y

owner had thrown out, no written bill, just a wild guess, zeros tacked on for emphasis while

as the one staring down a bill that looked like it could cover a semester of tuition and still leave enough leftover for rent and grocer

was just how tired I was. Or maybe it was because, for one wild

ttle too long and falling across ice-blue eyes that had barely left me since the chaos died down. There was a kind of quiet in the way he stood, hands in his jacket pockets, wat

up close, and the part of me that knew better than

ded a bill for a crime you didn't commit. Now is not the time

pay,"

mething to me, something embarrassing and soft and absol

out of him in a blink. For one second, he was just a guy realizing

lex a free round. The switch was instant, like Alex carried a get-out-of-trouble card in his b

o that," I said. "I'

tle. I could see he'd expected exactly that

't even

wider. "Wor

re was no universe where we didn't end up knowing each

roblems," I said, fighting to get the convers

uld tell he meant it. "Doesn

ed to argue, but the words got stuck som

n consider it a loan

I'd finished. He looked so sure, like he'

ed. "Exc

ead, studying me in a way that made my skin feel

ed. "A

is faster than waiting tables here for the next

said, more out of habit than

was obvious. "You c

it? The tips are great." Which was a

ce-regret, or maybe just surprise that I'd push bac

s the

catch. It's a win-win. You get out of

te to get my feet back under me. My world was spinnin

'll still owe me. Working for me just means paying it

me more suspicious. He was too calm a

one across the room. A second later, Milo, the same guy from earlier,

t missing a beat, "te

nked. "W

he stilled while he gave this Milo gu

haking off t

to me with a smile that looked like it hurt. "Ri

hings?" I raised a chal

oothies," Milo

," I echoe

nodding. "Packing his lunch. It's a very

ing it up as he went along. The whole thing was ridiculous, and yet, for s

way out. Or maybe, for once, I wante