Page 7 of Petite Fleur

I shouldn't even be surprised when this girl gets up to the counter and starts telling the cashier about cross-contamination or something.

I'm trying so hard not to listen in, but she orders stir-fried vegetables with rice noodles. She specifies no meat, no eggs, no gluten.

So she's one of those types. I knew she wasn't my type, but I still want to talk to her.

I want to ask her name and her number or just drag her out to my car before either one of us gets the chance to eat. I want to pull her out of this cafe before any other man has the chance to stare at her for too long.

But I know that's a terrible idea. This woman would drive me absolutely mad, in the best and worst ways.

Luckily, some stereotypical southern girl in fucking cowboy boots comes over and drags this bombshell away from me before I crack and talk to her.

It's for the best. I don't need the distraction, and that gorgeous woman would definitely cost me a few hours of sleep.

Chapter 3

Maeve Henderson

Why did I come here?

I can't afford groceries, let alone eating off campus. Sure, I budgeted for this little group hangout, but I could've used my money in a million better ways.

Food shouldn't be my priority when I have the meal plan in the dining hall.

It's honestly a lifesaver. I’m served three meals a day, and the workers always look away when I sneak extra snacks into my bag. They know how hard it is to find genuine gluten-free food and would rather me take extra than have to miss class due to my celiac disease.

Last week, the gluten-free section of the cafeteria had peanut butter no-bakes. I took so many of those that I swear I was still sweating peanut butter days later.

Those ladies in the dining hall are such a blessing to me, and they're so sweet! They always call me honey and tell me to take what I need.

They call me a sweet young girl while telling me about their single sons. It's sweet, but I don't date. I've tried more times than I can count, but I don't have that attraction that I feel like I need.

I want chemistry, I want fights that end in passionate sex, and I want a borderline toxic kind of love.

I want to hate him, but feel like I can't possibly live without him.

I want obsessive and crazy. I just want what I haven't gotten. I've gotten the well-mannered men, the ones who won't kiss you until the end of the date, the kind that won’t have sex until months in and won't even kiss you in public.

The kinds you'd take home to your parents.

That's not what I want.

I want the guy who would hit anyone who looked at me wrong, the guy who wants my location at all times and slightly intimidates my mother.

I want the guy who looks at me as if I am everything.

I'm starting to think I'll never find that.

But despite knowing I can't afford to eat here, I order my food and pray that the cashier takes my allergy seriously.

If they don't, I'll end up having to miss all my classes tomorrow and maybe the next day.

I hope I stressed that enough, but I'm nervous and anxious about eating here at all.

Everything I see everyone else eating is pasta, meat, cheese, and bread.

Everything I see on the menu is unsafe for me.

Shelby shows up at my side while I'm waiting for my meal. In the short few days since I added Shelby to our group chat, she's already made best friends with Carlie.

---