“You forgot the emergency online shopping I have to do for Yule gifts tonight,” I groan. “What do you get for the brother who has everything and likes nothing?”
“A… tie?”
“Just like every other year then.”
“I’m sure he’ll pretend to appreciate it.” The faintest smirk tips up the corners of Marcus’ full mouth and my heart skips a beat.
“Well, you won’t have to pretend to appreciate the cookies. All I did was decorate them. I hope they bring your mom some cheer. I really did try to make them festive.”
“That’s kind of you, thank you. Off to the dorms then? We can hit Professor Reinhardt’s office before your Peer Advising lesson. Last one of the term. I bet you’re glad of that.”
I sag against the kitchen counter, frowning. “I don’t know where I stand with Cassian. Sometimes, I think… I think he might still love me.”
“Sweet-tart, his love isn’t worth a damn if he won’t let you know where you stand with him. If you have any question about his feelings for you, then he doesn’t deserve you. Your love, your friendship, even your consideration.”
“That’s… that’s surprisingly wise.”
“It was a hard lesson for my sister to learn.”
“You never talk about her, Marcus.”
“One day, I will. You about ready?”
I scratch at my icing-covered arms. “Give me five?” I examine my arms and my tee shirt with a frown. “Saints, I hate cooking and baking anything more than tea and instant noodles.”
“Tea doesn’t count.”
“Oh, come on. Give me the noodles at least?”
“Fine, as a Yule gift. Now go get ready.”
* * *
We stopby the residence hall first, but Simon isn’t in his dorm—or if he is, he isn’t answering.
When I stop by his office, I find Ian grading a stack of exams, but he sets them aside at my knock.
“I hope you’re not here to pester me about your grade.”
“I don’t pester,” I protest. “Besides, I know I aced your final.”
He rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling a crooked smile that makes my belly flutter.
“I just wanted to say thank you.”
He arches a brow. “For?”
“Professor, you gave me apresent.”
He shoots me a sour frown, but the smile doesn’t fade from his bright blue eyes. “I gave you homework, you menace.”
Oh, the heat in those words. “Well, thank you. For the homework.”
I brandish the tin of cookies and push them across his desk. “As a thank you for the extra lessons. Don’t worry—I hear my reputation precedes me—all I did was ice them.”
He cracks the lid off the tin and stares down at the cookies in consternation. I know my icing job wasn’t perfect, but saints, it wasn’t that bad and…
Oh.
