Someone had explained it to me, and I had immediately tuned out all the jargon that was being flounced around, because I honestly didn’t care. Instead, I made it all the way out of the building and then decided that I was in desperate need of some stress relief. I dialed Carlos and when he picked up, he laughed.

“Let me guess, you have a new scene you need to work out? That one last night was epic, girl. If that doesn’t make the reading world’s panties wet, I don’t know what will.”

“Thanks for the confidence boost. Actually, I just really need some stress relief right about now. Are you free tonight?”

“I wish I was, babe, but I have that party tonight. I need the cash for tuition next semester.”

“Damn it, why can’t college be free?”

“Preach it loud, babe, then maybe someone important will hear you and make it so.” Carlos was on year six of a four-year degree because he couldn’t always scrape together enough for the next semester of school. We had met the previous spring when he was auditing a class I was taking, because it was one of those semesters where he hadn’t managed to scrape enough cash together for tuition.

“I wish I could help you out. Do they need anyone else? I could come work and donate my wages to you.” I would offer to pay the rest of his tuition outright, but thankfully, the only stipulation on my inheritance from my grandparents had been that I finish college before I was allowed to touch a dime of the money. One more semester and I would be able to tap into it for whatever I needed.

“You know I can’t let you do that,” he told me in a serious tone.

“I know, but you have to understand that I want to, so bad. You deserve to be able to finish school without having to stress so much.”

“I appreciate that, but you know it doesn’t work like that for everyone. Now, I have to get going before I’m late. Sorry I can’t help you out tonight, but maybe this weekend?”

“Yeah, for sure,” I told him. “Give me a call when you’re free. We’ll work on that paper of yours too,” I promised.

“Perfect, catch you later, babe.”

“Bye,” I said into the phone even though he’d already hung up on his end.

“What’s the matter? Boy toy can’t come help you out? Or maybe he really just doesn’t want to,” he added just to be cruel. I turned to see Sam standing there watching me, a curious look on his face.

“Some people have to do adult things and put pleasure on the backburner to keep their world turning,” I schooled him before spinning on my heel to walk away. My car was parked three blocks down, which was rather unfortunate, considering it made getting away a slow process. Too slow, in fact, since Sam caught up to me.