Page 31 of German

“Maddy!”Kayla enthusiastically greeted, her blonde hair recently cut short and lightened.“It’s so good to see you!”

Hugging my friend, I pulled away and said, “Where did you get that tan, girl?You look like a million bucks!”

I envied those who could look sunkissed and fabulous.The sun didnotdo the same to my pasty-ass skin.It pretty much turned bright red, blistered, and then sloughed off in sheets whenever I forgot to use SPF one-thousand.

“I’ve been lifeguarding at a public pool in town this summer,” Kayla answered, and I didn’t doubt it.Between the highlights and the tan, she looked amazing.“How about you?”

“I’m still working at Bay Street Vet Clinic,” I told her, hating to bring up such a sensitive subject since Mario’s passing.

“I know you’re a business major, but I think you should really consider becoming a vet,” Kayla said.“You love animals and you’re so compassionate with their owners.And it’s not like you don’t have the grades for it!”

It was true.I would have loved to become a vet.But my father had wanted to pass his business over to me one day and I needed to learn how to run it if I didn’t want to run it directly into the ground.Not to mention becoming a vet meant being in school for close to a decade.That was some serious dedication that I didn’t think I could commit to at this point in my life.

“Don’t tempt me,” I teased with a smile.Seeing she had a handful of books, I asked, “What are you up to today?”

“Returning these!”Kayla hefted her used books onto the counter as the clerk set to work tallying her refund.“I had the day off and was just hoping to get some money back,” she indicated the tattered pile on the counter.

“Want to go to lunch?”I asked, spoiling for some girl time with someone I didn’t go to high school with and I could really see getting closer to in the future.I watched Kayla tabulating the book returns silently in her head as worry creased her brow.“My treat!”I added, hating that my friend had to choose between eating and paying the electric bill.

Kayla’s parents lived on the East Coast in Massachusetts.Both teachers, they couldn’t afford to help her with books, tuition, or car payments.She paid for everything on her own, which I respected the shit out of her for.I wasn’t so spoiled I couldn't realize how much I relied on my father for income.The fact that I volunteered at the Vet Clinic instead of working there for money was the way I gave back, however small.

“That’s so sweet of you,” Kayla returned, gearing up to say no, “but you don’t have to pay for my lunch.I’ve got it.”She waved her book money at me with a smile.

“I want to,” I told her, cutting off any further arguments.The perfect cover story that would entice her to go, as well as accept my generosity, popped into my head then.“You’d be doing me a favor.I’m here with my dad’s friend and we don’t have much to talk about.I wanted to show him the campus as he’s thinking of attending in the fall and it would be great for a third person to add to the conversation.”

Kayla swung her attention in the direction of German when I pointed him out.I could see she was surprised by the tough biker walking over to us, as I’m sure she’d pictured someone far older and, well, less attractive.

“He’s your dad’s friend?”She spoke questioningly.“Isn’t your father in tech or something?”

I stifled a laugh at her awed expression as she took in all six-foot-plus feet of the muscular, leather-clad, tattooed biker.“Yeah.It’s kind of a friend-of-a-friend situation.German is doing some work for my dad and is staying with us for a couple of weeks.”

Kayla looked impressed.“Lucky you,” she replied with a giggle.“None of my dad’s friends look like that!”

When German joined us, I introduced Kayla to him and said we’d be going to the campus dining hall for lunch.It wasn’t gourmet food or anything.But it was good and I was starving.Coasting on caffeine and fumes since this morning, I wanted a burger so badly I could have begged for it!

Luckily, German didn’t put up a stink or try to beg off of lunch.Surprisingly, he was amiable while Kayla and I talked.The man even joined in on the conversation a few times which pleased me.It was almost like he was a real-life human being when he wanted to be one.

When we got to the cafeteria, Kayla and I headed straight for the burger station.“What are you in the mood for?”I asked German, and I swear his gaze traveled down my body before he asked, “What’s good here?”

Suppressing the urge to shiver with excitement, I pointed to the burger station.“The burgers here are good,” I replied, my voice coming out a bit raspy as I remembered his hot gaze.

German got in line behind Kayla and me as we began to fill our trays with sides and drinks.We both got fries and sodas, and German did the same.Cutting us off when we got to checkout, he paid for lunch for all three of us.

When both Kayla and I tried to protest, he shook his head.“Nope.Don’t even start with that mess.My mother would be ashamed of her son if I didn’t pay for the two of you pretty ladies.”

Grateful for the kind gesture, we both accepted his generosity.However, when we got home, I’d make sure to talk with my father about compensating the man for his thoughtfulness.

When our meals were ready, we found a clean table and began to tuck into our food.Something I never would’ve felt comfortable doing with my private school friends.They were all stick thin and lived mainly off of diet pills and lettuce.A diet I’d left behind with the school itself when I graduated.Screw it.I’d never wear a size zero or have rock-perfect abs.But I was fit, and I liked to work out, so I wasn’t apologizing to anyone for my love of burgers and fries.

Between bites of her yummy food and sips of soda, Kayla asked, “So, German, Maddy said you work with her dad.Are you in tech as well?”

Glancing surreptitiously in his direction, I hid my smile behind my soft drink as I waited to see how German fielded this difficult question.

“A friend of mine is a computer genius,” the clever man replied.“He couldn’t be here, so I’m helping in his place.”

His explanation was short, direct, and to the point.Although he’d said practically nothing, he’d managed to make it sound like he’d said all there was to say about the matter.Impressive.

Kayla glanced down at his patch then.“Are you in a Motorcycle Club?”

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