future busi

ten, and I swear I did, but I couldn't stop sneaking glances at Jalen. Lord, that man smelled so damn good. Like e

e row, look the opposite direction of the wall. If no one's beside you, come see me after

urn

here

le

right ne

slow, cocky grin stretched across his face. "Looks like we're stuck togeth

ous chuckle.

and held it toward me. "

d. He called me right then and there,

moothly. "Let's set up some meeting

ace. "Yeah, maybe Tuesdays or Thursdays will work.

round, but I barely heard him.

udy shift assignment. I was also hoping to see if they had any regular job op

o my next class

out without being noticed. This class was packed like sa

ebook, someone slid in

aga

d blinked.

n. A

too?" I said, trying not to

re on the same grind. We'll probab

in like a hurricane, slamming

and so did the beginning of the h