then classes.” Her head swung left to right with each detail. “Then I trained with my team, where Luke tried to kill my ass for slipping with Rodriguez. Then work.” Tori took a deep breath. “On my ride to campus, all I could think of is what would Maureen do?”
My face folded. “Who the hell’s Maureen?”
Casually, she sighed, “My Margaret.”
“Was her name Margaret or Maureen?”
“It was Margaret Maureen McNabb. I started calling her my Margaret when I turned ten. She said I was two steps from being grown and I should act like it. So instead of calling her Maureenie as I did since I could talk, I started calling her my Margaret.”
I laughed. “What did that signify?”
She shrugged. “If I was about to be grown, I’d call her by her first name.”
“And you added the prefix, “my” for possession.” I murmured my surmise.
Tori’s eyes turned oblong, and I feared a dollop of a tear soon. “What would Maureen do? I don’t wanna be an adult. I want to be happy and…carefree…and clueless, and…”
“Protected this time?” Had to be.
Tori may have had an awesome grandmother, but not even Margaret Maureen McNabb was able to protect her from being violated as a child. Tori desired something she never had. Something I could only wish to give her, but not even I had that superpower. This was the real world, and she was indeed an adult, ready or not.
“I’ve been working at the romper room zoo for about six weeks now.” Hope ignited in her eyes. “I can apply for a credit card then quit.”
My face dropped and I shook my head. “No.”
“It can really work!” I felt her move closer, her soft hand at my lower arm. “Just hear me out.”
“No!”
“Why?”
“For the same reason Blakewood doesn’t allow credit card companies on campus. You haven’t begun a professional, income-sustaining career yet. Credit cards are nothing but loans—some high ass interest loans. You have no means of paying it back when you use it, no matter how small they are. It’s a game best played by the wealthy. Leave it with them.”
“With you?” Her forehead stretched.
“I’m a college student who is seeking out his wealth via the League. Don’t go there, Tori.”
“I’m just saying. Now that I know who you are—no thanks to you.”
I exhaled, irritated by her jab. “Look. What do you need?”
She sucked in a breath. “I’m not asking you to do more than you’re already doing, Ashton! You already groom me.” I sputtered laughter at her use of the word groom. “What’s so funny?”
“Dogs get groomed. You’re a young woman, a hard-working one who deserves to be treated well.”
“You make… What? A couple hundred dollars a week?”
She crossed her arms. “That’s none of your business.”
Yeah. Just like your birthday…
“Tori, you’re a competitive athlete with a full course load. Your focus should be narrow.”
“Yours isn’t,” she argued. “You still tutor. Who does that? Tariq Evans didn’t.”
My proverbial hackles raised. “What do you know about Evans, tomboy?”
Tori shrugged, arms still crossed. “I hear things…watch your little ESPN interviews.” She rolled her eyes away.
I leaned into the doorjamb. “That’s cute, and all, but I guess you ain’t heard I dropped tutoring.”
Her eyes blossomed wild. “When?”
“Before Thanksgiving.” I shifted to lean down close to her face, and whispered, “Betcha don’t know as much about me as you think.”
The muscles in her face and shoulders visibly relaxed. It fucking thrilled me that I had this kind of effect on KaToria fucking McNabb.
I heard her sniffle like a hound. “Is that garlic I smell?” She moved toward the door to investigate. “Is that piz—Margherita pizza?”
Rolling my eyes, I stood straight. “I can answer that as soon as you tell me what you need a week to sustain your ‘high maintenance’ lifestyle.”
“Ashton,” she warned.
“Whatever it is, is getting cold.”
“Ash—”
“Right along with your bathwater.”
“Fine!” She stomped her foot. “Could I at least shower the kiddie cooties off and eat first? I’m so hungry, I can’t think!”
She pushed her way into the apartment, leaving me feeling accomplished and finessed at the same damn time.
I snorted and whispered into the air. “Dare I say, the tomboy could be fuckin’ adorable at times?”
Chapter Ten
-THEN-
I walked into the crowded, noisy cafeteria starving. It was buzzing with countless bodies everywhere. As usual, I kept my head low as I made my way to the sports counter where my meals were planned and organized. The goal was to eat and head off for my last day at work.