Blind Side(18)

“Was there even a doubt that I wouldn’t?”

I balanced her in one arm, freeing the opposite hand to trace the blush that crept along her cheeks. Then, I tilted her chin with my knuckles, watching those wide eyes of hers flutter shut.

And I kissed her.

I don’t know what I expected when this harebrained idea first came to me in that coffee shop bar across campus, but whatever it was ceased to exist the moment my lips found hers.

I was surprised by the soft firmness she met me with, tentative, but seeking. She froze at first contact, an inhale trapped in her chest, but then she slowly exhaled, pulled me into her, and deepened the kiss like we’d shared a hundred before it.

A peck was all I’d expected. Even though she agreed when I said we’d need more to be convincing, I had a feeling once this moment came, she’d allow only a quick brush of my lips against hers. Then, I’d smile and drop her to her feet, tucking her under my arm and pretending like everything was normal while everyone around us freaked out. That’s what I’d imagined.

I had not prepared for Giana to roll her hips, arching into me and breathing in another long kiss with a shockingly seductive moan before I had the chance to break contact. That little motion, how her ass poked out and I felt the heat of her against my lower abdomen made my cock twitch, and I groaned, squeezing her hip before I reluctantly pulled away.

I knew every pair of eyes in that cafeteria was on us, so I couldn’t say a word. I simply arched a brow to let her know that was quite a surprise of a kiss, but she only flushed deeper, tucking her chin and making her curls waterfall over her face as I gently set her feet back on the ground.

Just like I’d planned, I tossed my arm around her, kissing her hair before I put my hand at the small of her back and guided her to take the spot in front of me in line.

“You breathing?” I whispered.

“Barely.”

I smiled, taking the serving spoon out of her hand when we passed the mixed vegetables. “You seemed a little frazzled when you blew in here.”

“It’s been crazy all morning,” she said on a heavy sigh, reaching out for a blueberry cake donut, but then pausing and moving on.

I plucked one as I passed and put it on her tray when she wasn’t looking.

“How was it out there for you?” She nodded at a cut I had haphazardly cleaned on my forearm. “Looks like it was rough.”

“It wasn’t an easy one, but at least we weren’t in pads,” I said. “I’ll take that any day.”

We both kept our focus on filling our trays, Giana telling me about all the media lined up for tonight while I smiled and nodded and listened.

But when we had our trays full and turned to find a table, we were both frozen by the stares.





Giana swallowed, glancing up at me, and I just nodded toward the table where Holden, Zeke, and Riley were. She followed tentatively behind me, and while I ignored everyone staring, I saw her scanning the room out of my peripheral.

I took a seat next to Leo, but Giana was still standing, her little fingers clamped around the red tray in her hands.

“Actually, I think I’m going to take my lunch in the office,” she said, forcing a smile that I knew was covering the fact that she was absolutely freaking out at how many people were still watching us. “The buzz of Chart Day doesn’t stop. See you on the media line?”

I smiled, wrapping my hand gently around her forearm and guiding her down a bit so I could press a kiss to her cheek.

“Can’t wait,” I whispered.

She couldn’t hide the shy smile as she gave a small wave to the rest of the table and ducked off, weaving through the tables until she was through the doors and down the hall.

I watched her go the entire way, and the smile I wore was one of genuine surprise as I finally turned back around, grabbing my knife and fork and cutting into the pound of grilled chicken I’d piled on my plate. I had my fork halfway lifted to my mouth when my arm was elbowed harshly, and the chicken went flying down to the table.

“Bro,” Leo said, looking behind me where Giana had disappeared before he stared at me again. “What the fuck was that?”

I shrugged. “What?”

“What do you mean what?” Zeke chimed in from across the table. “Are you two… together?”

A sly smile was all I gave in answer, cutting a new bite of chicken and popping it into my mouth.

Zeke shook his head, Riley watching me cautiously from the seat beside him as Leo threw his arm around my shoulder.

“Hell fucking yeah, man. Giana is hot as fuck.”

I told myself I was still in acting mode as I went rigid at his comment, turning slowly in my seat to face him. His smile slipped, and he coughed, removing his arm from my shoulders and readjusting in his seat.

“You know. Respectfully.”

I gave him a wry smile before shaking my head and getting back to eating, and though they all waited for more details, I didn’t give a single one, and they eventually let it go and moved on to other topics of conversation.

After a few moments, I casually stretched my back, arms reaching up overhead as I twisted left and right. My gaze caught on one of the tables of cheerleaders, on a pair of warm brown eyes that had once felt like home.

Maliyah watched me with a hundred questions brewing in those irises, her jaw tight, lips almost pursed before they spread into a hesitant smile. She lifted her hand, just an inch, a small wave at me from across that crowded cafeteria.