“Eh. I asked for no mustard and guess what they put on it?” He tosses the remnants in the trash bin next to where we’re sitting and fixes his eyes on Kronk, who has settled between his legs and is resting his big head on his thigh.
“He doesn’t understand the concept of personal space.” I pat the side of my leg to draw Kronk away from him, but he side-eyes me like I’m not his literal mother. “He’s a good boy. So freaking smart. But he’s also stubborn,” I say with a laugh. All of those things are understatements.
“He’s perfect.” He smooths Kronk’s fur down the length of his back, his obscenely pillowy lips tilting into the hint of a smile. There’s something about him that makes me think he’s older than most other students—the subtle laugh lines framing his eyes add an unexpected gentleness to him.
Something warm weaves its way throughout my ribcage, a familiar feeling but not one that’s been triggered by very many men. “Yeah. He is.”
“How old is he?” A wet spot has formed on his pants from Kronk’s slobber, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
“Three. I found him under a park bench when he was just a puppy. I wanted to murder whoever abandoned such a small, sweet baby. I probably should have taken him to the shelter since I haven’t ever really had a place of my own for him here in my cramped dorm room, but we’ve made it work. I couldn’t let him go when he’d already been cast aside once.”
I don’t note aloud that I feel a kinship with him for that reason. Abandoned besties.
Kronk is oblivious to my trip down memory lane, still enjoying all the attention he’s receiving from his new friend. “I bet you’re both glad you decided to keep him.”
“I haven’t regretted a single moment of it.” I smile, and Kronk seems to understand I’m talking about him now because he worms behind my legs and lays beneath me under the bench.
Maggie has drifted off and her hot breath fans across my chest as I brush the fine strands of her hair back with my fingertips.
I feel a set of curious eyes on us. “Your baby seems pretty perfect too.”
I smile at him. “She is, but she’s not mine.”
“Oh.” He almost seems disappointed.
I kiss the top of Maggie’s head. “I’m her nanny. For now, anyway.”
“I see.” His lips purse as if he wants to ask something else, but he holds back.
We sit for a beat longer before he checks the time on his phone, then pockets it as he stands. “Gotta get to class.”
“You should let me buy your lunch tomorrow.” The words spill out before my brain has a chance to catch up. “You know. Because of the sandwich.”
His eyebrows furrow and his jaw feathers in hesitation, but it melts away as if he’s made a split-second decision. “Sure.”
He takes his phone back out and holds it in front of him. I shift in my seat to fish mine from my pocket and tap it against his. Our screens glow as they connect and we swap contact info.
I look down to find that his is just his first name, and his contact photo feels almost inappropriate to have on my device. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just that his face is split in a broad grin and he’s so attractive it hurts.
I pull my eyes away and flick them to where he’s standing. The real thing is even more inappropriate. No man who looks like this should be allowed in public with their sweater sleeves rolled up to their elbows, and veiny forearms on full display for all the world to see.
I force my mouth closed and smile. “See you tomorrow, Jack.”
He smirks as if he can read my mind. “Yeah. See you.”
3
IS THIS AN INTERVIEW?
QUINN
My Saturdays are Maggie-free,which I am usually happy about. Today it’s a rude reminder that all my days will be Maggie-free after next week.
I’m not sure where to go from here. It’s not just that I’m out of a job and baby snuggles, I’m also losing a place for Kronk.
I can’t say I’ve ever been upset about not having to rely on my father for anything because he has been absent from my life. However, it’s a different story when it comes to financial support. Unlike many others at Cypress who have family to help them out, I don’t have that luxury. As a result, I live like your typical broke college student.
For the entirety of my time here, I’ve lived in the same dorm. The existence of the university’s year-round dormitory residency is something I’m eternally grateful for. It’s spared me the hassle of moving in and out every academic term, or being forced to go crawling back to a home I’m not welcome in, begging for a place to stay over summer break because traveling to my aunt’s is simply not feasible. I think I would rather sleep on a park bench than go anywhere near my parents’ home, even now that they aren’t there. Kruz has offered for me to stay with her too manytimes to count, but my setup works and I have never wanted to put her family out.
