The closest store is almost an hour away on foot, and I can’t drive.
Wonderful.
I guess the cafeteria will have to do for now. Plus, I still have a few protein bars and my water bottle in my bag. Some habits you never grow out of, and this one has never done me wrong.
I head back to the table I’ve dubbed mine and can't fight the disappointment I feel when I find it’s empty.
I knew it was too good to be true, and I’d just gotten done telling myself that I didn’t need those kinds of distractions, but even knowing that, my heart feels heavier.
It’s silly considering he’s a stranger, but emotions are one of those things I’ll never understand.
Shoving my hurt feelings down with the rest of my not-so-fun feelings—totally healthy, I know—I get to my studies.
I only last about thirty minutes when my stomach is all but screaming at me, even having eaten my protein bar.
I guess all this nice food has spoiled me and made my body used to eating more than just crumbs.
With a groan of annoyance, I begin to pack up but only make it so far as to shove my laptop in my bag before a dark figure catches my attention from the corner of my eye.
Gloves.
I look up and find he’s still dressed in his all-black, gloves included, but in his gloved hands is a cup carrier with two to-go cups and a little bag that screams food.
“Leaving so soon?” he asks, cocking a brow at me as he looks down at my bag that my laptop sticks half out of.
Before I can answer, my stomach does the honors, grumbling loudly. I close my eyes and shake my head, exasperated, really.
When I peel them back open, he’s moving toward the table, a smirk on his face that makes me want to either hit him or kiss him; I can’t really decide.
“I guess I got here just in time then.”
He sets down the carrier and pulls one cup free, holding it out for me.
I stand, frozen in place, my mouth opening and closing like I’m a fish out of water.
“I promise I didn’t poison it.” He extends his arm fully, and while it sounds like a joke, something rings in his words. As if he really thinks I would expect that of him.
That’s silly, considering he’s only ever been nice to me, but I can also see how someone might worry about that given his appearance.
For just a moment, there’s sadness in his eyes, and that’s all it takes to get me moving. I lean across the table and take the cup from his hand, frowning at him.
“I didn’t think you would. Don’t be ridiculous.”
His face doesn’t change, his lips still set in a firm line as he watches me, but something shifts. He lights up, and I know I said the right thing.
“Why, though?” I ask as I drop back into my chair, sniffing my drink to try and figure out what it is.
He drops into the chair opposite me, the same one he sat in last time, reaching into the bag, and I try not to seem overly curious.
“It’s a mocha Dubai latte. I wasn’t sure what you would like, but I figured chocolate and caffeine are a good guess,” he says with a shrug as he pulls out two cylinders wrapped in foil.
Ugh, I know Dubai chocolate is such an over-hyped thing, but I’d never gotten to try it before, not with the way Auntie monitored my diet to keep me ‘thin and appealing.’
In my haste, I take a swig and promptly burn the hell out of my tongue, nearly spitting the little bit I did manage to get all over the place.
“Shit,” I choke out as I cough and wipe my mouth.
“Excited?” He pushes one of the foil things my way, and I look down at it in question before I glance back up at him to find him unwrapping his.
