Free Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase Page A

relief when no one else was inside. I had been dreading the stares and awkward conversation. “That’s my desk.” I pointed at the one near the window and he stood next to the chair Becca had used earlier. I checked the message board, watching him from the corner of my eye before going to find some paper towels.
    “ Thank you.” He sat down when I handed him the napkins. “I hope you like red meat. I have a weakness for hamburgers. The bigger the better.”
    “ You’re in luck. The hamburgers from the cafeteria are great.” I spread the fries onto a napkin so we could both get to them. “So tell me. How did you manage to go in the cafeteria and come out alive?”
    “ Many years of practice.” He took a bite of his burger and groaned. “Ah, now that is good.”
    “ Why not just send someone else for them?” I took a bite of my food and mentally agreed with him.
    “ I was hoping it would draw away some of your fake students.”
    “ You mean you prostituted yourself out to the masses? To draw them away? That was… sweet.” He choked on his drink and coughed roughly. I set down my sandwich and slapped him on the back.
    “ I hadn’t thought about it that way.” He chuckled. “But it was worth it if it helped you.”
    “ Well, thank you.” I picked my sandwich back up and smiled at him. “For lunch and for pimping yourself out.”
    “ I told you I wouldn’t throw you to the wolves.” He winked at me, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him about all the people who had still crashed my classes. “Did you have a chance to look through the notes I sent?”
    “ A little.” I pushed some of the fries toward him. He seemed to like those just as much as he liked the hamburger. “I have to admit I’m interested in the specialist you listed.”
    “ There is a great deal of information online, too much to print out.”
    “ Thanks. I’ll look it over before I talk to Dad.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked for new text messages. Still nothing from my father, so I texted the lady that came to check on him twice a day. Patricia was a neighbor who had been good friends with my mother. She wouldn’t let me pay her, and honestly, I have no idea how I would have anyway. But knowing she went to check on Dad to make sure he didn’t need anything was a huge relief.

    Patricia: He’s got one of his migraines today and is sleeping. I’ll let him know you’re coming over later.

    I sighed in relief and told her thank you.
    “ Everything okay?”
    “ Yeah. Dad hasn’t texted me since yesterday and I was getting worried. He gets terrible headaches sometimes.”
    “ But he’s fine?”
    “ Fine as can be.” I chewed on some fries and thought about it. “A family friend checks on him a couple of times a day to help out. She said he was sleeping.”
    We didn’t say anything else for a little while, just munched on our food and watched the light snowfall. It was going to be a cold afternoon. At least I wouldn’t be in the truck. The heat took forever to warm up. Which reminded me…
    “ Thank you for seeing to my truck. Tell me how much the repairs were and I’ll get the money to you.”
    “ Don’t worry about it. I was happy to see to it.”
    “ Alex, I appreciate it, but I don’t feel right letting you pay for it. It’s not your fault the starter died.” I set my sandwich down and looked at him. The thought of someone paying for me didn’t sit well. Especially someone I had only met the night before.
    “ If we hadn’t invited you out, you likely wouldn’t have been stranded. It is my obligation.” Alex leaned back in his chair as if amused by my obvious disapproval.
    “ In which case it wouldn’t have started this morning and I would have been late for class. Arguing when it happened is silly. It’s my car, my responsibility.”
    “ Fine. You can pay me back after you’re granted your lands and title.”
    I thought it over for a minute before I realized what he had done.