out of the dorm and into the sun. The sun always shines in Colorado. Over three hundred days of sunshine a year. I usually love that about Colorado, but not today.
“Can’t I get some rain? Some clouds? Anything but your cheeriness?” I mumble under my breath, but of course, the sun still shines, making me feel like I’m the only person in the world dealing with a shitty day.
My arms grow tired as I walk across campus to my car. At least I only have to make one trip. That’s a positive. Although, I have no idea what I’m going to do when I get to my car. Start applying to jobs I guess.
No, I need a new plan, that’s all. When I have a plan, my life is good.
I will apply to the bar on the 16th street mall that just opened. It’s in a touristy part of town, and I would make great tips. I will sleep in my car until I get my first paycheck. Or I’ll ask for an advance. Then, I’ll find a roommate who has a cheap room to rent out. A closet-sized room is about all I’ll be able to afford. I heard there are some cheap apartments near north Denver. I’ll—
“Umf,” I grunt as I run into a brick wall.
My books tumble to the ground, and my duffle bag falls off my shoulder, clothes tumbling out of the bag.
“Shit,” I say when a scarf gets caught in the wind and starts blowing away.
“I got it,” a man says.
I look up as he catches the scarf. I didn’t run into a brick wall. I ran into Cole, the perfect specimen of a man from the hospital. He looks like he’s healed well in the weeks since I last saw him. His face is still bruised, and he will always have a scar on his forehead, but it will fade over time. He seems to be walking well, although I see a tiny limp as he brings the scarf back to me. Most people wouldn’t notice the limp, and it shouldn’t have a significant impact on him unless he were an athlete or something before the accident. Very possible considering how built he is.
He grins, and I melt.
“I didn’t think I was going to get to see my favorite nurse again.”
Swallow, breathe, stop drooling.
He chuckles at my speechlessness. “Didn’t mean to make you speechless. I think your voice might be my favorite thing about you.”
“I’m sorry for running into you.”
He shakes his head. “Entirely, my fault.”
We both bend down and start picking up the rest of my clothes before they blow away. Cole holds up my red lace thong, the only sexy item of clothing I own.
He raises an eyebrow before I snatch it out of his hand. I know I’m blushing and won’t be able to look him in the eye again.
He puts a finger under my chin, so I have to look up at him.
“Don’t do that. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ve had dreams about you in similar underwear. Now my dreams are about to get a whole heck of a lot dirtier.”
I blush more.
“Um…thanks.” Great word choice, I think to myself. God, can I embarrass myself any more?
Cole stacks my books up. “Let me help carry these to your car.”
“Thanks,” I mumble because I don’t trust my voice to say anything more.
“Can I ask where you are going? A last-minute trip before school starts again? Or are you ditching classes?”
I should keep my mouth shut. But the alcohol has now loosened my tongue, and I’m beyond exacerbated at this point. “I got expelled. Well, not expelled, suspended. They’re kicking me out, and I will probably spend the rest of my life alternating between sleeping on my sister’s or brother’s couch and sleeping in my car, while I wait tables and get hit on by drunk guys who like to grab my ass and listen to my voice and think that because I can’t help but speak sultrily it gives them permission to fuck me.”
Cole’s eyes go big, but he doesn’t speak. He probably thinks I’m insane after witnessing my mini-meltdown. He’s probably trying to figure out how to get away from me as fast as possible.
We make it to my car, and I pop the trunk, not even caring to move the McDonalds wrappers in the back. I put my bags in, and Cole places the books next to the bags.