Page 43 of The Jack*ss in Class

The main barn was in shambles and the sanctuary’s small barn smelled like mildew and broken dreams. None of the animals that had to be evacuated were going to have a new home for at least another month. Minimum.

“I know, buddy.” I patted Supersweet, the ancient black and white pig who was currently sharing his temporary pen in the only dry corner of the barn. “This isn’t ideal for any of us.”

Supersweet snuffled my pockets for treats, reminding me so much of his baby donkey cousin currently hiding in my dorm room that my chest ached.

“Thanks to a certain anonymous contribution, the new barn will start going up next week,” The sanctuary owner said, leaning against the stall door.

“I can help more,” I offered. “If that will get the animals back home sooner.”

“Absolutely not.” Her tone left no room for argument. “You’ve done more than enough, taking in our littlest resident. Speaking of which, how’s he doing?”

“Getting bigger. And louder.” I smiled.

And harder to hide. But I couldn’t tell her that since she had no idea I was keeping a farm animal in my sorority house.

“You know you can bring him back here. We’ll figure something out.”

I gestured at the water damage. “No, no. He’s fine where he is for a little while longer. I know the other barn is already overcrowded with the rescued animals.”

“We’ll figure something out,” she repeated, but we both knew it wasn’t that simple. “I’ll leave you to commune with Supersweet’s nature. At least she loves all this mud.”

The sound of boots on gravel should have been going away from me, but someone was approaching. And it had me tensing, but it was just one of the volunteers bringing fresh hay. I’d been jumpy all morning, half-expecting Flynn to materialize every time I turned around.

Not that he would. I’d skipped both our Shakespeare and marketing classes, and our study session. He had no reason to?—

“There you are.”

I closed my eyes. Because of course. Of course Flynn Kingman would track me down at the one place I felt safe. Of course he’d look unfairly good in a worn DSU hoodie and jeans. And of course Supersweet would immediately abandon me to investigate this new treat-dispensing possibility.

“Traitor,” I muttered as Supersweet pressed her nose into Flynn’s palm.

“You missed class.” Flynn scratched Supersweet’s ears like he’d been doing it his whole life.

“Observant of you.”

“I was worried.”

Something in his voice made me look up. He was watching me with that same expression from the party photos. The one I couldn’t quite decipher.

“I’m fine.” I turned back to the water line. “Just busy.”

“Too busy to read your texts?”

“My phone died.”

“For a week? Also, it’s literally buzzing in your pocket right now.”

Damn it.

“Look.” He stepped closer, still absently petting Supersweet. “About the party. I think we should talk about?—”

“We really shouldn’t.”

“I was a jerk.”

That made me turn. “What?”

“When you called me arrogant. And a bully.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You weren’t wrong.”

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