Page 24 of Dragon's Unwanted Love
No one believed the fraternity was done tormenting the college and Dean Proctor. Tension on campus was high as they all waited for something to happen, and sometimes, she felt like she was at the center of it all. She knew that wasn’t true, that her involvement in the whole mess was her own fault, and that she’d been targeted because she’d spoken out, but that didn’t make it any easier to take her imprisonment.
Realizing that she was letting her emotions get the better of her, she told herself she was being a big baby. She had a great place to stay, and people who cared about her; this was just a bump in the road. She’d make it through this like she had every other challenge in her life, and if she was lucky, Jackson would be her reward. The thought made her feel warm all over, and a smile spread across her face. Of all the things that had happened over the last month, Jackson was the one bright spot.
Hattie was just taking a tray of cookies out of the oven when she walked through the door. The kitchen was full of the enticing scent of cinnamon and sugar. She paused for a second to breathe in the mouth-watering aroma, letting out a little sigh of appreciation, then walked over to the counter, where rows and rows of cookies were cooling.
“It smells wonderful in here,” she said, taking another deep breath of the fragrant air. “I love sugar cookies, I think they’re my favorite.”
“Hattie makes the best, but don’t think you’ll be getting any,” Sam said from the table. “These are for homecoming, a good luck charm for the football team. It’s been a tradition since the boys were freshman.”
“Oh, I almost forgot about that,” she said, then sighed. “Life just seems to be passing me by.”
“You look a little down,” Hattie said, walking over with the fresh tray of cookies. “One of these might help.”
“Hey, no fair,” Sam called from the table, waving the frosting-covered knife in his hand. “You won’t let me have one, and I’m helping.”
“You hush, old man,” Hattie said, smiling at her husband. “You’ll get a cookie when we’re finished and you know it, but this young lady needs a pick-me-up right now. You go sit down and I’ll bring you one.”
“Hattie you don’t have to wait on me,” she protested, but a look from the older woman sent her over to the table without another word.
She sat down by Sam, watched what he was doing for a moment, then picked up a knife and a cookie, applied a generous layer of frosting in the school colors, and grabbed another one. By the time Hattie came over with a cookie and a cold glass of milk, she’d finished half a dozen and earned a pleased smile from both of them.
“So, what’s got you so down?” Hattie asked, sinking into a chair with a sigh. “It’s not like you to abandon your books.”
“I miss being outside,” she said with a sigh. “I know I shouldn’t complain. I’ve got it really good here; you and Sam take such good care of us, but I haven’t been anywhere but classes, work, and here for two weeks. I guess it’s starting to get to me.”
“I don’t blame you, this can’t be easy,” Hattie said, patting her arm. “Maybe you need to take a break, do something fun. All work and no play can’t be good for you.”
“I think I just need to get out for a few hours. I need some fresh air and sunlight,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I’ll talk to Jackson. Maybe he can arrange something.”
“Homecoming is this weekend. You might enjoy going to the game. It should be safe enough,” Hattie said, picking up acookie and frosting it. “We’re all going, I’m surprised Jackson hasn’t said anything about it.”
“He’s been busy. Besides, I don’t know anything about football,” she said. “I’m not sure it would be my thing, I’ve never been before. Plus, I don’t want to put any more pressure on Jackson, he’s already got too much to worry about.”
“You’ve never been to homecoming?” Hattie asked, surprised. “Not even in high school?”
“I went to a small school, I was the nerd in class, I didn’t really have very many friends,” she said. “And the boys didn’t want anything to do with me, they all knew I wouldn’t…well, you know…”
“Well, that’s too bad, I have such fond memories of the games and the dances,” Hattie said, handing her another cookie. “It would be a shame for you to miss this last one.”
“It’s okay, Hattie, it’s not that big of a deal,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I didn’t really miss out on that much.”
Hattie made a sound in her throat and got up from the table. “We’ll see about that,” she mumbled as she walked over to the stove. “When I get my hands on that boy…”
CHAPTER 14
***JACKSON***
It hadn’t been Jackson’s plan to eavesdrop on the conversation going on in the kitchen, but he’d paused inside the doorway to watch Abby and couldn’t help but overhear. Until right then, he hadn’t realized how much everything was getting to Abby. She always had a smile for him when she saw him, but he should have known. In her place, he would have felt the same, would have begun to chafe at the restrictions much sooner, and so he decided that he had to do something about it.
Dances weren’t really his thing. He hated getting dressed up, hated acting like someone he wasn’t, but Abby deserved a little romance, something that was impossible under the circumstances. He could handle a few hours of being uncomfortable if it made her happy, and he was sure they would be safe enough in the large crowd attending the dance. Mind made up, he took a deep breath, made some noise so they wouldn’t think he’d been listening, then walked into the kitchen.
“Hey everyone,” he called. “It sure does smell good in here. Those must be the cookies for homecoming.”
“Keep your hands off unless you’re helping,” Hattie called, giving him a dirty look. “You’ll get your share at the game.”
“Speaking of the game,” he said, walking over and sitting down next to Abby. “We’re all going, and I was hoping you’d go with us.”
Abby’s face instantly brightened. “Really?” she asked. “I don’t know that much about football, but I bet you could teach me.”
