I take his hand. “You know that how?” I ask.

His smile gets even bigger. “Casper hasn’t stopped talking about that damn sandwich and cake all day.” He laughs. “Not to mention you, beautiful girl, are the talk of the campus. Everyone, and I mean, everyone, wants to know who the new mystery girl is.” He gives me jazz hands. “Casper is having a fit, telling them all to back off, you’re his,” he says and bumps my shoulder with his.

I scoff. “His, hardly. I just met him and Michael on Saturday. He is, however, helping me. He’s very kind.”

He lets out a full belly laugh. I find myself laughing along with him; it’s that infectious. When he calms down, he says, “You’re just like he described. You’re going to drive him crazy, and I can’t wait to watch it.”

Not really sure what he means, I just shake my head at him. Seeing my confusion, he leans close to me and whispers, “All the ladies fall at his feet, almost as many as his brothers, but you, you’re not. And, I can’t wait to watch my best friend eat a big ole piece of humble pie.” He cackles. Sam has warm, brown eyes, light brown hair, and a very friendly face. I already like him.

The professor walks in and tells us these will be our seats for the rest of the semester and passes out a diagram of the room for us to write our name on where we are sitting. Any group work will be with the person seated next to us, and I’m grateful my table mate chose me.

Sam keeps a running dialog about anything and everything, every second the professor’s not talking. I find him fascinating. He is so full of life.

When class is over, I tell him I’m heading to the union to meet Sniffer, which has him doubled over with laughter when I tell him that Sniffer is Casper, and ask if he’d like to join us.

“Good God, yes. Even if I had to skip class, I wouldn’t miss it.” We walk slowly to the union, and he fills me in on the gossip of every person we pass. By the time we’re there, my whole face is red, and I know more than I ever wanted to about my classmates. I think he’s making half of it up just to see me squirm.

MASEN

There’s a knock on my door, and I’m hoping it’s not Roxanne. Fuck, I need to stop sleeping with her. Then, she’d stop acting like my girlfriend. I’ve told her I don’t feel that way for her anymore, but I keep having sex with her. She knows I sleep with other women, but she doesn’t seem to mind. I can’t blame her for assuming. Other than not sleeping over or coming to my house, I still treat her the same. Old habits are hard to break.

Opening the door, I find a pensive-looking Casper. His hands are deep in his pockets, and his shoulders slump forward. “What’s up, Cass? You need a drink?” I ask when he comes in and sits down.