Page 74 of All Her Broken Pieces

“I don’t curse. Our youngest sister is five, so I tend to get creative with my word choices,” she explains as she nervously rubs her hands, her movements resembling those of a shy church mouse. It’s ironic because she’s nothing like the meek and mild religious students who attend her school.

“Now, will you tell me what you’re doing here?” I question.

“Do you have any food?”

“Emma,” I warn.

“Fine. I was skipping class. Please don’t tell Mom and Dad.”

Emma is a straight A student. She got into Faith Union College on a full academic scholarship. It’s not like her to skip class.

“I’m not going to say shit. You’re nineteen and can make your own decisions, but what’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Emma,” I repeat.

“Fine. I have this professor that’s riding me really hard.”

My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline, but she interjects before I can ask. “Not like that. Biscuits!”

Bridget laughs beside me. “Are all your non-curses food-related?”

Emma smiles and looks at me. “I like her.”

“So, the professor?” I prompt.

“Professor A-hole. He’s just so… so…difficult. Nothing I do is ever good enough. I was top of my class in high school, and suddenly I feel like I can’t do anything right. The semester just started, and we had to turn in our first paper, and when he handed them back, I got aC. I’ve never gotten a C in my entire fricking life! He’s so mean. I want to punch him in his stupid, handsome face,” she blurts out before slapping her hands over her mouth.

“I had a couple of professors like that in college,” Bridget says sympathetically. “It was hard for me too. I was always so strong academically. But I came up with some tools that helped me.”

“The worst part is I have him for the whole year because he’s the only one who teaches this class, and it’s a required class for me. I was coming here to kill time and study.”

Bridget pulls her phone out of her pocket, unlocks it, and hands it to Emma. “Here, put in your number. I only have about twenty minutes left on my lunch break, but I’d be happy to connect and share some of my study tips from one valedictorian to another.”

“That would be forking amazing!” Emma beams as she punches her number into Bridget’s contacts, and I turn, heading into the kitchen.

“Follow me if you want to eat,” I call out behind me.

Ten minutes later, Bridget gives me a quick peck and heads to the door.

“See you at home,” she starts, then corrects herself. “I mean, see you later?”

“See you at your place,” I reassure her, even though it kills me inside.

The door shuts behind her and Emma turns to me.

“Okay, I need details. Now,” she demands while still chewing. Scooping another helping into her mouth, she mumbles, “Good gravy, this is delicious.”

“Can you at least chew before you try to speak? But yeah, she’s really fucking great, Em.”

She giggles as she finishes her mouthful. “Sorry, this is really good.”

“It’s my signature dish at Mangia Bene. You should stop by more. I’d be happy to feed you and your friends.”

“I might take you up on that, especially if Alyx is around too.”

“There something I need to know about?”

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