He was just…a lot. So much at this point, it scared me.
“Thanks for the flowers.” He’d had them delivered yesterday, congratulating me.
“Thanks for not running away from me.” He chuckled.
In the quiet of the dim room, I whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me your father owns B-Way Burger?”
“Because he doesn’t.” His soft tone had a bite to it. “He’s dead.” I was stumped, didn’t know what to follow that one up with. Was he upset that I knew? When would he tell me? Was I wrong for wanting to know? “Night, Nabby-girl.”
He left my dorm without room for me to respond.
I didn’t realize I was in her checkout line until Samantha peppered a chortle in the air, bidding the customer in front of me a good night.
She does work here…
Suddenly, I recalled seeing her a few times since the start of the semester. I was just about done loading my items on the belt when the other customer left.
“Hi,” I asserted, feeling awkward, but knowing if I didn’t speak first, Samantha wouldn’t have said much.
It was something I learned being popular on campus. Those who were not, shrunk themselves. I didn’t want to play Tori’s roommate like that, seeing I was just in their room last night.
“Oh, hey!” Excitement burst from her eyes as she paused from scanning my things momentarily.
She rang up my shit. Shit I wasn’t so easy on her seeing, like feminine deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. It was for Tori. When she stayed at my apartment, she was winging it on those products. So, before I crept out of their room last night, I made sure to take a peek at what she used. As fucked up as it was, I wanted Tori comfortable when she was at my place. But Samantha didn’t need to know that. No one did. Just like Samantha didn’t need to know the reason for some of these items I managed to find in the personal care aisle here at the grocery store.
After our run this morning, I invited Tori over tonight to use my tub for a bath. She was complaining about still feeling sore after her fight with Rodriguez. I was sure her trainers recommended her using the facilities on the athletic compound, but knowing Tori’s stubborn ass, she wasn’t following orders.
As I waited, Samantha exclaimed again, “Oh, my god! You use this brand of lavender?” Before I could answer, Samantha continued with diarrhea of the mouth. “Oh, and you got Epsom salt, too. I guess it’s essential for you athletes. You know, I just told Tori I could have made her a good mixture of Epsom salt and a few plants to induce relaxation. But there’s no need; we don’t have a tub for her to soak in.”
As I swiped my credit card in the machine, I forced my chuckle to remain inside, but I couldn’t fight back a big ass smile. “Thanks, Samantha.” She handed me the receipt and I grabbed my bags. “I hope it works out for Tori.”
I took off. There was another stop I needed to make before heading back to campus.
“I will.” She sighed. “Wish me luck on finding her a birthday gift.” I tripped over my damn feet. “You okay?”
I recovered quickly, bags still secured and balance steady. Next, I had to get my damn brain there. “How long do you have?”
Samantha slapped her forehead as it shook. “Two days.”
Two fucking days?
“The twenty-ninth?” I quickly added up the days.
Samantha lifted her head. “Yeah. And me being the sucky roommate I am, I waited till the last minute to figure out a damn gift. I was thinking of throwing a party in the lounge area of our floor, but Tori would hate me. I’m not sure if you know, but she doesn’t like…humans.”
I didn’t process much of what Samantha was saying. Tori had a birthday coming, and I had no fucking idea. I knew what the girl tasted like between her thighs, knew her childhood horror. Yet, I had no fucking clue of when the goddamn tomboy that invaded too many of my thoughts was born.
The fuck?
Slowly, I began backing away, mind reeling. “Tell McNabb I said whaddup.”
I jumped off the counter when the doorbell rang, excitement shooting from my core to each branch of my body. When I swung the door open, her uniform caught my attention first. It was wrinkled and disheveled, shirt halfway tucked, and pants stained.
“How was your day, dear?” I mumbled with a raised brow.
“First, my run with you,