Page 52 of Necessary Roughness
“I know what it is,” my mom said. “It’s because you’re near the end. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“I still have another full year after this,” I reminded her.
“Trust me: your father and I know,” she replied. “Our savings account knows, too.”
“Thanks for reminding me, Mom.”
“But I do think there’s something to be said for being near the end,” she went on. “You got the crazy college lifestyle out of the way, and you’re preparing to go out into therealworld.”
“Right,” I said absently while walking across the campus lawn. “No more crazy college lifestyle.”
“Just be sure you’re budgeting carefully,” she warned. “Last year, you blew through your summer job savings by February and had to come begging to us.”
“Thanks for reminding me about that, too,” I said dryly.
“You’re welcome,” she said without a hint of irony. “Sorry if I’m worrying about you too much. It’s a mother’s right. I think I was afraid of how you would act after breaking up with Troy. I’m proud of you, Sloane, and I’m glad you’re not letting any distractions get in the way of your education.”
The campus lawn was crowded at this time of day, and there was a cluster of students chatting up ahead. One man and three women. I was on autopilot, walking from one building to another, so Ialmostdidn’t realize that the man was Logan Hunter.
Until he glanced over, his gaze colliding with mine.
He gave me a wink, then turned back to the girls he was chatting up.
“Right,” I told my mom. “No distractions this semester.”
After hanging up with her, I got a text message.
Logan:You’re looking especially sexy today. How am I supposed to focus in study hall this afternoon after seeing that fine ass walk by?
Me:If that distracts you, then you definitely don’t want to hear what I have planned for our date tonight.
Logan:Date? You mean our SEX APPOINTMENT?
Me:That wasn’t the part of my text I expected you to focus on ;-)
Logan:Shit. What do you have planned?
Me:Mmm, I shouldn’t say. I don’t want to distract you.
Logan:Well now I’m EXTRA distracted. So you might as well tell me.
Me:Use your imagination, big boy
Logan:Goddamn, everything you say turns me on.
Me:Really? Challenge accepted.
Me:Rhinoceros.
Logan:Rhinos have horns. Horns are phallic, like penises.
Logan:Try again.
Me:Umm.
Me:Tuberculosis
Logan:…
