May Contain Wine (SWAT Generation 2.0 5)

But Louis was a big guy. He needed his food.

I…

He offered me a bite of his beans, and I leaned over and took it.

I chewed and swallowed before saying, “I’ve been hungry all day, come to think of it.”

Conversation went back to normal after that, and a thought occurred to me.

Why was I hungry?

That almost never happened.

I was so caught up in the ‘whys’ of my hunger that I didn’t notice Louis’ hand slipping down between my thighs until he was practically pressing the heel of his hand against me.

There.

I gasped and turned only to find another forkful of beans and rice shoved between my parted lips.

I chewed while glaring and then took over the fork and finished off his beans in the next moment.

He didn’t complain once.

Nor did he remove his hand.

All the while, I wondered if it’d be possible to key that crappy woman’s car before I had to hurry home and take care of business where Louis was concerned.Chapter 16

Kick today in the dick.

-Coffee Cup

Calloway

There was a pall hanging over the school as I entered it Monday morning.

The day was long and exhausting. Even worse, I’d forgotten my lunch at home and Louis hadn’t been able to stop by to bring me anything.

Meaning I’d been forced to try the cafeteria food, which hadn’t gone well.

Today they were having those little pizzas. The kind that everyone but me seemed to love when we were growing up.

The snack bar had been down, sadly, due to a problem with the refrigeration unit, meaning the only thing that I was able to eat was the corn, the milk, and the pudding.

By the end of the day, I’d been starving.

Oh, and grouchy.

Really freakin’ grouchy.

At about ten after one, I’d broken down and called my parents and sister, hoping beyond hope that they could spare me a couple of minutes.

Except all of them had been busy.

Reagan’s baby had a doctor appointment and the flu. My mother had a doctor appointment an hour away to get her boobs squashed. My dad had been at work and hadn’t been able to slip away. And the same whatever had kept Louis busy, as well as Hayes. Who Ares had called and asked if he could bring anything.

She’d felt pity for me because I wasn’t allowed to leave the school unattended.

Meaning that I’d sat there and nearly cried due to how hungry I was.

Or maybe I was just being a big baby and should’ve gotten over it.

Whatever the reason, my mood was downright terrible by the time my escort arrived to pick me up.

Booth raised his brows at me the moment that I looked at him.

“Bad day?” he asked.

I grimaced. “The worst. What happened at work today?”

He rolled his eyes. “There was an audit by the state. It wasn’t a good day.”

I would imagine not. Whenever the state decided to visit, things were always a little on edge.

I didn’t think anyone enjoyed it when they had to deal with the state.

“I guess I should be happy that all I missed was lunch,” I murmured. “I’m ready when you are.”

“How was the school after…” He gestured with his hand, indicating the school at large.

“Most classes go their entire high school, college, and then well into their lives, before any of their classmates pass away. And this class has lost two in just as many months.” I shook my head. “Do you remember the first time someone from our class died? His name was Monroe Mooney. He died in Afghanistan during a truck explosion. I was twenty-three.”

Booth nodded. “I remember that. I was there.”

That was right. Booth was there.

Though, not there, there. More like, overseas there.

“Anyway,” I said, sensing the need for a subject change. That particular time hadn’t been a good one for Booth. “I’m just sayin’, but that really shook us. Years after high school. These kids are having a hard enough time dealing with their emotions anyway. Adding first that young girl, then Romeo? They’re a little bit lost today. Ares has had her hands full.”

“I have,” Ares said as she came up beside us, sounding exhausted. “I’m about ready to drop.”

I was, too. Though, not to the point of my usual tiredness when it was time to get a fill-up via Louis. More like, exhausted, in need of a nap, but could get up and do more stuff afterward.

Which was an odd feeling for me.

“They’re being audited by the state,” I said to Ares. “That’s why they couldn’t come today.”

Ares grimaced. “Fun-suckers.”

I snickered as we all walked toward the exit.

School had let out over an hour ago, and there wasn’t a single student in sight.

Which was why it took me by surprise when Tiana Ricci rolled through the front doors of the school with her expensive high-heeled shoes, cloying perfume, and attitude that practically shouted that her shit didn’t stink.