Page 82 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck
“Everything okay?” asked Stratton.
Purple Hair’s gaze whipped to Stratton. “Yes?”
“Not sure you sold that,” said Drest, wondering what was making her act so jumpy.
She smiled, making him think of Astria, of all people, once again. “No. I guess I didn’t. Everything is good. I should get him home before he decides to try to eat another professor.”
She thought they were university professors? He nearly laughed but held it in. “As in we’re professors?”
“Aren’t you?” she asked. “You kind of look like you would be.”
“Take a guess at what we teach,” said Drest, enjoying finding something funny again after so many years of feeling broken.
“Do they have classes for law enforcement or criminal justice here?” asked Purple Hair. “You have cop written all over you, dude.”
Stratton grinned. “He does, doesn’t he?”
Drest motioned to Stratton. “Okay, what about him?”
“Drama or something to do with theater. Could be art,” said Purple Hair. “The professors there have long hair and beards too. Although there is a biology professor here that I swear looks just like he fronts a grunge band on the weekends.”
The back and forth continued between Stratton and the young woman. At some point, the dog ran off, leaving the three of them standing there. Then a university-age male with dark hair came running over, all while his buddies made lewd comments from afar. It was easy to see his presence sparked jealousy in Stratton, especially when it became evident the man had a thing for Purple Hair.
The entire ordeal was amusing to Drest. So much so he kept having to hide his laughter under coughs. The conversation moved around to them, and Purple Hair called them professors once more.
“Van Helsing!” yelled one of the new guy’s buddies.
At that moment, the dog came barreling across campus again, its long tongue hanging out to one side. This time, it had the new guy lined up in its path.
New guy ran toward his buddies. “I’m not close to her! I swear!”
Stratton tried to go for the dog as if to pet it. That’s when it snarled at him and the girl put herself in Stratton’s path, stopping him.
Unable to help himself, Drest started laughing loudly at Stratton. “Must know you’re a cat guy.”
“I’m really sorry,” said Purple Hair. “He and I will be having a very long talk about his behavior tonight.” With that, she ran off.
Stratton stared after her, longing on his face.
“You’re going to go after her, aren’t you?” questioned Drest, remembering the longing sensation he’d had when he’d first seen Rachael. How he’d been desperate to touch her or just be near her.
Hell, he still was desperate for all of that.
“We have a job to do,” said Stratton.
“Yes,” said Drest. “We do. Want to tell me what happened?”
“What do you mean?” asked Stratton.
“Cousin, we’ve known one another hundreds of years now,” said Drest. “I know you well enough to say that when you saw her, something happened to you. Can’t recall ever seeing you act that way around anyone.”
“There was nothing,” replied Stratton.
Deciding to call Stratton’s bluff, Drest made a big showing of heading in the opposite direction the woman had gone in. “Okay, sure. If it was nothing, let’s go check the other side of campus for what we’re looking for.”
Stratton didn’t budge. “I can’t.”
Drest glanced at him. “And why might that be? Could it be you’ve suddenly developed a thing for chicks with purple hair?”
