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“And you’re Tempest...” I waited for her to fill in her last name.

“Yes.” That was it. Just yes.

Behind me, I heard Gryff trying not to laugh. Jerk.

“Your donkey just crashed our pep rally,” I pointed out, wondering what it would take to get her to actually look at me. “Almost took out half the chemistry department.”

“Again, not my donkey at this particular moment.” She reached down to scratch behind its ears, her book never wavering. “Though I suppose I should reclaim him before he decides to join one of the athletic teams. Those are some impressive moves he’s got.”

Was she making fun of me?

“Better moves than some of your running backs, boys,” Artemis chimed in, dropping into the chair next to Tempest’s. “You should bring him to one of the women’s rugby team practices, Freddie.”

Now, Artemis was definitely making fun of me as she fucking flirted with Freddie while I couldn’t even get Tempest to look at me.

“?Mira!” Freddie held up her phone. “Isak’s video already has ten thousand views! The donkey’s wings look so cool when he runs.”

“Fantastic.” Tempest’s tone suggested it was anything but. “I can’t wait to explain this to the farm sanctuary.”

“I can help with that,” I found myself offering. “I mean, I can explain that it wasn’t your fault. Or his fault. It was just a series of unfortunate?—”

“Events?” She actually looked up then, one eyebrow raised. Her eyes were dark and sharp behind black-framed glasses, and they saw way too much. “Did you just quote Lemony Snicket to me, Flynn Kingman?”

“I... might have.” I hadn’t meant to. “I have a little sister who reads a lot.”

“Hmm.” Those eyes stayed on mine for a moment longer than was comfortable, like she was reading something she didn’t quite believe.

Then they dropped back to her book. “Well, thank you for the offer, but I can handle the sanctuary staff. And Freddie can handle cleaning out the stalls for the next month as penance.”

“What? No.” Freddie flopped dramatically across her sister’s legs. “Tempest, no. I have games, and practice, and studying.”

“Should have thought about that before you borrowed him without asking.” But Tempest’s free hand dropped to smooth her sister’s hair, the gesture automatic and affectionate. “Also, you’re crushing my book.”

“I’ll help her,” Artemis offered, grinning. “I love animals. And watching Freddie suffer.”

“Aww, that’s our Artie,” Gryffin laughed. “Always looking out for the downtrodden, but cute AF soccer players of the world. ”

“Someone has to.” Tempest’s voice held a note of steel under the casual tone. “Since her big sister clearly can’t keep her out of trouble.”

Ouch. Self-burn. Those were rare.

I tried one more time, not sure why I was still trying except that something about this girl fascinated me. “The boys and I are doing our gaming live stream on Saturday. You should come. Bring the donkey. Fairly sure those wings make him lucky, and trust me, you need all the luck you can get.”

“Video game night?” She actually looked up at that, one eyebrow raised. “With the boys?”

“Afraid you can’t handle a little competition?” I hadn’t mentioned that my brothers’ girlfriends Penelope and Willa joined us most weekends. Because I was gonna win this girl over with my best smile, the one that usually got me exactly what I wanted. “Or just afraid of losing?”

“Pass.” She turned another page. “But thanks.”

“She has plans,” Freddie stage whispered. “Very important plans that involve her fav—ow.”

Tempest had pinched her sister’s leg.

“Right.” I rocked back on my heels, weirdly disappointed. “Well, if you change your mind...”

“I won’t.” She finally glanced up again, and this time there was something almost kind in her expression. “But have fun with the boys.”

She went back to her book before I could respond. The donkey looked between us, gave a tiny snort, and snuggled closer to her chair.

Even the livestock was ghosting me. That was new .

“Come on, lover boy.” Gryff clapped me on the shoulder. “We gotta get those 40-yard dash times down before the combine. Artie, you coming to run sprints?”

“Can’t.” Artemis stood, stretching. “Got a date with a pretty bio-chem major. But save me a spot at game night tomorrow?”

“Sure. As long as you know you’re going down.”

I let my brother pull me away from the coffee shop, but I looked back once, twice, and maybe a third time.

Tempest had shifted in her chair, making room for both Freddie and the donkey to lean against her legs while she read.

She looked... content. Like the chaos of the last twenty minutes hadn’t touched her at all.

“Stop staring,” Gryff muttered. “She’s not interested.”

“I wasn’t?—”

“Sure.” He grinned at me. “Just like I’m not interested in watching Artemis tackle all those thick-thighed rugby girls.”

“Shut up.” I shoved him ahead of me. “Let’s go practice. Maybe the donkey will show up and give Xander some competition for his spot in the draft,” I said, even as we headed for the field, and I definitely forgot all about that tiny-winged donkey and a girl who wouldn’t look up from her book.

I had approximately fifteen weeks until graduation, and that gave me and my one girl for two-weeks plan a good seven more college women’s beds to get into. And there were plenty of DSU Dragonette’s who would squeal for a chance to let me give them beard burn between their thighs .

Plenty to whom I was more interesting than a damn book.

Although, I doubted any of them would have a donkey.