I laugh a little. “Not really. Plus, it’s a really good school.”
Mia’s phone buzzes on the table. “Pizza’s ready. I need to run.”
“Oh, okay.” I realize she’s not planning on coming back to the table, and I haven’t even touched my burger yet. My first instinct is to throw it away, since I hadn’t planned on eating alone in the center of the cafeteria.
“What was your name?” she asks as she rises.
“Waylynn.”
“That’s a cool ass name. I take back the judgment on your parents. See you around, Waylynn.”
“Bye, Mia,” I say softly to her back. I don’t know if I’m relieved that we didn’t share contact info or sad. I tear at my food for a few more minutes but cave pretty quickly and toss most of my late lunch in the bin before sorting my silverware and plate for the kitchen window.
THE ONLY WAY AROUND IT IS THROUGH IT
Memphis
Oswald is pissing me off,and he hasn’t even started classes yet. The shithead was supposed to be with this group, but I watched the place clear out, and he wasn’t in the bunch. The moment my back was turned, someone poked my shoulder and smacked my ass. I thought it was my little brother until I heard a sweet little voice apologize. By the time I turned around to give her my usualhands to yourselfspiel, she had merged into the group of students, but I have a fair guess who it was—the curvy brunette who seemed to be smiling to herself as she walked up the aisle with her eyes on the ground. Why the hell was she sitting alone and waiting for everyone else to leave?
The next group of freshmen are already waiting to have their turn in the theater for the Q and A portion of the tour, so I search the faces entering through the doors, but I don’t spot Oswald. His big ass is hard to miss nowadays, so I don’t think he sneaked past me.
I shove my hand in my pocket to get my phone, then fire a text off, asking where the hell he is. Certain privileges come with my position. I was able to get Oswald a partial dependent tuition scholarship because I’m technically employed by the school, but he has to check all the boxes or they will drop his ass faster than I can appeal the decision.
“Excuse me.” I lift my eyes from my phone and see a pair of tits wrapped in a tiny pink shirt nearly on top of my phone.
“Can I help you?” I meet her dark eyes, taking in her nearly white blonde hair. I want to tell her to get out of my space, but I refrain.
“Are you going in?” She tilts her head to the side, motioning to the auditorium. “I’m a little late, and I thought we could sit together if you were.”
“No, you should stay with your group,” I tell her in a firm but professional tone. I don’t want her filing a complaint because I’m an asshole. I have no idea why I thought it was a good idea to take a position here for my graduate work and not in a different setting, not that high school would be much better. I feel like I’m constantly threading a needle when dealing with the student body. I can’t be a prick, and I can’t be too nice. Either choice could threaten my job, and I don’t want Oz to be in debt up to his ass when he graduates, so I remind myself why this is the best choice. Five more years, and it won’t matter. The students won’t look at me the same way when I’m almost thirty—at least I fucking hope not.
My phone buzzes, and I stride down the hall before looking down to see a reply from Oswald.
Oz:That shit’s lame. I know where everything is.
I grit my teeth before sending him a reply, but his comes faster.
Oz:I made an appearance. No one is going to notice I left.
I did, but I don’t bother texting that to him. There’s no point. I’ll talk to him about it tonight.
Waylynn
When I closethe door behind me and drop my shoulders against the cool wood, I start second-guessing walking to and from campus. My slides are kicked off right before I reach for the button on my pants.
I’m so hot, they stick to my legs as I try to drag them down. I have one knee lifted, trying to shuck the things off, when the doorbell rings. I collapse to the ground in a heap and search the kitchen windows, wondering who might have seen me butt up, shimmying out of my jeans.
Forty seconds later, the bell rings again, and I realize it’s coming from the front door. The front walkway is about as long as a football field, so who the heck would traverse that to ring my bell? It must be a package or a neighbor. I flop onto my back and hike my pants up before rising from the cool wooden floor and then straighten my shirt.
There’s an older woman with a knobby knuckle poised to ring the bell again when I pull open the front door. “Hello, sorry.” I’m a little breathless, but I try to cover it with my short greeting.
“Oh, hello, dear. Are your parents home? I’m Eddy from next door. I wanted to introduce myself and say hello.” She smiles at me with the indulgence of a grandparent.
There goes not needing to meet the neighbors. I can honestly say this is a new experience. My parents tend to prefer estates, and the gates pretty much deter anyone from stopping by. I lean my shoulder on the green door and reply, “Hello, Eddy, my name is Waylynn. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Aren’t you a darling?” she coos like I’m a precocious seven-year-old. “Now I really must meet your parents. They have set a fine example.” She leans around me, trying to see inside the house.
Telling her I live alone isn’t on the top of my to-do list today. I have a strong feeling Eddy might be a little bit of a nosy busybody, and I don’t need the entire neighborhood knowing my business the first week I live here. It’s going to be pretty obvious I live alone soon enough to anyone who cares to notice.
