Early Admission

By Alex Winters

Milo Caldwell is so eager to get out of his abusive stepfather’s house that he shows up to college early, only to find out that he can’t check into his dorm room for another two whole weeks. Desperate, unsure of where to go next, he sits in a sub shop making the most of a six-inch value combo when he hears the owner firing someone over the phone. Stopping her as she goes to put a “Help Wanted” sign in the window, he tries not to sound desperate as he asks if a room is included in the job description.

Sammy Peterson never thought she’d be including the spare room above her sub shop to one of her employees, let alone a tall, dark and handsome country boy who can’t keep his eyes off of her. It’s the wrong decision at the right time, but one she’s almost powerless to resist. It’s only two weeks, after all, and then Milo—sweet, willing, eager, hungry, desperate Milo—will be gone, off to the freshman dorms and out of her hair forever. Why not make the most of it, right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9780369509192

Alex Winters

Alex Winters is the pseudonym of a busy restaurant manager whose curious young staff would love nothing more than to follow him around the dining room reading his steamiest, most romantic passages aloud! When not writing romantic holiday stories of various heat levels, he enjoys long walks with his wife, scary movies and smooth jazz. Visit him at www.awintersromance.com to see what stories are brewing up next!

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Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2023 Alex Winters

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0919-2

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: CA Clauson

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

EARLY ADMISSION

Campus Crush, 1

Alex Winters

Copyright © 2023

Chapter One

Sammy

I already gave you yesterday off, Trixie.

Sammy Peterson held the cell phone at arm’s length, tempted to throw it across the restaurant rather than negotiate with her perpetually late employee. Too bad there was a lone guest in the dining room at that very moment or she might have let Trixie know what she really thought of her—or her repeated schedule requests.

Yeah, but I asked for both days off, Sammy.

She struggled to keep her cool, knowing the dinner rush was approaching and desperate not to work it herself for the second night in a row. "Wow, Trixie, that’s great. And I didn’t actually give you both days off, so … you’re scheduled to work tonight. Period. End of story. And you’re late, to boot."

I’m late cuz I ain’t comin’ in tonight, Sammy. I done told you that twice already. Trixie sounded as stupid as she was. Okay, maybe not stupid since she managed to get a few days off every week but … dull. Correction—she sounded as dull as she was.

Sammy seethed. Trixie knew how shorthanded she’d been lately, and it affected her not one bit. Trixie, I’ll give you two choices. Come in tonight and keep your job, or call off your shift and lose it. Up to you, entirely.

Trixie sounded like this wasn’t entirely her fault. Completely, utterly, absolutely not her fault. That’s not fair, Miss Sammy. I’ve been a good employee to you.

Sammy managed to count to five—ten was a big, fat stretch—before responding through clenched teeth. Yes, Trixie, fair enough. You’ve been a thoroughly adequate employee on the days you actually, you know, show up for your scheduled shift. Late, usually, but sure, okay … fine. You got me on that one!

In the dead space that followed her mic drop, Sammy heard the young customer by the window snicker quietly. It was just past 7:00, the sky grown dark outside the big picture window in front of him, turning it into a mirror as he sat, nibbling contentedly on his small bag of cheap potato chips.

Sour cream and onion, if she recalled correctly.

There you go then, Trixie said in her annoying country drawl, the kind she always played up when she was trying to get something she really wanted. You can’t just fire me cuz I didn’t show up this one time.

I’m not firing you, Trixie. Despite being dumb enough to hire you, I’m too smart for that, at least. Fact is, this is your fifth call out this month, and as you’ll recall from all that paperwork you signed your first shift, that’s grounds for dismissal. So, in essence, you’re actually firing yourself.

In the mirrored window, Sammy saw the young stranger give a curious little nod, his face wearing a vaguely good for you expression as he reached for his medium sized soda.

Grape soda, if she recalled correctly.

He was wearing a faded white t-shirt, short sleeved, the arm in question long and lean and toned as it lifted the plain white cup with the green and yellow Sammy’s Subs logo on the side. Not that Sammy was noticing or anything.

Is that … is that even possible?

I didn’t think it was, Trixie. Then I met you.

The line went dead, Trixie not sure if that was a question or an answer. Sammy struggled to ignore the cute customer and the way he was grinning again. She turned and leaned her back on the sales counter, finding his weathered ball cap and those long, slender fingers on his soda cup distracting as she struggled to find a worker for the late night shift.

Spring Valley, Tennessee was a small college town, surrounding Sycamore State University. As such, businesses there kept odd hours. Like Sammy’s, for instance. Dinner time was usually quiet and slow but as the night wore on and the college kids started leaving the night clubs, hot spots, and frat parties all up and down State Street, well … things really picked up. Sammy wasn’t up to another all nighter, that was for sure.

Then again, Trixie, she said, finding the Employee Rights & Benefits poster hanging on the kitchen wall across from her far less distracting than the sexy stranger sitting by the window, with his toned arms and long fingers and stupid ball cap and slyly grinning face. You can avoid all this by, you know, simply showing up for your shift. Remember? The one you’ve been scheduled for all week?

Trixie’s voice went duller than usual. Can’t do it, Sammy. Sorry.

Sammy clenched her eyes shut and counted to ten—okay, at least eight—before hissing, Fine, Trixie, I’ll make you a deal. Show up tonight and I’ll forget all those write-ups in your employee file. We’ll wipe the slate clean and just start fresh and—

Honey, I would but I’m all the way up in Gatlinburg. I told you that last week when I asked for the days off, now… I’m sorry but I’m three hours away and couldn’t make it even if I tried.

God forbid you try, Trixie!

Sammy hung up the phone, slamming it down so hard on the sales counter beside her that she was surprised it wasn’t cracked when she finally got the courage to pick it back up and check. The sudden absence of Trixie’s annoying, needy twang allowed Sammy to hear her own breathing, not to mention the 80s music that blared constantly in the cozy little retro-themed sub shop that bore her name.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun sounded particularly ironic at the moment as Sammy reached for the well-worn Help Wanted sign that was never far from reach these days.

Yeah, right, Cindy, Sammy murmured, drifting from behind the safety of the sub counter to put it back in the front window one more time.

Chapter Two

Milo

Does it come with room and board?

Milo Caldwell nodded at the sign in the woman’s hand, bearing the familiar black background with HELP WANTED printed in red block letters across the front. She glanced over at him, the sign extended toward the very window where he’d been sitting for the better part of an hour.

She wore a green ball cap, a dirty blonde ponytail pulled through the back, soft hazel eyes searching his curiously. Beg pardon?

He cracked a soft smile, struggling not to admire the way her small breasts pressed almost angrily against the faded yellow t-shirt she wore, the one with the puffy green letters spelling out Sammy’s Subs across her chest. The job. Does it come with someplace to stay?

She considered him more carefully this time, narrowing those eyes above a curious smile. Why … would you ask that?

Milo glanced out at the curbside in front of the sub shop, the back of his beat-up Jeep loaded down with moving boxes and hastily stuffed trash bags. Isn’t it obvious?

She shook her head quietly, ponytail wishing across her smooth shoulders. No, I mean … who expects a job in this day and age to come with a place to stay?

He swallowed audibly, painfully aware