I rubbed my eyes as I dropped my messenger bag on the couch and headed to the kitchen. I opened the fridge first, looking at the three bottles of salad dressing, a few other condiments and soda. There probably wasn't much more in the freezer. I opened it and stared at the bags of veggies before picking up a very frost bitten piece of chicken and cocking my head at it. I was pretty sure that was not edible. I sighed, going back to the fridge and popping open a can of soda before opening the cabinets. They were just as sparse. I grabbed the container of chocolate crème filled cookies and made my way back to the couch. I closed my eyes as I chewed, letting the gritty chocolate coat my mouth.
I really needed to go grocery shopping.
My eyes shot open as my cell phone rang in my bag. I could hear my pulse rushing in my ears from being woken up abruptly, and shook my head as I fumbled in my bag to grab the cell phone before it stopped ringing.
“Hello?” I answered, breathless, without checking the caller ID.
“Hey, did I catch you at a bad time?” Trent's voice instantly brought a smile to my face.
I dusted the crumbs off my lap as I replied, “No, just had my first Intermediate Algebra class, and it kind of wore out my brain.”
“What would you need algebra for with a literature degree?”
I sighed. “It's the minor that calls for it. Apparently, you should know math if you're going to do graphic design.
“If you say so,” Trent said, and I could hear the smirk on his lips. “I'm pretty decent at math, if you need any help.”
I looked down at the textbook, my stomach hardening with the frustration I felt during the class and after when the teacher tried but failed to help me. “You might get sick of seeing me every day.”
“I highly—” Trent began, and I heard the muffled sounds of Allie. “Hold on...yes? Okay, I'll ask her...Allie would like to know if you'd come to her school play, it's this Friday at 6:00.”
“Sure thing,” I replied. “I have a feeling I'm going to need a break by then.”
“Ask her! Ask her!” I heard Allie saying in the background.
“Is there something else?” I asked.
“She'd like it if you came to the school potluck. They do it before the play so all the kids have a nice dinner first,” Trent explained, and I heard Allie go silent as they waited for my response.
“Of course. Should I bring something?” I asked as I looked down at my cookies—the only edible item left in the house.
“You want to poison the whole school with your kinky cooking?” Trent teased, and I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
“What's kinky?” Allie asked, and I burst out laughing as Trent stuttered out a response.
“Um...well...nothing...I—it's a bad word.”
“Why were you smiling then?” Allie asked, and I struggled to keep the tears from my face as I doubled over.
“I...it's an adult thing.”
“If you say so. Seems like you like whatever kinky is,” Allie commented, and I heard Trent choke.
“Go pick out a game...we'll play a game after I get off the phone with Ellie,” he said, and I imagined him sitting on the couch, tilting his head back in exasperation.
“So, you like it kinky?” I said through hiccups.
“Wouldn't you like to know,” Trent shot back.
I stopped laughing, caught off guard by his retort.
Awkward silence followed. Finally, Trent coughed. “Uh, what were we talking about?”
“Algebra.”
“Right,” Trent said, and I heard him release a relieved breath. “It'd be my pleasure to help you with your homework, if you want.”
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