Page 33 of Strelitzias in Spring

Wolf(2:32 PM): Fuck, sorry, you must be sleeping or something.

I shake my head at his last text, confused at his assumption. Ignoring the cold February air, I quickly type out a reply.

Serena: Sorry, I was in a class and needed to focus. It’s almost three in the afternoon on a Tuesday. Why would you assume that I’m sleeping?

I hit send and start my walk across campus, keeping my head down and arms crossed as I hurry against the cold wind biting my face. My phone vibrates minutes later, and I resist the urge to check it until I’m back in the sanctuary of my apartment.

I’m not watching where I’m going, walking on autopilot and so engrossed in the message burning my phone that I’m shocked when I slam into a body and stumble back. Thankfully, I regain my footing before I fall. Glancing up, I’m shocked to see two familiar faces looking at me.

“Serena, we need to stop meeting like this,” Jack murmurs, reaching out a hand to steady me. I offer a tight smile before turning to face my stepsister. “Oh, this is my lab partner, Marina. She’s a freshman but wickedly smart.”

“Hi.”

“Hi, sis,” Marina says slyly, a smirk breaking out along her features. I bite my tongue, bracing myself for what she’s about to do or say.

Jack looks back and forth between me and Marina, trying to figure out what he just inadvertently stepped into. “You two know each other?”

I open my mouth to respond, but Marina’s voice rings out. “She’s from my dad’s other family.”

I roll my eyes at her explanation and scoff. “I think you mean I’m your stepfather’s biological daughter from his first marriage, Marina. Anyway, good seeing you both.” Dipping my head down, I walk around them, moving my legs as fast as I can in the direction of my apartment building.

The sound of rapid footsteps and a shouted, “Serena, hey, wait up,” makes me stop in my tracks. Turning, I see Jack approaching and stop walking. At this point, hypothermia is sure to set in. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t realize you two were stepsisters.”

I shrug, making it seem as though it’s not a big deal. I barely know this man; he doesn’t deserve to know anything about my personal life.

“I asked Meg for your number, but she said she needed to speak with you before giving it to me. How are you feeling? How are your bruises? Do you, uh, think maybe you’d want to hang out sometime?”

I jerk back in surprise at the rapid-fire questions he just asked and move my gaze from Jack’s face to Marina’s scowl. It shouldn’t make me happy to see her so annoyed, but I am. “What about Marina?”

“Marina?” Jack questions, shaking his head. “She’s just my lab partner, and we’re walking from our practical to class. I think she’s dating someone in one of the other fraternities. So, what do you say?”

I gnaw on my bottom lip, taking in his handsome face and sandy brown hair, before lowering my eyes to the rest of his body. Though he’s bundled in a coat, I know that he’s lean and muscular from our encounter last weekend.

“I’ll let Meg know that she can give you my number,” I whisper against the cold. “It was nice seeing you, Jack.” The smile that erupts on Jack’s face is sweet, and I feel the same fluttering that I felt on Friday night low in my stomach. It’s not the same rampage as when Wolf pays attention to me, but it’s a simmer, something that could maybe be coaxed into a boil.

“That’s good, Serena. Real good. I’ll talk to you later then?” I nod and turn around, resuming my trek through the cold to my apartment. The quick walk has my mind reeling over Marina, Jack, and the message from Wolf that I have yet to read.

—

Once I step through the lobby, I relax my shoulders and breathe in the warmth of the building. In almost no time, I’m out of the elevator and walking through my front door, peeling off my coat and throwing it on the back of an accent chair on my way to the kitchen.

When the electric tea kettle is on and my tea mug is prepped, I unlock my phone and read Wolf’s latest message.

Wolf: I don’t know. Isn’t that what college kids do? I’ve never been to college, but I imagine it’s just people getting fucked up, sleeping until one in the afternoon, and buying Costco-sized boxes of condoms.

I snort at his description of college life, snapping a picture and attaching it to my message.

Serena: This is my current “college life” setup. On my third cup of mint tea today after walking in the cold.

Wolf: I’m on Earl Grey with lemon. Try not to get too crazy over there, princess.

I begin to type out a response when another text comes through from Wolf.

Wolf: But you didn’t answer my question. How are your elbows and back? Healing well?

I roll my eyes and huff, annoyed at the big brother feel this conversation is taking.

Serena: I’m fine. Both are healing, and my back doesn’t hurt anymore; no antibiotics needed.

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