“I’m sure he’d like that. He hates the hospital food. His appetite isn’t much these days.”

Mom nodded, and I was willing to bet that Uncle D got a hot meal from her every day from now on. She, however, never mentioned Crawford or asked about my visit with him. I figured Slate’s being here had her keeping quiet about that.

“I was hoping Knox could make it home tonight. He didn’t have time to stop by the other day and it’s not easy with y’all both being gone,” Momma said, looking down at her food.

“Yeah, me and Michea aren’t enough to keep her happy. If Michea and Hazel would hurry up and get hitched and shoot out some kids, then she’d have something else to worry over. The girls are getting too big now, and she needs a baby to tend to.” Dylan was teasing, but there was truth to his words.

“Leave your momma alone. She’s doing just fine. We’re all glad Vale is off at school and living her life again. Ain’t no one wishing she hadn’t gone,” Dad piped up before soaking his corn bread in turnip greens and taking a bite.

“How are classes?” Catherine asked me, changing the subject before the boys could keep on.

“Good. Harder than I was prepared for, but I’m managing.”

“So how is Knox adjusting to the frat house life?” Michea directed his question to Slate.

The rest of the dinner went just as smoothly. Slate laughed at stories my brothers told about my childhood, and although some were very embarrassing, it was making Slate laugh so I let it go.

* * *

WHEN WE LEFT, both my parents told Slate to come back anytime. That he didn’t need me to get a good meal. For that, I hugged my parents. Simply because they had no idea what they had offered him. Something he’d never really had. A big family.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

EVERLY WAS NOT happy. It wasn’t a guessing game as to why she was angry, either. I was a good roommate. I overlooked the pitch-black windows when the sunshine should be lighting the room so I could see to get dressed, and the fact I had no space in the bathroom for my things, and the way she left her shoes and clothing draped all over the place—even my bed at times. Heck, I even accepted the furry pink pillow and ridiculous paintings she hung around the room.

So she had no reason to be mad at me. But she was. And it was all because of Slate. He had begun picking me up in the morning and walking me to my first class. I didn’t think much about it, other than it was really nice and saved me from going without coffee, because he always brought me some. However, the rest of the dorm was buzzing about it, because Slate Allen didn’t do this.

But he was doing it with me.

Telling people we were just friends didn’t seem right, either, because we were dating now. Not exclusively, but we were dating. I tried not to think about the exclusive thing too much. I didn’t want to know who else he was seeing. For now, he seemed to be seeing only me.

* * *

WHEN I CAME out of the bathroom the next Friday morning, Everly stood at the door with her hand on it like she wasn’t going to let me leave the room. She was normally in bed at this time yelling at me to be quiet.

“Why you? What, do you have a magic vagina or something? Do you give world-class blow jobs? I mean, what is the deal here? I am a hundred times more attractive than you. I am fuck-worthy. Look at me!” She waved her hand down her body as if I should be taken in by the sight. “So why is he seeing you over and over again? Slate Allen doesn’t do that. He is a one-time fuck. Everyone knows that.”

I knew the guy of whom we spoke was waiting on me downstairs. He had just sent me a text.

“Move, Everly. I have a class to get to.”

Her face grew bright red and she slapped the door. “Answer me, damn it!”

I’d seen her pitch fits before, but this one was on its way to being her worst yet. “Possibly because I don’t act like this.”

She looked confused. “Like what?”

“A psycho bitch. Now move.”

“Did you just call me a bitch?” she roared loudly. I was beginning to wonder who all could hear this and if a crowd had gathered outside our room to listen.

“Don’t forget the psycho. That’s really important.”

Her eyes flashed pure hate, and I wondered if I had gone too far. I had never in my life been in a fight and I didn’t want to have my first one now.

“You’ll regret that. I always get what I want. Always.”

That was a threat that didn’t even make sense. What did she want? Slate? She was in for disappointment.

“Noted. Can I leave now?”

She rolled her eyes and stepped away from the door.

When I opened it, three of the girls down our hall were standing there with big eyes, listening. I had figured as much. This would be all over campus by lunchtime. I’d have to tell Slate about it. As silly as it was.

Slate held out my coffee as I climbed into his Jeep. “You’re late.”

I was typically very punctual. “Everly” was my explanation before I took my first drink of coffee.

“Getting ready in the dark again,” he said, already knowing my normal Everly woes.

“Nope. I have that mastered. Today she got up to threaten me about you. She’s not happy about this,” I said, pointing at the two of us. “You aren’t supposed to see a girl more than once.”

Slate chuckled. “Yeah, she’s a bit wack. That’s why it took me a year to even give in to her constant flirting and just get it over with.”

“Very romantic,” I drawled.

He shrugged. “That’s me. Mr. Romance.”

I smirked and sipped more coffee. I wasn’t rested enough for this class and I had a full day, then work tonight. I would finally be working without Mae, and I was nervous but looking forward to the tips.

“You working tonight?” he asked, and I nodded.

I almost expected him to ask what time I got off, but he didn’t. He stayed quiet and we drank our coffee in silence. When he drove up to the building that was my stop, he leaned toward me. “Come here.”

I met him halfway and he kissed me. The kind I’d come to expect every morning. The kind that made it hard to walk to class with his taste on my tongue and his scent still surrounding me. This was my favorite part of the morning.

“I’ll see you later,” he whispered against my lips as the kiss ended.

All I could do was nod. My breathing was still a little erratic. The best way to snap out of this was to think about how kissing Crawford had never made me feel this way. It was what I had finally come to acknowledge while walking to my morning classes. It sobered me and reminded me that my life was changing. I was happy again. Without Crawford.

I hadn’t thought that was possible. To enjoy life without him. But I had my memories. Our childhood was a good one and those memories would always be there. Sometimes life throws changes our way that make us stronger and show us we don’t always know what is best.

Sitting down in class, I got my laptop out of my book bag so I could get settled before the professor arrived. I had a routine. Set up my laptop, sign on to the Internet, and get my coffee in the right spot.

“She isn’t the only one. He’s taking Babs to the Kappa Sigma party tonight. All she’s talked about all week is Slate Allen asking her out. I think they’re just friends. Maybe she’s a lesbian.”

The whisper had been a mock one. The girl wanted to act as if she didn’t want me to overhear her, but the pitch in her voice said she definitely wanted my attention. If that was meant to hurt me or upset me, she had succeeded. Not because Slate was doing anything wrong—he had made it clear that this wasn’t exclusive. Simply because for me he was it. I couldn’t kiss him and then go date someone else. I didn’t want to. But he did. That hurt.