Page 50 of Rules for Rule Breaking
“I guess I’ll look into computer science programs. It couldn’t hurt,” Bobby said.
Winter had stopped paying attention to him. She’d unwrapped her second cheesesteak and appeared to be thanking it for its service. He couldn’t help but smile as he opened the door to the hotel for her and she walked in, not realizing that the doors weren’t automatic.
Never in a million years did he think he’d get advice that could potentially alter the trajectory of his life from someone who was using her sleeve as a napkin. And never in a trillion years did he think that person would be Winter Park.
Winter Park
22. WE WILL RESPECT EACH OTHER’S PERSONAL SPACE
Winter was in that lovely space between being asleep and awake. The warmth of the sun was on her face and the chirping of morning birds filled her ears, but her mind was still dreaming. She smiled and snuggled her pillow tighter, wanting to stay like that for as long as she could. Through the haze, she felt something prick the skin just above her elbow, followed by the most terrible itch. She smacked at it and only managed to smack herself awake.
A mosquito was buzzing around her head. She screamed and buried herself in the blankets.
“What happened?” It was Bobby. His voice came from the other side of the bed.
“Bobby, what the hell are you doing in my room?” she barked.
Sleep was thick in his voice. “You’re inmyroom.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yourroom?”
“Yeah,myroom.”
Winter was still disoriented from sleep, so she had no memory of how she’d gotten there. She remembered little after they’d gotten cheesesteaks. Her intention had been to figure out which one was the better of the two, but she’d fallen into a food coma before she could make deliberations.
“Why’d you scream?” Bobby asked.
“There’s a mosquito in here. I told you they’re after me!” she squawked.
“Relax, it’ll die soon.”
“It’s not a bee, Robert! If it was a bee, I wouldn’t mind taking a couple for the team!” Winter couldn’t stop scratching. “Ugh, I’m going to kill it. I’ve had enough of them.”
“Calm down, Bill Gates. It’s early.”
She didn’t listen. She whipped off the blankets and tried to clap the mosquito between her hands but kept missing. It got her a few more times, so she ran around to the other side of the room and hid behind a chair.
“I think it can see you, Winter,” Bobby said lazily, pulling the blankets back up over himself.
“Do something, Robert! I could go into anaphylactic shock!”
“I’m not a mosquito slayer. Stop freaking out.”
“Robert!”
“Okay, fine! One second. I have to... check something.” He lifted the blankets and looked underneath.
“What are you doing?” Winter snapped.
“It’s the morning—”
Winter put up her hand. “Oh my God. Don’t explain. Just help me.”
Bobby groaned and came to her rescue with the first thing he could find—the customary hotel Bible.
“Are you going to use the power of Christ to compel it away?” Winter asked hotly.
“It’s only a mosquito. Stop singing your swan song.”
