Dedication (The Medicean Stars Saga Book 1) by McCullough Crawford Read Free Book Online Page A

the night. Maybe he’ll let Ryan talk him into staying out till the bars close, or maybe he’ll even find someone to go home with other than a grouchy cab driver. It’s unlikely that he’ll really forget about his responsibilities that thoroughly, but it is certainly pleasant to dream about the possibility.
    Cutting through an alley between two buildings that are covered in ivy and glistening in the light of the setting sun, Jon reaches the edge of campus, and the wind that had once only brought him swirling trash now brings him the mouthwatering smell of fried foods from a selection of ethnicities. Walking to the corner, he joins a crowd talking loudly and excitedly as they wait impatiently before descending on the sources of all those wonderful smells. The cars whiz by, equally oblivious to the crowd on the corner as the crowd is of them, until a computer somewhere nearby decides that it is time for the lights to change and for salivating mouths and parched throats to find relief. The lights cycle, and Jon finds himself swept across the street and off the confines of the campus for the first time in far too long.
    Making his way past the overpriced restaurants and bars that command the locations closest to the campus and the free-flowing cash of students too far in debt to care if their dinner is twice the price it should be, Jon continues past stores selling all the things students “need” before coming to another intersection. Here the road continues up into a residential area dominated by small apartments and large rent bills, but Jon is not destined for the house parties contained within them. His destination lies off to the right, down a small side street behind the glowing façade of a twenty-four hour night club. Jon pushes past the line waiting to get by the bouncer and heads down the street, past the dumpsters, to the discreet wooden sign above the ancient and abused door of his destination.
    Stepping through the door, Jon is greeted by the warm smell of freshly made pretzels and sour beer. The smell is all he can perceive at first as his eyes adjust, because even though the setting sun has left the street outside draped in shadows, the interior of this establishment has seen no more light than that cast by a trio of neon signs above the bar since its opening. It is a comforting place, where conversations can he held in private and good beer can be purchased at reasonable prices.
    ‘’Over here,” Jon can hear Ryan’s voice, and after a few seconds, he can even begin to make him out. He is seated in an alcove by one of the blacked-out windows set high in the walls. There is an empty pitcher of beer in front of him and two glasses, one with a film of beer foam and the other as clean as any glass gets in this place.
    Jon makes his way through the crowded mass of tables, weaving though the room and eventually making it to the booth. As he arrives, a waitress appears with another pitcher of beer. She sets the vessel down, spilling some foam onto the lovingly polished yet worn table. Wiping it up, she inquires if there is anything else they might need. Finding that they are satisfied, she tucks the towel back in her apron pocket with a wink and makes her way back to the bar.
    As Jon slides into the booth, Ryan fills the second glass with deliciously sweet and cold brew. While Jon struggles out of his jacket, Ryan’s boisterous presence commandeers the direction of the conversation.
    “So, you finally escaped that dungeon,” Ryan starts in. “It’s been what, like almost month since I’ve even seen you outside of it? And that was at the grocery store, so it totally doesn’t count. When was the last time you even thought of doing something social or something for yourself?”
    “Let’s see, when did I start grad school, six months ago?” Jon replies. “Then the last time I thought about doing something fun was about five months ago. About the time my advisor realized I existed and decided it’d be a