Page 26 of Twilight of Embers
“Are you all right? You seemed…distracted.”
Crap. Crap. Triple crap.
“Sorry. I guess I’m still getting used to college life. I’ll do better next class.”
Maddox’s eyes narrowed on me in a similar fashion as Easton’s earlier. As if he were searching for any hints of a lie. “If you need help with anything, Knox would be happy to assist you.”
Why did it sting that he wasn’t offering his own assistance?
“I’m okay. Really. I’m excited about this class. I’ll be more focused next time.” I had to be.
A hint of amusement flickered in Maddox’s amber eyes. “Be sure that you are, Ms. Parrish.”
There was something about him using my last name. As if he were trying to create distance between us, but at the same time, the moniker held a sultry promise.
And I was pretty sure that an entire semester with Maddox as my professor might actually make me combust.
14
HAYDEN
My eyes burned as the wind whipped around me, cutting through my flimsy jacket. I pulled it tighter around me as I headed off campus and toward Ember Hollow’s picturesque downtown. The Old West feel would’ve been a lot more adorable if I wasn’t exhausted.
My first day had been beyond long. I shared three classes with my roommate, who’d made a show of whispering loudly about me to her friends. Thankfully, I only had the one with Easton. But who knew what tomorrow would bring.
The workload at Evergreen was no joke. I’d have to stay up until midnight, at least, just to finish the reading. I didn’t want to think about what would happen when tests and exams rolled around.
I turned onto Bitter Brush Street, the main thoroughfare through town. The wind stung my cheeks, and I picked up my pace. The sign for Spark’s Diner had an adorable scrawl to it with little fireworks around the words.
I’d combed the classifieds over lunch, and this was the best opening available. I just hoped my four years of waitressing experience would land me the gig.
Grabbing the handle, I opened the door, an antique bell tinkling. I quickly stepped inside and let the warmth swirl around me. There were a few groups of students at booths and a mother with two young kids, but the space was far from crowded.
“How can I help ya, darlin’?” a husky female voice asked.
My gaze moved to the owner of the voice. She looked to be in her sixties or seventies, with lines around her eyes, and white combed through her blonde hair that was pulled back in a braid.
I crossed to the counter, forcing a wide smile. “I’d like to apply for the waitress position.”
As I got closer, the woman’s nostrils flared, and her eyes widened. “Al-all right.” She cleared her throat. “I’m Fiona, and this is my place.”
“Nice to meet you, Fiona. I’m Hayden. I worked in a café for four years back home.” I slid my backpack off my shoulder and worked open my falling-apart zipper to pull out a piece of paper. “Here’s my résumé with references.”
Fiona’s brows lifted as she took the paper. “Very professional.”
I shrugged. “I need a job. I wanted to give myself the best shot.”
Something in the woman’s expression softened at that, and she turned to scan the sheet. “Looks good to me. When can you start?”
I blinked a few times. “That’s it?”
She shrugged. “You know how to work a register?”
I nodded.
“Can you carry a tray without dropping it?”
I nodded again.
