back.” He shuts the door in our faces before I can get a word in edgewise.
Frustration bubbles up in me. Yanking my phone out of my purse, I call my ex. It goes straight to voicemail. That little jerk just declined my call. “I know you’re there, Kenneth, so you can stop avoiding me. We need to talk. I saw you on the surveillance video of that night. Why were you on campus? Call me back.” If that lovely message doesn’t prompt him to call me back, I’m not above showing up at the hospital where he’s interning and making a scene. Normally I’d scoff at the idea of using feminine stereotypes to get information, but I’ll make an exception in this case.
Hanging up, I turn to Ricardo. “This was a bust. Stupid Kenneth. The first time in weeks I actually want to talk to him, he won’t answer. I’m calling a car. Let’s go.”
“Whatever you say, mon coeur.”
I don’t deign to respond, still fuming about not catching Kenneth at home.
My foot taps against the sidewalk as we wait for our ride to arrive. Something smells amazing, but I told the rideshare driver where I’d be, and I’m not budging.
There’s a food truck across the street, a lobster roll emblazoned on one side.
Oh my great giddy aunt, that sounds tantalizing right now.
“Want me to get you something?” Ricardo asks, gesturing toward the truck.
Yes. “No, thanks. I can wait until we get back to school.”
“Suit yourself.” He jogs across the street, buys a lobster roll from the food truck, and comes back with it. Up close, the smell of fresh, toasted bread and melted butter is intoxicating.
My feet take an involuntary step closer toward that mouth-watering sandwich.
Ricardo must notice his food has my complete attention, because he holds it under my nose, smiling like a fool “This looks delicious. Want a bite?”
I’m way past tempted, but sharing food is far too… intimate. “Share food with you? No thanks. There’s no telling where that mouth has been.”
His grin widens. “This mouth hasn’t been anywhere recently, but we could change that.” He puckers up and makes a smacking noise.
“Gross. No thanks,” I shove him away, laughing.
The uncomfortable energy between us breaks, and Ricardo’s mouth relaxes. “Whatever you say.” He dives into his sandwich, making exaggerated moans of pleasure as he eats. It’s kind of obnoxious, but now I’m starving.
“Okay, I’ll be right back. I’m getting one of those. Don’t move, in case our ride shows up.”
“Mmph,” Ricardo says, mouth full. He plops down onto a sidewalk bench and works on his sandwich as I wait for the crosswalk sign to light up, indicating my turn to cross the street. Looking up and down, I march across, not lingering. I’ll never take a crosswalk slowly again after what happened to Professor Rook. Not that I’m a leisure walker to begin with.
I order a sandwich and wait in line, trying to ignore the discomfort in the back of my mind. My proximity alert is going haywire. Glancing around, I make eye contact with Ricardo. Other than him, I don’t see anyone I know. So why do I feel like I’m being watched?
20
Expectant energy hums through the classroom as our professor walks into class. I look up from my tablet and am arrested by the clear excitement she’s holding in check with a pleasant smile, her lips twitching to expand into a full beam. She looks way too thrilled to be thinking about World Governments. Immediately, suspicion makes my instincts hum. Usually when the teachers around here look excited about something, it’s a back-breaking project or a mind-strippingly difficult exam, or something else that will result in late nights of studying while chugging coffee and cursing the pallbearers of education.
One by one, the other students in my class catch sight of our professor, and freeze. Nervous apprehension coats the room, almost strong enough to taste.
The professor leans against her desk, waiting until she has the attention of everyone in the room, before speaking.
“Now that I have all of your eyes, I have a special announcement. I hope all of you are making progress on your service project research, and I have something that should motivate you to do your best. I have the privilege of announcing that at the end of the semester, when the time comes to present your ideas, Senator Terrance Holt has agreed to be here. The student who most impresses him will secure an internship in his office for two weeks over