Page 61 of Return Policy

I stand up and throw my bag over my shoulder. “Ready to go, babe?”

She bites back a smile, narrowing her eyes. “Why did I even think for five seconds you’d be going the other way with that?”

“Guess you don’t know me well enough yet, sweetheart.”

“I should’ve left you alone with sunflower,” she grumbles, standing and picking up her tote bag.

“You’ll learn someday, sweet pea.” I throw an arm around her shoulders as we stroll towards the exit.

“Ughhhhhh,”she groans dramatically, then leans her head against me.

I know you love this, Sunflower.

We walk into Señor Rita, a small Mexican restaurant off campus that has killer tacos and deadly margaritas. They don’t card, which is stupid on their part but brilliant for us.

“So… do you have plans for Halloween?” Sophia asks after we’ve ordered our food and a bowl-sized margarita has been placed in front of her. I opted for water because I don’t want Sophia to have a single reason to get in a vehicle that’s not mine today, or ever again.

“We have a home game against Texas A&M in the afternoon but nothing after. Why?”

She takes a long sip of her blue concoction. “Just wondering.”

“Care to elaborate?” I probe, gesturing loosely with my hand.

“Okay… well… I don’t want you to make a big deal, but it's actually my birthday.”

“On Halloween?”

“Yep.”

“Interesting.” I nod while taking a sip of my water.

“Why?”

“I guess that explains why you’re always ghosting me.”

“Ha ha.Sooofunny. Well, anyway, the girls are making me go out, and I was wondering if you and some of the guys might wanna come? We’re bar hopping by the bay.”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll talk to them.” I feel a wide grin break through my cool guy facade, excited she’s opening up. “What’s your costume?”

“You’re going to laugh,” she says, cheeks flushing pink.

“Try me.”

Her expression stays serious, but her eyes dance with mischief. “A sexy koala.”

“A…sexykoala?” I repeat with a smirk as she shrugs, eating a tortilla chip dripping with red salsa.

She darts her tongue out, slowly licking a bit of the salsa off her lower lip.It’s fucking pornographic.“Yeah, you know, a koala but…sexxxyyy.” She drags out the last word, wiggling her shoulders in a seductive motion, and my dick twitches in my jeans.

“Is it even possible to make a koala sexy?” Who am I kidding? Sophia could dress as a hot dog, and I’d be happy to lick the ketchup off her buns.

“I knew you’d think it was stupid.” She drops her eyes to the table.

“I’m kidding, baby.” I put my hand over hers and give it a light squeeze. “You’re going to look stunning… as usual. The hottest koala in the zoo.”

She hides behind her hand, a grin slipping through. “Thanks.”

“I mean it. You’ll make all the boy koalas go ‘waaaaa.’”

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