When a server makes an appearance and dishes out food we didn’t order, the guys tuck in.
I, on the other hand, ask, “Excuse me, I never ordered this.”
“No, ma’am. This was pre-ordered for you.”
“Well, I don’t eat things that I don’t choose. So, please, can I have an egg-white omelet?”
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll see to that.”
Wynter requests, “I’d like avocado toast on sourdough, please.”
“Certainly.”
The guys frown at us but keep on eating.
When the server fades away, I notice the guy from the counter has disappeared. Pondering that, I shift tacks and decide to mess with the others’ heads by smirking at them.
Ian, of course, scowls. “Why are you so smug?”
“Because you’re sheep.” I settle my hands on my stomach. “I have a feeling this year’s class of initiates has underwhelmed.”
“Gee, ya think?” Wynter muses. “That’s a shame too. I share a lot of classes with Jerry. He needs to up his game because he’s smart enough to take it all the way.”
“You really?—”
“What the hell would he bring to the table?” Harrison Franklin demands.
“Brains?” I scoff. “More than you have. We were in that innovation and strategy course together, weren’t we? You failed if I remember. Didn’t you come onto the professor?”
“Bitch—”
“Now, now. Don’t be overemotional, Harrison.”
“I’m not. You can’t just insult me and think you can get away with it.”
My lips curve. “Says who?”
He throws down his napkin. “I’m not sitting here to listen to this bullshit.”
I waft my fingers at him. “Au revoir.”
A couple of the other guys take off after him, with Ian calling out, “Wait up, Harrison!”
Only Jerry remains.
“Are you always such a bitch?” he inquires as he takes a bite of the eggs he didn’t order while sipping on a coffee he didn’t ask for.
“No, only when I’m surrounded by podcast bros who need a girlfriend to tell them to wipe their own asses.”
Wynter snorts coffee through her nose and then starts coughing.
I grin at her, then grace Jerry with a kind smile. “You have to fake it ‘til you make it, Jerry. How do you feel about heading someplace with Wynter and me after this?”
“Someplace where?” His tone’s wary. But I get it. This is dog eat dog and I’m not afraid to get munching.
Unless it’s on Salome.
I have standards.
