Chapter 1
Levi
“I don’t like soup.” I sounded like a little complaining that I didn’t want all my food mixed up in broth…but I didn’t want all my food mixed up in broth.
“That’s good to know?” Dante frowned at the takeout container I was holding like he was expecting it to jump out of my hands. “I know that’s probably related to something I should understand, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He really needed to pay more attention to everything else not related to Professor Winslow, his new little and partner.
“I’m getting soup delivered.” Holding up the brown paper bag, I set it on the small table by the stairs. “It’s making me insane. How have you missed this?”
He was the one who’d thought being a Secret Santa was a good way to get Ruslan’s attention, but I was being punished with soup. “Are you torturing me?”
He had to have had a hand in this nonsense.
This was more like a threat than a Secret Santa, though.
“I can confidently say ‘not it.’” Leaning against the stair railing, he finally looked like he was paying attention to what I’d been saying. “Who have you pissed off lately?”
Numerous people.
I wasn’t going to list them all off, though.
“Someone is having soup delivered to me about every two days. It honestly varies but it’s always soup and most of it comes with notes like ‘hope this improves your mood,’ so yeah, I’ve pissed someone off.” Me at the very least…especially because I was eating most of it.
Free food was free food even if it was soup…and the dining halls were basically closed for the next couple of weeks for winter break, so I had to fend for myself or go home.
Soup was the best option.
“I need it to stop or to give them another food to fuck with me about.” There had to be a way to convince whoever it was that I hated pasta or steak.
“Have you asked the restaurants delivering the food who sent it?” Somehow the normally smart guy was a moron…or thought I was a moron.
“Yes, but they’re playing dumb.” The guy at the door had insinuated that he’d been well-bribed to play dumb. “And since they’ve already been paid in cash, they have no reason to help me.”
It seemed like my tormenter tipped very well.
Dante blinked, clearly not sure what to say to the chaos driving me crazy. “Who knows you don’t like soup? I’m not even sure I knew you don’t like soup.”
He knew everything about everyone on campus so that wasn’t possible. It wasn’t even like he was a gossip. People just told himrandom things and he ended up knowing all about everything going on.
“I don’t know.” That was a damned good question. “I don’t remember talking about it with anyone lately.”
Mostly because it sounded ridiculous.
Who randomly announced they didn’t like soup?
“Soup?” Cocking his head, Dante finally realized how strange it was. “I guess it’s a good way to fuck with you, then. But we’re back to who have you pissed off lately?”
“I’m not making a list that long.” People were easily offended. “But I’d say with most of them it’s been mild irritation, not soup level of pissed off.”
The holiday season sucked.
“I don’t know what to say, but we can help you eat the soup if that’s the problem?” Even as distracted as he was by his new relationship with Ruslan, he was generally a good roommate. But I wasn’t sure if that was a helpful suggestion or not. “The guys or Ruslan would like it.”
Not helpful.
“I’d actually like it to stop.” Someone was spending entirely too much money on the ridiculousness and they’d made their point. I was a dick. Got it. “But yes, one of you guys needs to start eating the soup. I’ll trade for other options…baked goods or non-soup dinners are preferable.”
