Kayla strolled along, pep in her step, thanks to the excitement she always felt on the way to Victor's.
How can I not be excited?
Wind kicked up around her, and she ducked her head away, a few scattered leaves rustling by her.
"Kayla?"
She turned, her excitement dissipating.
Fuck...not again.
Connor was idling in his pulled-over car, leaning over from the driver's seat.
"Hey babe! What're you doing around here?"
"I was headed to the mall. But I saw you from down the block. What're you doing around here?"
Well, I was on my way to get dicked down...
"I'm going to C-Town to pick up a few things," she lied quickly.
"Oh, hop in! I can drop you off on the way to the mall."
"No, it's no big deal, I'm only getting a few things."
The wind kicked up again.
"C-Town is like, ten blocks away. You sure you don't want a ride? It's cold out."
She hesitated.
Damn it, Connor.
"Okay," she relented, hurrying over and slipping into the passenger seat.
"Actually," he spoke up after a minute, trundling down the street, "why don't you come with me to the mall, and then we'll go to C-Town? We haven't had a mall date in forever, and I need to pick up a few things from C-Town too. We could go to Shake Shack. Your favorite..."
This would be sweet if it weren't getting the way of going to Victor's.
She hesitated again, but the hopefulness in his voice brought up a sudden surge of guilt.
Wow, I'm a terrible girlfriend. He just wants to go on a date...that's the least I can do for him. Victor can wait until tomorrow.
"That sounds wonderful, actually. Let's do it!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Oh, come on, we won't be long, please come with us..."
Connor glanced back to Emily.
I wanted to keep an eye on Kayla. Run some interference.
His plan to prevent Kayla from visiting her lover had worked so far. After the mall date, and the C-Town run, both of which he had made sure to stretch out longer than necessary, the couple had returned to campus shortly before her shift at the café.
For all I know, she'll rush over to his place after her shift.
"Your thesis can wait for an hour," Emily added, lower lip pushed out. "I'm trying to show her the campus life. I can't do that by myself."
Theresa nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, come on, Connor, come with us!"
He sighed.
Theresa let her own lower lip push out, now sporting the same expression as her older cousin.
Connor chuckled despite himself at their entreaties.
"Okay, okay, fine, but I can't stay that long."
Kayla's shift ends soon.
"Yes!" the cousins said almost in unison, pumping their fists.
"You're trying to show her the campus life," Connor began as he fell into step with them, "so you're going to bring her to the Roost? That's the worst dining hall on campus. I haven't even been there since sophomore year."
"I like their salads," Emily said defensively. "And it usually isn't crowded."
"Maybe that's because it's bad," Theresa cut in.
"Whose side are you on?" Emily asked her, grinning slightly.
"Don't fight, you two, let's go to the Roost."
The trip there was not long since it was on the same side of campus as the chapel. The trio slipped inside, joining the dwindling flow of hungry students.
Connor slid in behind Emily and Theresa, idly looking over the options. His gaze went past them, to the workers behind the sneezeguard, and those behind them prepping ingredients.
The swinging door to the kitchen opened. His heart leapt into his throat.
I know you...
The stranger from Kayla's videos handed a tray of food over to another employee, before returning to the kitchen. Connor watched him go, even as the door swung shut, hiding him from view.
So...he works here...that explains how they met...
"You alright?"
He looked over to Emily, who was staring at him, eyebrow quirked up.
"Uh...yeah, I was just thinking about what to get."
"Thinking about your thesis?" she asked knowingly.
"No, actually, not this time."
"Just very interested in food prep?"
He forced a laugh at her joke.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kayla peeked over to Connor, whose attention was on the television.
"Alright," she spoke up, stretching out, "it's library time for me. Need to work on the ol' thesis."
Her heartbeat picked up.
After Sunday, and yesterday, when Connor had unknowingly interfered with her plans to see Victor, the two of them were eager to fuck, so eager that he had sent her a dick pic and told her to hurry over to the Roost for a quickie.
Her text back had been quick and direct: [Hell yeah. Be there in 15]
As she stood, she bit her lip, already excited by the thought of having him inside her again.
"Oh, I need to get to the library too," Connor spoke up. "Give me a sec. I'll go with you."
Her excitement plummeted.
He stood along with her and turned off the television.
"Don't you usually just do your work here?" she asked, attempting to hide the annoyance in her voice.
"I think it's better if I work at the library instead of here," he explained. "I get too distracted here. Figured it'd be something to try, you know?"
"Okay," she murmured, watching him slip into his room.
Motherfucker...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kayla hurried along, heart beating fast.
When was the last time I went so long without seeing him? Probably when I went home for a bit at the end of summer vacation.
The campus was still busy enough that she glanced around here and there, on the lookout for any acquaintance who might stall or outright stop her.
I mean, it's only been five days, but it feels like forever...
