Page 24 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade
“I don’t. Colleen mentioned it,” she replied. “She pays attention toeverysport. She also lectured me on how many quarters you have when you play and all that other stuff.”
“Innings.” The man chuckled, sounding nervous. He glanced briefly at Drest and then Stratton before focusing on the woman. “You hanging out with professors this weekend? When I asked you about coming over, you said you had to study. Are you done? If so, maybe we could hang out or something?”
Drest pulled a hand over his mouth, clearly fighting the urge to laugh more.
Stratton merely seethed as he glared at Craig. If he thought for one second that he was going to touch her in any way, he had another think coming.
Not happening.
“Kind of bumped into them when attempting to save them from my dog,” Franks confessed, her green gaze sliding to Stratton, helping to calm his burning need to pummel Craig.
Craig glanced around quickly. “Uh, is your dog close?”
She laughed softly. “No. He took off toward home. I’m really hoping he went straight there and isn’t terrorizing someone else.” She touched her shirt, near the center of her chest, gripping something beneath it.
Craig rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Never seen a dog that big before.”
She bit at her lower lip and a pained sound moved through Stratton at the act.
Drest hid a laugh under a cough.
Stratton nearly flipped the man off.
Craig glanced at Stratton. “I don’t think I’ve seen you on campus before. What do you teach?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Stratton eyed the man, all but daring him to start something. “Why does it matter to you?”
“Franks?” asked Drest, in a clear attempt to diffuse the situation. “That’s an interesting name.”
“No, not really,” the woman said fast. She swallowed hard. “Perfectly normal last name. Nothing weird about it.”
Craig chuckled. “You’re right. Try having Van Helsing as a surname. Sucks.”
The woman snorted. “Funny.”
“What is?” asked Craig.
She started harder at him. “The pun. Van Helsing, sucking? Dracula? You know, the whole Stoker thing?”
Craig’s cheeks reddened. “Oh, right. That. I thought you knew about, erm, never mind. I forgot all that stuff is your major.”
“Van Helsing!” shouted one of Craig’s friends. “Hang out with your girlfriend later. We’ve got a keg waiting for us.”
“Girlfriend?” asked the woman. “They think we’re dating? I didn’t start that rumor. I swear!”
Craig’s face managed to redden more. “Ignore them. I should get going, but you’re still staying in town for the summer, right? That’s what Colleen told me when I asked.”
“You asked Colleen if I’m staying in town?” questioned the woman.
Craig’s friends grew louder in their attempts at getting his attention. They banded together and began rapping a song that Stratton was positive he’d heard on the radio lately but couldn’t recall the name of. It was something about a club.
“Give us another show, you two,” said one of them loudly.
Craig shot them all a hard look before facing Franks again. “Sorry.”
The other guys kept going, getting louder and louder. One of them moved to dancing against one of the gargoyle statues, acting like he was humping it.
Stratton shook his head. The youth today were idiots.
