Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,19

glass, marveling at the multitude of colors and flavors.

A server emerged from the back.

“Hi. Can I have the triple salted caramel and the churro cupcake, please? And for my sproglet”—I knelt next to Adam—“how about the funfetti and the s’mores cupcake?”

“I want that one.” He tapped the glass, pointing out the ice cream sundae cupcake—so named because it was topped with a mound of buttercream shaped like a scoop of ice cream. To compound the sugar, they drizzled chocolate, covered it with sprinkles, and then graced it with a cherry.

“That is going to load you up with sugar, but I gotta say it looks good.” I nodded to the server. “One of those, please, and the funfetti.”

We collected our treats and carried them to the table. The girls greeted us, fussing over Adam and showering him in compliments. My son was destined to be handsome, and at this rate, he’d grow up knowing and basking in it.

Teagan and the girls hanging out for the summer semester were as different as the cupcakes they chose. I knew all of my girls, of course, but naturally I didn’t get dedicated one-on-one time with all of them. Sabrina, Kendra, and Eve were among those I only spent time with during exercise and activities.

Eve was a women’s studies major. Piercings in her nose, lip, and eyebrow, coupled with a height a foot taller than average, made her stand out in any crowd. Her hobbies included horseback riding, climbing, and spending all her time at her boyfriend Ben’s place off campus. Those activities took her from the Sally house a fair bit.

Kendra studied cinematography and film. She was a sweetie and looked it too. She opted for Peter Pan–collar dresses, hair bows, and purple Mary Janes. Her tiny button nose and pouty lips lent her the appearance of being younger. We’d had a couple great discussions about films to show on movie nights. Otherwise, she spent a lot of time with her arty friends filming the piece that would be her senior project.

And then there was Sabrina, our lone statistics major, whose all-consuming passion to graduate top of our year, and on top of life in general, drove her to cut out all distractions. She was fit and it showed in our physical activities. Running track since middle school let her sail through workouts while I huffed and puffed beside her. She didn’t date as far as I could tell and the only indulgence it seemed she allowed herself were the monthly trips to the salon to tease, blow, and style her voluminous chestnut waterfall.

Sabrina swept that waterfall over her shoulders, fanning herself with her hands. “It’s steaming today. The AC must be straining.”

“Oh yeah,” I said. “We about melted on the stands.”

“How’d the game go?” Teagan asked.

“Maverick’s team won.”

“Wow. Not an easy feat when going up against Aiden and Sawyer. He must be good.”

“He is.” I paused to wipe Adam’s icing mustache. “What have you guys been up to this summer?”

“Filming my documentary,” said Kendra. “Evergreen is a strange pocket of the world. An insular community that got famous in recent years for— well, you know. I’ve scored interviews with historians and even some of the family members involved. Most of them were only available in the summer and I couldn’t pass that up.”

“Double major,” Sabrina threw in. “I have to do an extra summer semester if I want to graduate on time. It hasn’t been so bad though. I like Somerset like this. Quieter. Relaxed. Everyone focused on what they’re here to do.”

I nodded. “It is nice. Sofia and I have taken to picnics on the quad. Like you said, it’s much more chill these days. What about you, Eve?”

“Same for me. I’m doing an extra semester to graduate on time,” she said. “And also same that there isn’t much to do since all my friends left for the summer. Which brings us here, begging our prez to keep the fun going.”

I laughed. “I seem to spend just as much time on campus as I did when classes are in session, so I’m down to run your lives again.”

Kendra placed her hand on her chest, heaving a grand sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“I was telling the girls that we could meet up at the gym once a week,” Teagan said. “And we could do the cooking thing you started where we choose a dish and make it for everyone. Full disclosure, we’re voting you go first because none of us can cook and