Page 22 of Rules, Roses, and Rivals
Once I was inside, I leaned against the closed door and let the air conditioning wrap around me. The sweat on my skin was already drying. The icy coolness helped not only with my temper but also my tears.
A questioning meow had me opening my eyes to see Tiddles eyeing me from the kitchen doorway. A black cat with the biggest eyes and attitude, he seemed to be waiting for me to get my shit together.
“Hey, baby boy,” I murmured, pushing away from the door. I checked the water dish and nodded. They still had plenty. I’d check the litter box later. “Despite your protests,” I continued on my way to the bedroom with him trotting alongside me. “Your dinner isn’t due for another thirty minutes.”
That meant I could shower and maybe rinse off the day. Tiddles argued, but when headed for the bathroom and the shower, he hopped up on my bed. It didn’t take me long to strip. I started with a cooler shower, and gradually warmed the water up.
By the time I finished, I felt a great deal more human. I’d gone ahead and washed my hair since it would have plenty of time to dry before I went to bed. I changed into a tank top and thinner shorts after. The cats were thrilled that I opened a tin for them before I checked what we had for my dinner.
The shopping list was still on the fridge. There were three twenties also attached to as promised. I made a face. At least I had stuff for sandwiches, so I made myself a grilled cheese, grabbed a soda and retreated to my room.
The apartment was small, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, though Mom’s was in her room and an ensuite. The door to her room was also closed to keep the cats out. My bathroom was in the hall. There was a combo living room and dining room for the main room and the galley kitchen.
The compact place made keeping it neat pretty easy. The trash wasn’t full, and the litter box wasn’t bad so I could take both out in the morning. It was almost too quiet in the apartment, so I put on some music.
Torched’s latest album had been released over the summer and I had damn near every song memorized. It resonated with me. It was kind of weird to be tackling my homework and reviewing my syllabi for each class without the guys.
Disappointment clawed its way up through me. I’d known the moment they learned about Mathieu, they’d be pissed. I’d known it, and it still made my stomach hurt that I was right.
What made it even worse, was even after everything, I’dreallymissed them over the summer. As aggravating as theywere being and high-handed, it was actually kind of nice to argue with them.
Tiddles raced in and bounced from the floor up onto the desk where I was getting my notebook organized. At his expectant look, I stroked a hand over his head and down his back.
“Yes, I’m aware that I make no sense. They piss me off, block me from dating, and treat me like I’m some kind of child who doesn’t know what she wants and I have the audacity tomissthem, when I was the one who cut them off in the first place.” I sighed even as Tiddles began to purr. When I would have stopped petting him, he bumped my hand again.
Tory and Tabby made their way back into my room with Tory leaping up onto the bed. The sleek white cat sprawled over my pillows like she owned them. Tabby prowled over to leap onto the desk and then over to the window sill where she could keep watch on the neighborhood.
The faint scent of fish lingered, but one by one, they began to fastidiously clean themselves. Even Tiddles.
“So, that’s the only opinion I get?” I asked but they didn’t pause in their hygiene checks so I went back to checking how much reading I had, what projects were due when and what kind of schedule I’d need.
Normally, we did this together and we divided up tutoring time if the guys needed it or if we shared a class and a project. This was the first time I hadn’t already committed every minute of every day for the rest of the semester.
I’d just finished getting my notebooks organized when my phone vibrated.
Mathieu:I did not consider how many people want to ask me the same questions over and over.
I laughed.
Me:You’re French. They want to know what you think about everything.
Mathieu:Maybe. I am amused by how many wish to discuss the heat.
Me:It’s not that they want to discuss it, but it’s an imperative. Cause damn it’s hot in August.
The laughing faces he sent in response only made my smile grow.
Mathieu:Noted. I shall not complain until September then.
Another laugh escaped me.
Me:Are you home now? Or have they hijacked you longer and taken you out to dinner?
His answer didn’t come immediately, so I set the phone down while I went over the discussion questions for our first lit reading assignment. Reading was never a hardship and at least I didn’t actively despise any of the books on the list.
I would have to grab one either from the library or Amazon, if the library didn’t have it. I was scrolling through my Kindle to find the first book on the list when my phone vibrated again.
Mathieu:How did you know?
