Chapter 5 Grandpa Cereal
Grandpa Cereal
Maisie
Iawake to sunlight spilling in through the window above my bed, and I roll over, grunting against the harshness of it.
My sandpaper tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
Ugh. There’s a reason I don’t typically drink.
I’m a lightweight, and it tends to make my anxiety worse.
The memory of puking on the grass last night is visceral.
It’s softened, however, by strong hands gently holding my hair and rubbing circles on my back. Connor. He might be the kindest man I’ve ever met. Who else takes such good care of someone they practically just met?
I finally stretch out my limbs, sitting up. Rubbing my eyes, I realize Angie isn’t in her bed. That’s odd. Flipping my phone over, I see it’s only 10 AM. She typically sleeps until noon on weekends. I hope she’s okay. I’m about to call her when I see a few texts that came in while I was sleeping.
Angie: Won’t be home tonight. But still have my phone on if you need me xoxo
I fire off a text back.
Everything okay?
I wait a minute, but she doesn’t respond. Her bed is unmade, and there are clothes strewn about, but none of that is atypical. She could have already been home and left again while I was sleeping, and I’d be none the wiser.
I check my other texts.
[Unknown Number]: Hey it’s me. I mean it, text me if you need anything.
[Unknown Number]: Realized you might not know who me is. It’s Connor.
I smile at his consideration and save his contact. Right after I do, another text from him comes in.
Connor: Checking in. Do you want me to bring you breakfast? Make sure to drink some water when you wake up
I promise to drink water soon, and I’m doing okay. Not horrible. Planning to head to the dining hall for some food soon. Thanks for the offer though :)
He texts back immediately.
Connor: Glad to hear it. I’ll meet you over there
My stomach swoops. He’s truly going above and beyond. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so taken care of before. Other than by my cousin, Lauren. She’s always been my ride or die, and she’s stepped up plenty in my life.
Okay. See you there
The last texts are from Karsen, from around 2 AM.
Karsen: Need you.
Karsen: Come over.
Karsen: Why aren’t you answering?
Karsen: Plenty of girls were flirting with me tonight, but I told them I had a girlfriend. I still do, don’t I?
My jaw clenches. I’m glad I was asleep when he texted.
I would have felt compelled to go over there because that’s what a “good girlfriend” would do.
Lately, though, I haven’t felt much like hooking up.
He isn’t big on cuddling, and he doesn’t seem to care whether I get off or not.
It leaves me feeling used. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m not sure he’s ever prioritized me in bed, but he was my first everything.
First kiss, first boyfriend, first time.
I’ve given so much of myself to him, and I want things to get better. I’m losing hope they will, though.
Plus, since we got to college, he’s been throwing around this bullshit about how many girls flirt with him, always assuring me he didn’t do anything—like I should be grateful he has basic human decency—and that I “owe him.” I was going to see if he wanted to hang out today, but after reading his texts, I think I’ll leave him to his own devices for a while.
I grab a quick shower, change into athletic shorts and a tank, grab my keys, and head to the dining hall.
When I arrive, I head straight for the cereal station.
My dad always said Frosted Mini-Wheats were the best way to start the day, and I haven’t gone a morning without them since.
I fill a bowl and make sure to fill a glass with water too before I search the circular-shaped room for Connor.
As I scan, my eyes snag on his large frame at a table against a wall of windows overlooking the Quad—the large grassy area at the center of campus with Adirondack chairs where students like to hang out. Once again, he’s already looking at me, and I feel my cheeks heat. He waves me over.
When I reach the table, I set my tray down, claiming the seat across from him.
“How ya doin’ after last night’s adventures?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
I rub at my temples. “I could be better, but I could also be a lot worse, and I think I owe being better to you. Thank you. I’m sorry about, you know…getting sick.” I wince.
“You don’t have to apologize for being sick, Maize. That’s not how friendship works.” He smiles, and I feel it in my chest. He really is a great friend. I’ll bet Connor would never treat a woman the way Karsen has been treating me. I wonder if he has a girlfriend. She’s lucky, whoever she may be.
I take a bite of my cereal, and Connor’s eyebrows shoot up when he sees what’s in my bowl. “You like Frosted Mini-Wheats too?” His smile gets impossibly wider.
“Yeah, I eat them every morning,” I say, noticing the same cereal is swirling around in his bowl. Only a few pieces left, though, so he must have been here a little while.
“I do, too. My brothers always made fun of me, telling me it’s ‘grandpa cereal.’”
The memory of him sharing about his grandpa last night knocks through my brain like a pinball machine. I didn’t know any of my grandparents, but I lost my Uncle Richard—my cousin Lauren’s dad—when I was ten. I know how devastating losing a close family member can be.
“I think being compared to a grandpa is an honor,” I say, and his mouth quirks on one side, his gaze swinging to the Quad momentarily. I leave him with his private moment.
“I do, too,” he says, eyes finding mine again. “So,” he mumbles around a bite of cereal, “where are you from?”
“A little town called Springfield, Ohio. You?”
“No way!” His mouth hangs open for a moment before he continues, “I’m from Columbus.”
“Are you serious?” I laugh. “We’re practically neighbors.”
“Funny how we both ended up in North Carolina for college, both in water sports. It’s like we were supposed to meet or something.
” He winks, and I can’t tell if he’s joking or flirting with me.
I’m sure he’s just messing around. He said it himself earlier; we’re friends.
Plus, I have a boyfriend—I shouldn’t want him to be flirting with me.
“Kismet,” I say, then down half my water. It’s life to my dehydrated body.
His eyes soften. “All right, I officially need to know more about you. Top three movies. Go.”
I smile because this is an easy answer. “I’m a die-hard Marvel fan, so my top three would consist of only Marvel, but my favorites tend to switch.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve never actually seen any Marvel movies,” he says as he shrinks back like I’m going to scold him. Which I might.
“How can you have never seen a Marvel movie?” I try to keep my tone even.
“I don’t know. Guess I missed the trend, and then felt too far behind to pick it up.” He shrugs.
“Well, we’re going to have to fix that, won’t we? A Marvel movie-cation. I’ll bet if we get started soon, we could catch you up before the next one comes to theaters. I’ll warn you, though, it’s a big commitment. Are you in?”
He salutes. “You have my full cooperation.” He laughs again, and I can’t help but laugh along. Connor is goofy, and it makes me comfortable letting my goofy side out, too. Karsen tends to get annoyed when I’m too goofy, saying he doesn’t want me to embarrass him.
I don’t know why I keep comparing the two. I shake my head; I need to stop.
“Wanna watch one after you’re finished with your cereal?” He tips his chin toward my breakfast.
I’m about to accept when a disheveled and sandy-looking Angie appears at the side of our table.
“Ang, oh my gosh, are you okay?”
“Can we talk?” Her eyes slide to Connor, then back to me. “Alone?”
Connor grabs his tray and stands. “I’ll get out of your way. Text me if you want to meet up later, Maize.” Then he walks away.
“Thanks,” I say, feeling an emptiness in my chest at the sight of him leaving, but I quickly focus on Angie, who takes his vacated seat.
“Men are the worst,” she huffs, sand falling off her arm and accumulating in a small pile on the table. Part of me doesn’t disagree with her, but the other part is watching a man who very much doesn’t suck walk away.