“That dress,” he says, a small smile on his lips. “You know how much I love you in it.” His hand slides off the bed as he wraps it around the back of my knee, sliding it weakly up my thigh.
I smile. “I was hoping you’d notice.”
“I notice everything about you, baby.”
His hand continues to move up my bare skin until he reaches my ass and the strap of my thong.
“Fuck,” he hisses. “See now you’re just being mean.” I laugh, stepping away, causing his hand to drop again.
“You just get better. Drink your water, try the crackers and the broth, and see how you feel. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Did I tell you how much I love my girlfriend?” he says.
“I love you too.” I giggle, grabbing the bag I left on the dresser before stepping out of the room.
Roman’s door is wide open. He lays sprawled on his bed wearing a hoodie and sweatpants.
“Hey, Zee,” he says, looking directly at me.
“I brought you soup,” I say, handing him the bag. “Crackers, and some sanitizer.”
“You’re the best.” He sits up in his bed and reaches for the bag.
“It still a little warm. Do you need anything? I’ll be back in a few hours with Jordan’s laptop.”
“No, I think I’m finally on the other end of this bullshit. Starting to feel a little better.”
“Good,” I say. “Well, I'll see ya in bit.”
Cradling the folder and Jordan’s dirty soup bowl, I walk to the kitchen and wash it out before heading out the house.
Fifteen minutes later, I pull into the parking lot of the science building. I hated seeing Jordan so ill. But if he has the same thing Roman has he should be feeling better in the next day or two. Roe got sick two days before Jordan did so hopefully Jordan has seen the worst of it at this point. I look across the parking lot at the building as vapors from the hot sun causes the air to look wavy. Groaning, I turn my car off and get out. I can’t wait for fall. My feet move quickly across the hot asphalt and I climb the stairs to enter the building. I’m almost inside when, of all people, Lucas appears behind the glass doors.
“Xia?” he says, opening the door.
“Hey.” I smile. “How are you?” The door glides closed behind him as we stand under the awning. Would it be rude if I asked him to go back inside to talk?
“It’s been a while,” he says. “But I’m good. Sucks I haven’t seen you around, though.”
His smile is just as dazzling as it was on our date and I feel bad for cutting him off the way I did. He texted me a few times after that night and I always made very short replies, brushing him off. Either telling him I wasn’t feeling well, or I was too busy with summer courses. He seems like a great guy and he really didn’t deserve that.
“Yeah,” I say, pushing my hands through my hair. “I’m sorry. To be honest, I started dating someone. It was really unexpected, but I just felt kind of awkward telling you.”
“Oh,” he says, expelling a long breath. “No, this is good. I mean, it sucks that I can’t date you now, but I was thinking I might have done something to make you run away.”
“No, not at all,” I say as the guilt settles in. “The date was amazing, Lucas, one of the best I’ve ever had. I think we could have been nice together, but I’ve been in love with this other guy for a while and—”
“Say no more,” he says. “Seriously, I’m okay now that I know I’m not repulsive.”
I laugh. “No, you definitely aren’t repulsive.” Sweat starts to roll down my back and I shift my shoulders uncomfortably.
“Well, I’ll let you get out of this heat,” he says. “See you around.”
“Later,” I say, then I open the glass door and head inside.
It’s colder in here than outside, but not cool enough. I make my way down the hall , using the envelope to fan the hair that is starting to stick to my face. Most of the doors are shut and besides a few students dashing to classes, the hall is pretty empty. I press the elevator button, which turns yellow, signaling my ride.
Once upstairs, I head directly to Satchi’s office. The closer I get the more I start to worry about the envelope, wondering what’s inside, and how it may look to Satchi. Hopefully Jordan wouldn’t give me anything as important as a test or student papers. Even though the envelope is sealed I worry that Satchi may become curious. This may be an innocent favor for my boyfriend, but I’m still his student and me delivering test packets definitely crosses a line. My nerves are prickling as I close in on the last two doors in the hall. I’m just about there, but as I approach the door across the hall opens and Felicia steps out, clutching two large textbooks.
“Oh, look who it is,” she says, pursing her lips at me. I decide to keep walking. “What are you doing up here? Trying to steal something else?”
Her words strike a nerve. I stop and turn to her. “I didn’t steal him from you. You never had him.”
“That’s right, because you are the little snake in the grass who was waiting to strike the entire time.”
“Goodness. He doesn’t want you, Felicia. You’re just making yourself look stupid attacking me about it.”
“Oh no, baby, he wants me. You do realize we always get back together, right? We fight, breakup, he gets bored with whoever he’s with, and comes back.”
“Not true,” I say. “You’ve just been a placeholder for me.”
“Ha! Good one.” She fakes a laugh. “You’re just a curious little itch he’s always wanted to scratch. They never admit it, but all guys at one point or another have wanted to fuck their female best friend. It’s just a fact.” She shrugs, lifting her chin. “He hates complicated, and you darling, are it.” She giggles. “Jordan always comes back to me because his heart won’t let him stay away. You’ve been around long enough to know that it’s just a matter of time. So enjoy it while it lasts.”
“Get a life, you miserable bitch,” I say before shaking my head and walking to Satchi’s office.
Satchi sits with his arms folded, speaking into the camera next to him when I walk in. I stop in my tracks, embarrassment washing over me for interrupting whatever video he’s trying to make. The second he hears me, he presses a button on a remote he was holding and the camera beeps, ending his recording.
“I’m sorry, Professor, I don’t mean to interrupt,” I say, approaching his desk. “I’m Xia Teller, Jordan’s girlfriend. He’s been sick with a stomach virus and asked me to bring this envelope to you.”
“Oh yes,” he says, closing his laptop. “He texted me about it earlier.” I hand him the folder and he immediately opens it, ripping off the tape, then squeezing the small metal prong.
I stand there watching as he pulls a small stack of papers from the inside and flips through them.
“Great,” he says. “That’s everything.”
“Good. He said to tell you that he’d be back as soon as possible.”
A pinch forms in Satchi’s brow as he looks from me to the envelope. “Have you opened this?" he says.