Page 1 of Sinful Secrets

Chapter One

SAVANNAH

Large raindrops peltthe windshield of my nitrous blue 2016 Ford Focus as the sky opens up.

“So much for the rain staying at a drizzle today.” I say to myself as I slow down and turn the knob to make my wipers move faster.

Getting soaked before class wasn’t the plan, but my fashion design class is too long and intense to sit through on an empty stomach.

Luck must be on my side, because I find a parking spot close to the entrance of the dining hall and park as I wait for the rain to slack.

It doesn’t.

I turn off my car and make a beeline to the entrance. Like other students, I’m soaking wet and dripping on the non slip mats.

The woman in front of me sighs as she tries to dry off her arms and legs with the thin napkins the college graciously provides in the dining hall. “We should have a covered parking garage and covered breezeways to keep us from getting soaked.”

I chuckle. “That would be better than eating and attending class in soaking wet clothes.”

But there’s no way for them to make that happen unless they demolish nearby buildings and build a parking garage in their spot. Or rip up one of the few parks nearby.

I walk straight to the section of the dining hall with pre-made grab and go lunches. Looking over the options, I grab a turkey club sandwich, a bag of BBQ chips, and a bottle of soda before heading to the cashier.

I swipe my meal card, but the card is denied.

“Try again, honey.” The older woman says with a polite smile.

Swiping the card again yields the same results. “I don’t understand why it’s not working. The semester just started, so there’s no way I went through all the credits already.”

The older woman’s smile fades as she gives me a look of pity. “Just take the food and try to get the issue sorted before dinner.”

Thank God no one else is in line behind me. I’d probably die of embarrassment if this happened during a rush. “I can’t do that. That’s stealing from the college.”

“It will be our little secret.” She smiles and winks like it’s an inside joke between the two of us.

“Won’t you get in trouble?” I can’t have that on my conscience, or that bad karma following me around.

She shakes her head and her short tight curls gently sway. “No. If you don’t take the food, I will have to throw it away. Then it will be wasted. At least this way, you can get food on your stomach before dealing with the financial office.”

She’s not going to let me leave without taking the meal with me. “Thank you. I’ll grab some cash and come right back.”

“That’s not necessary. Save your money for dinner in case you can’t get your card working again.”

“Thank you.” I say before heading toward the main doors.

The rain is long gone despite only a few minutes passing, and the sun is already peeking through the clouds, making the air muggy and miserable.

That’s the south, though. Raining one minute and sun shining the next, leaving it feeling like a swampy sauna outside.

I throw my lunch in the passenger seat and turn the air on full blast before backing out of the parking spot and driving straight to my dorm.

The concrete is bone dry here, like the rain skipped this block. Several guys throw a football back and forth while a few women lie on the grass, enjoying the sun.

“Heads up!” A guy yells a second before the football comes whizzing by my head.

I let out a yelp and jump to the side as the guy jogs toward me.

“Sorry about that.” He chuckles as he bends down to pick up the ball.

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