Christos blurted out a short laugh. “Sorry, bro. No dice. Samantha’s with me.” Christos smiled, not a hint of doubt in his tone.
“For now,” Hunter growled.
“Dude, relax,” Christos smiled. “I see what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to get me all worked up, maybe get me to throw a punch at you.”
A dark smile crept across Hunter’s face.
“But I’m not in the mood. I just finished working out. I want to go have dinner with my girlfriend, and my good friend Romeo.”
Romeo brightened when he heard that.
“So do us a favor,” Christos continued, “go find Marjorie, and take her out to dinner. From what Samantha has told me, you’ll probably have her in bed before dessert.” He paused thoughtfully. “You know how they say that women reach the sexual peak between thirty-five and forty-five?”
Hunter didn’t answer. Instead, his smile darkened further.
Christos continued, “By that statistic, Marjorie is peaking. Like, totally at her best. You’ll probably bang her ten times tonight. I always preferred fucking over fighting anyway. Go get Marjorie, man,” Christos said with total sincerity, “You’ll have a blast.”
Hunter nodded sarcastically. He took a step forward, his weight on the balls of his feet. “You’re a pussy. You’re afraid to fight.”
Hunter was insane.
CHRISTOS
“Do I look afraid?” I asked Hunter, holding my ground.
Hunter chuckled at me. “Yeah, I totally smell pussy.” He took another step toward me.
I sighed. I was out on bail. I didn’t need this shit. “Dude, I’m not going to fight you.”
“Because you’re all bark and no bite, bitch.”
“Come on, Hunter. When have I barked at you? I’m trying to help you out. Me and Samantha are tight. Marjorie Bittinger, who is hot and ready to fuck your shit, is waiting for you back in the Visual Arts building.”
Hunter frowned. “How do you know that?”
Christos sighed, “Because I know where the sculpting studio is, where Marjorie teaches. So quit stalling, and go get her, man.”
Hunter shook his head slowly, his grin widening into a predatory smile. All fangs.
I rolled my eyes at him. I would be happy to tear this guy up, but there was no way I was doing it on campus, in front of Samantha and Romeo. If Hunter wanted to sign a waiver and go into the ring, I’d be all over it. But I could tell he was psyching himself up, trying to convince himself that I was afraid, and now was his opportunity to get me out of his way and get to Samantha.
Really?
Hunter took another step forward.
“Samantha, Romeo,” I said, “Please back up. Hunter is not going to be happy until he gets his way.”
“What?” Samantha gasped. “No, don’t, Christos.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured. “This will be quick.” I pulled off my hoodie and tossed it to Samantha. Maybe if Hunter saw me pumped up, fresh from the gym, saw all my ink on my arms, he might finally back down.
“Quick for you,” Hunter snarled at me.
Nope, he was an idiot. I rested my hands on my hips casually. “Please, dude,” I laughed, “do something already.”
Hunter’s hands curled into fists. He wasn’t sure what to do.
“Now or never,” I said.
Hunter took a step forward, but he was still a mile away from being a threat.
“Okay, man, I’m tired of waiting. I’ve got shit to do.” I turned to Samantha, knowing what was coming.
Hunter charged my back.
I sank and pivoted on the ball of one foot while sliding my other leg out with my toes curled up to hook around his ankle.
I tripped him.
Hunter spilled into the dirt on the side of the trail, kicking up dust and fallen Eucalyptus leaves.
Romeo and Samantha laughed.
“Chill, you guys,” I said. “Let’s go.”
Hunter sat up, his face covered with dirt.
I hoped he’d skinned his knees like the child he was.
With my arm around Samantha and Romeo at our side, the three of us walked down the pathway together.
“You guys hungry?” I asked, taking my hoodie from Samantha and sliding my arms through the sleeves.
“Hungry for you!” Samantha said when we were out of Hunter’s earshot. “Rawr!”
I chuckled.
“Me too!” Romeo said. “Double rawr!”
“We need to find you a man, Romeo,” I said.
Romeo smiled bashfully at me. “How about you, C-Man?”
“Dude, you would totally break my shit in half,” I smiled confidently. “I meant a man who could actually handle you.” I winked at Romeo and slapped him good-naturedly on the back.
Romeo laughed. “You hear that, Sam? Christos has finally confirmed what I’ve been telling you all along. I’m too much of a man for even the manliest men!” Romeo pumped his fist and jumped, bicycling his feet in the air.
Samantha chuckled at him.
“What do you guys want to eat?” I asked. “I’m buying.”
“You!” Samantha and Romeo chorused before looking at each other and laughing.
We walked to the Student Center together.
Chapter 21
SAMANTHA
The next day at school was a long one. I had classes all day and a shift at the art museum afterward.
When I got off work, I was exhausted and starving. At least with my two jobs, I felt like I had enough money to eat right. No more protein bars for lunch and Mac & Cheese or Ramen for dinner.
On the way home from SDU, I treated myself to take-out in the form of a Carne Asada burrito with extra guacamole from Roberto’s.
Of all the various “-berto’s” taquerias in San Diego: Royberto’s, Rolberto’s, Rigoberto’s, Alberto’s, Tio- Alberto’s, Filiburto’s, Gualberto’s, Nolberto’s, and all the rest, Roberto’s was by far the best.
Even though it seemed like most everything else in my life was dragging me down, at least I didn’t have to go hungry.
When I got to my apartment I dropped my bags by the door, grabbed a plate for my burrito, and sat down at my kitchen table. I pulled my burrito out of its paper sack and unwrapped it. My mouth was watering in anticipation. I’d been looking forward to this all afternoon.
As I lifted the savory burrito to my mouth, my phone bleeped. I set my burrito down and got up to pull my phone out of my purse.
My parents. Great. I suddenly had indigestion.
I answered on speaker phone. “Hello?” I sat back down at the kitchen table and took a huge bite of burrito. I was too hungry to wait any longer, even if it was my parents.
“Hello, Sam? It’s your father.”
Duh. Who else could he be? “Hey, Dad,” I mumbled around food. Mmmm, Carne Asada.
