from my sister?”
“No.” I felt my nostrils flaring.
“Did you buy them?”
“No.”
“Who are they from?”
I shrugged.
“Mature.” He snorted and threw his hands in the air. “Can’t we have a simple conversation? Who bought you the boots, Trace?”
“The boot fairy,” I replied and stomped off suddenly, glad Chase gave me something so awesome that even Nixon would take notice.
The next two classes were easy. I’m happy to announce that Nixon made no appearances. I looked down at my watch. It was already time for lunch. Monroe instructed me to walk to the cafeteria and hang a left immediately before I came to the main two doors. I did as she said and noticed a small door on the side. I waved my card across it and the door opened.
To a restaurant.
And not just any restaurant. This was no McDonalds. No. A chandelier hung over my head as I walked through the curtain. Leather wallpaper lined the walls. Beautiful wood coverings went halfway up each wall. The lighting was dim. It seriously felt like I just stepped into a different country. Candles were lit, and I nearly crapped myself when I saw a violinist sitting in the corner playing music. This was a joke, it had to be.
Phoenix, Nixon, Monroe, Tex, and Chase were sitting at a large table in the middle. Chase waved me over. I gulped and followed him.
Nixon kept his eyes down.
Monroe nudged him in the side but he still wouldn’t look up.
“Holy shit!” Phoenix slapped his hand on the table. “Don’t tell me those are from the 2013 collection! What the hell, man! You been holding out on us?” He threw his fork at Chase.
Chase’s eyes warmed as he met mine, and then he pushed away from the table. I looked at Monroe for support. She nodded her head.
I bit my lip and stepped right into Chase’s arms. Crap. I was breaking another rule, but maybe those were more Nixon’s rules than Chase’s. Shaking, I pulled back and finally gaining courage, kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for the boots.”
“Sweet. Imagine what she’d do if you bought her a car.” This from Phoenix. I heard clattering of more silverware.
Chase smiled and licked his lips. “I’m sorry about…”
I waved him off. “I’ve got boots, we’re even.”
He inclined his head and led me to my seat.
“So, a restaurant? At a school? Really?” I direct my question to Monroe. She blushed and looked at her lap.
“Nobody really knows about it.”
“We like our privacy.” Nixon interrupted our conversation and snapped his fingers. A waiter appeared to take our order.
Nixon ordered in French. Of course he would.
But then everyone else followed suit. When it was my turn. I opened my mouth, but all that came out was a cross between a grunt and a whimper. Great.
Chase said something to Monroe in French. She laughed and then rapidly fired off orders to the waiter who gave me a warm smile and disappeared.
“French?” I squeaked. “How many languages do you guys speak?”
“Three.” Tex held his water in the air as if saluting me.
“Two.” Phoenix shrugged.
“Five,” Chase said.
Nixon cleared his throat.
“Tell her man.” Chase nudged him.
Nixon cursed and refused to make eye contact as he mumbled, “Ten.”
“Ten?” I exclaimed. “I can barely speak English.”
“We know.” Phoenix laughed. I thought it appropriate to throw my fork this time.
He ducked and then hit Nixon on the hand. “I like her.”
“Yeah, well, I like kids. Doesn’t mean I run around screwing everything I see in order to have one,” Nixon spat.
The table fell silent. How did they deal with his crappy attitude all the time? Monroe shrugged at me and began asking questions about my classes. Before I knew it hot food was in front of me.
“I’m afraid to ask what this is.” I poked the hot meal with my fork. It smelled delicious.
“Heaven. It’s heaven. It melts in your mouth and makes you scream with ecstasy. Girl, if you don’t have an orgasm after experiencing that particular meal, then you’re a hopeless case.” Phoenix bit hungrily into his food and winked.
I felt my face heat severely.
Monroe nudged me. “Don’t worry, Trace, Phoenix always talks like that. I think it’s because he’s never really had—”
Phoenix pointed his fork at Monroe and glared. “Don’t even finish that sentence.”
Tex and Chase laughed.
And again Nixon was silent.
I ate the meal. Correction, I inhaled the meal and promised myself I would start running so that I wouldn’t gain ten pounds my first day here.
“So.” I looked at my cell and back at the rest