97

He rang me the moment the quarter was over, to let me know he was coming and I didn’t need to get the door. Sure, of course his thumb opened every damn door in the whole campus. I heard the cart stopping outside as the second quarter started, and he showed up in the kitchen a heartbeat later.

“What did I miss?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I replied from the table.

He left two six-packs and the family pack of ice cream he’d brought in the fridge and came to sit down at the round table with me. I was still eating, and we didn’t waste our breath in further greetings, too focused on the game. We only exchanged casual comments or exclamations until the halftime. Then I picked up my things, took everything to the kitchen and opened the faucets to do the dishes.

“Are you staying the weekend?” he asked, turning in his chair to look at me.

“Nah. I’m leaving in the morning,” I said, keeping my back turned to him.

“Where?” I glanced back from over my shoulder and saw him raise his eyebrows. “Brokers d