Page 42 of Fly's Path

“Mind-numbingly boring. It’s like this professor practices his monotone voice on us. I almost fell asleep four times, and I wasn’t even tired.”

What would she look like sleeping?

Lola isn’t one of them. I know this. If Fly needs to do a deep dive into Lola’s past to reassure himself, I’m fine with that…mostly. Another man getting to know the woman I’m dating…dating…Are we really dating? Not officially, but I want us to be official.

How can I think about getting serious with a woman who I keep wondering if she’s going to be the cause of my death? “Do you want to get lunch or go for a coffee first?”

She spins around, facing me. “How are you here?”

Isn’t it obvious? “Food first.”

“No. Answer me. How are you always here? I get you taking me on occasion. Even getting coffee with me every morning. How are you here all the time? When are you going to class?”

I’m not. The classes I registered for are only for cover in case someone checks. This isn’t about getting another degree. It’s about catching a drug dealer.

But I can’t tell her that. “It doesn’t matter.”

Her hands go to her hips.

Don’t smirk. She won’t like you smirking at her puppy-like angry face.

“It does matter. You’re in college. It’s hard to actually learn when you don’t go to class.”

Like I’m going to learn anything new here. I shrug.

“You’re not going to be here for me.” She shakes her head. “That’s not acceptable. You can’t just miss classes because of a beautiful girl. This is your future we’re talking about.” Lola is definitely cute when her nose wrinkles in consternation.

“So we both agree that you’re beautiful.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.” She leans into me, then remembers she’s irritated and stands straight up again.

“That’s a fact, not flattery. Now, if I wanted to flatter you, I would say that your eyes sparkle like constellations in the sky, leading my heart on an epic journey into tomorrow. Or I could say that your smile makes my heart joyful. Or I—”

Lola puts a finger on my lips, giggling. “You’re ridiculous, do you know that?”

I kiss her finger. “You’re ridiculously beautiful.”

She shakes her head. “You need to start going to class.” Her stomach rumbles.

“What I need to do is feed you. Where would you like to eat?”

“Van, this conversation isn’t over. You can’t spend all your time with me.”

Just watch me. “How about we head over to the student center, and you can pick what you want?”

She raises an eyebrow at me, but takes my hand in hers. “Fine, feed me first. It’ll give me energy to fight with you, because I am not letting this go. Even if I have to walk you to class.”

Cuteness overcomes common sense, and I lean down and kiss the upturned tip of her pert little nose.

***

“You know, you don’t have to carry my tray.” Lola sets a salad down on the already loaded-down plastic.

I raise an eyebrow at her, but mostly at the amount of food she’s planning to eat…or waste. There’s more than I could eat in two meals, and I’m a little over six feet tall and probably a hundred pounds heavier than her.

“Fine, do you want something sweet?” She wanders over to the bakery counter. “I probably shouldn’t. I’m bound to get something after the gym this evening.”

The gym? “You work out?”