guard between two different academic halls. Finally, he says, “No. You’re not like an annoying little sister either.”
Lips parted, I watch him tip his head and give me a once over before shaking his head and telling me he’ll see me tomorrow.
Tomorrow. For my Mythology Class.
I stare at the gift card.
Why is my heart racing so fast?
Chapter Fifteen
Valentine’s Day.
I don’t remember the last time I actually liked the pointless holiday. Elementary school comes to mind when everyone was forced to buy little cards for their classmates. It’s why I’m standing with Ainsley beside me in the seasonal aisle at the store staring at forty different options of cards that we’re supposed to address for her peers by tomorrow. If I’d checked her backpack at the beginning of the week, maybe I wouldn’t be in my frumpiest pair of sweatpants with stains down the front of them and holes in the seams with a tired six-year-old hanging onto me debating between two of her favorite cartoon characters.
“Why don’t we get both?” I suggest, hoping she’ll say yes. But she doesn’t. Her eyes travel to the cards with chocolates before lighting up and pointing, but my eyes widen when I see the price of them. “Ainsley…”
She tugs on my hand and signs please? And how the hell am I supposed to say no to that when communicating with her is all I wanted? So, I grab two bags worth for her class and lead her to checkout.
When we get home, I know the reality of my night is putting together all the cards using the list of names from the sheet Evie sent home with all the kids. As soon as we’re back, I put Ainsley to bed after the quickest bath known to man and get to work sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. A sappy movie plays in the background as I carefully jot down names before putting them all in a plastic bag for her to take. It doesn’t take more than half an hour, but the long day I had from exams in every single one of my classes makes exhaustion seep into my bones.
It’s not until I feel the warmth of sunlight on my face when I open my eyes and groan at the stiffness settled into my body. My eyes don’t take long to adjust to what little light comes in through the curtained living room window, darkness from the early morning still predominant.
Sitting up, I cringe at the twinge in my neck that I rub out and roll before standing. There’s a full glass of water on the coffee table I don’t remember getting, and everything has been tidied up. The Valentines are all in a neat pile, the packaging is no longer thrown on the floor, and the sandwich bag full of the ones for her class is folded over and set next to where Ainsley’s backpack rests against the coffee table.
My brows pinch as I grab the glass and take a sip. The water is long since warm, but it still feels good against my dry throat. I walk into the kitchen, rubbing my tired eyes and start my morning pot of coffee.
When noise stirs from upstairs, I glance at the time on the stove and know it’s Easton getting ready for his run. I barely have time to grab a coffee mug and walk over to watch the pot fill with hot salvation before he’s walking down the stairs and into the kitchen.
“Morning.” I smile at him, noting the black sweatpants and gray thermal he always wears to workout in. Knowing what he’s going to grab before he can, I get the plastic bottle that he’ll fill with his protein shake and pass it to him as he takes the powder from the cupboard. He grunts out a grateful retort, seemingly as tired as I feel.
“Why do you run so early?”
He stops what he’s doing for a moment before glancing at me pouring my coffee. “I like it.” That’s it. That’s all he gives me before he finishes making his shake, passes me milk for my coffee, and proceeds to plug his earbuds in.
I wet my lips. “Thanks for cleaning up last night. I know I left the living room a mess. I planned on dealing with it this morning.”
He shakes his drink, puts in his earbuds, and tips his head once. “No problem.”
I don’t bother stopping him when he leaves, music pumping from the small white buds