Page 73 of All That Glitters

Marigold tips her head back to look up at me.

“You’re not mad?” she asks.

I brush her hair away from her face, then kiss her forehead.

“Not in the slightest.”

There’s a look in her eyes that tells me she doesn’t quite believe me. It’s going to take time to show her that I love her and she can’t ruin our relationship with a simple mistake. But Marigold is more than worth the effort.

“Why don’t you do what you need to do to get ready, and then we can walk to class together? We can talk about a better time for our date while we walk.”

She gives me a small smile.

“Okay, that sounds good. I’ll be right out.”

I give her a quick kiss, then leave her room so she can get ready. Once the door is shut behind me, I stand awkwardly in front of it. I don’t want to look like I’m snooping, even if I’m curious what Marigold’s home is like. If she didn’t share it with three other women, I wouldn’t feel as weird about it.

“I made coffee,” Aurora says, startling me. “There are travel cups in there, too.” She gestures behind her, where I can see cabinets and a stove.

“Oh, thanks. I’ll make some for Marigold.”

“If she asks, I’m headed to teach before my classes start.”

“You’re a teacher?” I ask, trying to be polite. I plan on sticking around, so it would be good to get to know Marigold’s friends. Aurora doesn’t seem all that keen on small talk—and neither am I—but maybe she’s just reserved.

“I teach a few elementary school dance classes for some extra money each week,” she says, and suddenly her outfit and hairstyle make sense.

“Oh, that’s cool,” I say, because Aurora is looking at me like she’d rather not be having this conversation. I don’t think she’s rude, simply reserved.

Aurora nods and doesn’t say anything else, just heads to the door. Once she’s gone, I go into the kitchen to make the coffees. There are two travel cups with lids already out, as if Aurora knew we’d want them. I fill each one, then start hunting for the vanilla maple syrup I know exists if Marigold lives here. Sure enough, a large bottle is in one of the cabinets. I splash some in each of the cups, then return the syrup and open the fridge to find heavy cream.

Every cabinet, drawer, and fridge I come into contact with is organized to an immaculate degree. The countertops are so clean they shine beneath the fluorescent lights. I suspect this has to do with the same blonde pixie that would have my head if I wore shoes into the apartment.

Marigold comes barreling into the kitchen as I’m securing the lids on the cups.

“Did you make that?” Marigold asks, sounding slightly out of breath.

“I poured it, but Aurora made it before she left. She said she was going to teach,” I inform her.

Marigold nods and accepts the coffee from me with a grateful smile.

“She’s reserved, and a bit on the blunt side at times, but she’s got a big heart. Did you see any of the other girls?”

We head to the door together, coffees in hand.

“I met Saylor, though our conversation was brief. She told me she didn’t schedule time to meet me … was she serious?”

Marigold laughs, some of the anxiety seeming to dissipate from her.

“Very. The woman would schedule her breathing if she could. She’s premed and always running to her next clinic or lab or extra-credit seminar.”

“And I thought balancing hockey and the paper was bad.”

“Looking at her always makes me feel ten steps behind.” Marigold sighs as we walk down the hall to the elevators. “I really am sorry for this morning.”

I grab her free hand and squeeze it.

“No more apologies. I want to hear about what you were working on.”