Page 14 of Filthy Uncle To Go

“Maybe we should start in the library,” I say. He glances over at the tour group.

“Sure,” he says.

We stride down the walkway toward a tall building with huge glass windows. This is my favorite place on campus, and it definitely isn’t your average library; it has seven floors and just about every book known to man. Drake wraps his hand around the ornate door handle and pulls it open, stepping to the side to let me in first.

“Thank you,” I say.

“You’re welcome,” he replies. He looks around and marvels at huge, airy atrium. “This place is impressive,” he growls.

“Yeah, I love it here. There are tons of books, and it’s a great place to study since it’s so quiet.”

“I think I would get lost in this place,” he smirks. I laugh too.

“I actually did get lost in here once, but it was my first time, so I have an excuse,” I confess.

He laughs, and hearing him chuckle makes me giggle again. Drake follows closely behind me as we walk over to my favorite corner of the library. He plops down on a comfy beanbag chair, causing us both to laugh again. A student sitting alone at a table glances up at us and scolds us with her eyes.

“Sorry,” he apologizes, not sounding sorry at all. Then, he looks up at me and places his finger on his lips. “Shhh,” he shushes me, causing us both to erupt with laughter again.

It’s strange, but I’m not nervous around him right now, and I don’t feel the need to run and hide. I feel comfortable in my uncle’s presence – so comfortable that now, anticipation fills my heart. The weekend has only just begun, but I already feel like something magical is about to happen.

9

Jenna

Standing on my tippy toes, I reach up and take two yellow lunch trays off of a stack piled high. They’re sort of damp, but it’s probably because they were just washed. I hand one of the trays to Uncle Drake and he smirks as he takes it from me. He takes two plates from another pile and gives one to me.

“Hopefully, the food is as good as you say,” he jokes.

“It is,” I giggle. “Not.”

Since we went on our own tour without the group, we made it around campus in less than an hour. We’re the first ones in the cafeteria, which means we get first dibs on the food. Of course, Drake offered to take me out to a restaurant not too far from here, but I politely declined. He’s already going out of his way to be here for me; I don’t want to ask too much of him.

“I still think we should have went to eat at Chez Josephine,” he jokes.

“And pass up on all of this gourmet food?” I tease.

“Gourmet?” he questions as he raises an eyebrow, still wearing that sexy smirk.

“Yes,” I giggle as we walk over to the buffet station with our trays in our hands. “Voila! Behold, Marymount’s finest foods,” I pronounce.

“Hmm, not bad,” he says as he takes in the assortment of dishes. Honestly, it’s not so terrible. We pay a fortune in tuition, so the food is okay, even if it’s not gourmet. I inhale deeply as I reach for a metal spoon inside of the gooey macaroni and cheese in front of me. Wrapping my hand around the handle, I scoop a large helping of the macaroni onto my plate. Meanwhile, Uncle Drake goes for the steak and potatoes, putting a side of broccoli on his plate as well. I grab utensils and a few napkins for us.

“Ready?” I ask.

“Yup,” he replies.

He follows behind me as we walk over to a table next to a window. Soon, the cafeteria will be flooded with students and parents, and I’d rather be off to the side than in the center of it all. We place our trays on the table, and then both take a seat. I hand him a napkin and utensils.

“Thank you,” he says, smiling at me. I smile back as butterflies flutter around inside of my stomach.

“You’re welcome,” I say, trying my hardest not to blush. I take a forkful of the macaroni and cheese and put it in my mouth. “Mmm.”

“Is it good?” he asks, chuckling a bit.

“Very. Want to try some?” I ask.

“Sure,” he says as he dips his fork into the cheesy dish. He takes a bite, smiling as he devours it. “That’s actually pretty good.”