Page 2 of Palm South University: Season 2

“I’M JUST SAYING, YOU’RE NOT LIVINGif you’ve never tried a finger in the ass before,” Jess says with a shrug, not the least bit ashamed, just as I reach the small table in the middle of our campus coffee shop.

I blink, dropping my bag into the only open chair. “Well, conversation at Joe’s has certainly progressed.”

Jess smirks, waggling her eyebrows at Ashlei who just shakes her head. I try to fight back my own smile, but give up when Jess starts fingering her donut.

“Gross, J-Love!” Erin tosses her napkin and it hits Jess square in the nose, but she just laughs and keeps violating her pastry.

Cup O’ Joe’s is a small coffee house, dimly lit and walls peppered with local student art. The open roof and piping paired with the wood and rustic furniture give it a modern, hip vibe. It’s one of my favorite places on campus to study, and I talked the girls into meeting for coffee this morning before my second class. Spring semester has already kicked off and we had yet to all be together outside of sisterhood functions, so I wanted us to make time to catch up.

Jess demonstrating anal on a glazed donut wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

“I think I’m with Jess on this one,” Skyler chimes in. “I mean, I’m not saying it needs to get crazy. Just a little boop, you know what I mean?” Skyler and Bo crack up laughing while Erin covers her face with her hands. Ashlei smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her soft brown eyes. She seems off.

“I’m grabbing coffee. Anyone need a refill?”

They all shake their heads, holding up full cups. Retrieving my wallet from my Vera Bradley messenger bag, I take my place in line, scanning the menu.

It feels kind of strange being back at Palm South, especially after how my first semester ended. I shift at the thought of Clay and Paris, but shake it off quickly. Winter Break was my time to regroup. I opened up to my older sister about what happened – everything from losing my best friend to losing my v-card to a complete douchebag. Surprisingly, she had some pretty great advice. The best piece being that, at least for freshman year, I should just avoid boys in general and focus on myself.

So that’s exactly what I’m doing.

No boys, no drama — that’s the way it works. And I am more than looking forward to being drama-free.

“Excuse me,” a smooth voice says over my shoulder. I turn in place, swallowing when I see the exotic creature the voice belongs to. “Just going out on a limb here, but are you by chance a caramel latte girl?”

My mouth is so dry.Why can’t I swallow? Is it hot in here? Oh God, I hope I’m not sweating.

I’mtotallysweating.

Of course, this creature picks the semester I choose to be boy-free to waltz up behind me in line at the coffee shop. His long chestnut hair is pulled back into a messy bun, giving me full access to stare into his glorious blue eyes. They’re peppered with flecks of gold, and I’m sure he’s some sort of god. He’s just standing there, crooked smile beneath his beard, tattoos lining the muscles of his right forearm like a warning sign to the mortals. The way the sun is streaming through the tinted windows of the coffee shop illuminate him in a way that lets me know I’d be cursed if I touched him.

Probably dead if he touched me.

He clears his throat, cocking one brow. “Is that a no, or did I forget to put pants on again?” He chuckles, but I squeeze my eyes tight.

Do NOT think about him without pants on, Cassie.

“Sorry. I, uh, no.” I shake my head, nervously reaching for a strand of my fiery red hair to twirl. “I mean, yes, I like caramel lattes, but no, you can’t buy me one.”

“Good thing I didn’t buy these.” He holds up the two cups in his hands.

I’m confused.

“I work here,” he says, gesturing to the small stage on the book store side of the shop. A lone guitar is propped up against a tall metal bar stool and I stare at it a moment, blink, and then find his eyes again.

Ofcoursehe plays guitar. Of course he does.

“They give me a free drink when I play, and they accidentally made two cups. So, I have this extra one, and I figured it’d be better served in the hands of a pretty girl than getting cold at my feet while I play.” He smiles, this time showing a row of beautiful teeth that make me forget how to breathe.

“Well, I appreciate it, but I can’t take your coffee.”

He frowns. “Why not?”

“Because you’re a boy.”

“That is a fact,” he says with a soft laugh. It’s a soothing sound, the sort of laugh that makes me feel like I can trust him.

I blush just as the girl in front of me leaves the counter and it’s my turn to order. “Exactly. So, thanks, but no thanks.” I offer one last smile before turning to place my order. I still feel him behind me, his godliness just radiating off of him, but I don’t dare turn around. He finally chuckles, and I feel him leave, which allows me to finally release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.