Page 76 of Monstrous Serpent

Mr. Smooshy licks my chin.

“Terrible answer. You’re cute, but academically useless.”

He licks my face again, more aggressively this time, and I laugh, shoving him back. “Okay, okay. At least someone wants me around.”

Halfway through the assignment, the door to our room opens, then closes.

“Got pizza,” Hunter says.

I spring up, pushing the laptop aside. “What kind?”

“Pepperoni and sausage.”

“Did you get one with the hot honey?”

“No.”

“Hunter. Hot honey is the whole point. It's the reason pizza exists. Without hot honey, it's just bread with stuff on it. You know this. We've had this conversation.”

“Put honey on it yourself.”

“That's not—okay, you know what, I'm not having this argument again because I will win and you will grunt and nothing will change.” I swing my legs over the side of the bed and look at Mr. Smooshy. “Wait here. And do not make a sound.”

Of course, he whines.

“No.”

Another whine.

I get to the door, turn, and hold out my hand, palm facing forward. “Stay.”

He stands.

“Terrible. We’ll work on it.”

I slip out of my room and close the door behind me.

Mr. Smooshy whines again, louder this time.

My grip on the doorknob stalls.

Why does he have to sound like I’m abandoning him?

“Someone here?” Hunter is standing by the common area table with a pizza box in one hand and a two-liter of Pepsi tucked under his arm. His eyes move from me to my hand on the doorknob.

“Nope.” I walk over and take the pizza box from him without looking at his face. “Just me. All by myself. Like I have been the past couple days.”

The smell of garlic, cheese, sausage, and pepperoni hit my nose. My stomach growls because, apparently, emotional damage still respects pizza.

Hunter doesn’t move.

I set the box on the coffee table. “So, is this a peace offering, or did you just remember I’m less annoying when fed?”

His gaze finally leaves my door and settles on me. “Just pizza.”

“Cool. Great.” I flip the box open and grab a slice and take a bite so big sauce gathers at the corners of my mouth. “Because you've been shutting me out since the game. And you've sent Rua or Cap to walk me back to the dorm four times this week. Four, Hunt. Like I'm a fucking FedEx package you keep rerouting.” My voice cracks around the last word, which pisses me off even more.

His jaw clenches. “Had stuff to do.”