Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(16)

‘Before you walk away – it’s usually about now.’ He gave me a crooked smile.

‘Nice,’ I smirked.

Cole strode away without another comment, or a goodbye. I found myself following the untucked white T-shirt that hugged the contours of his muscular back until he was out of sight. I shook off the distraction, replaced the earbuds and dived back into studying the ventricles of the heart without giving him another thought. Mostly.

I was packing up my laptop to head to the library and finish typing my Sociology paper when my phone rang. I noted the California listing on the screen and was prepared for a wrong number.

‘Hi. It’s Cole.’

My lips twitched in amusement. ‘I thought you weren’t going to use my number,’ I teased.

‘I decided to take a chance,’ he responded. ‘Not sure why, but I’m calling you anyway.’

I released an offended laugh. ‘Well, maybe I should let you go then.’

‘Wait,’ he said quickly. ‘Don’t hang up.’

‘I’m not much of a phone talker. And I’m on my way to the library.’

‘It’s Saturday night.’ He sounded confused. ‘Why aren’t you going out?’

‘Despite my resolution to try new things, I really don’t party much,’ I told him. ‘You just happened to be at every party and show I went to this year.’

‘Lucky me,’ he replied, making me scrunch my forehead and wonder why I hadn’t hung up on him yet. ‘Meet me out.’

‘What?’ I was stunned by the directness of his statement, like he was telling me versus asking. ‘Did you not hear the part about going to the library?’

‘Meet me on your way,’ he proposed. ‘Fifteen minutes, that’s it.’

I drew in a deep breath while considering his request. ‘Okay.’

‘You’re not going to blow me off, are you?’ he asked bluntly. I stifled a laugh.

‘No, I won’t blow you off.’

‘I’m at Joe’s.’

He hung up. The abruptness of it left me staring at the Call Ended time flashing on my screen. Why had I agreed to this? Glancing at my image in the mirror, I shrugged, not bothering to make an effort before slipping my canvas flip-flops on my feet. I really wasn’t concerned if this guy saw me without make-up and wearing a holey T-shirt and cargo pants. I zipped up my hoodie before heading towards the stairs.

Peyton peeked out of her room, her hair in hot curlers. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To Joe’s, then the library,’ I answered without looking back as I tromped down the stairs.

‘Why are you going to Joe’s?’

‘To meet Cole,’ I hollered back, before closing the door behind me.

It was past the dinner rush when I entered the sports bar, and way too early for the college drinkers. Various sizes of flat-screen TVs suspended at every angle broadcasted different athletic events to the virtually empty room. Cole was poised on a stool at the bar, watching a college basketball game on the large screen. I sat down next him without a word, my eyes on the TV.

‘Wow, you’re here,’ he gawked, shifting towards me.

‘Fifteen minutes,’ I reminded him, inspiring the return of that crooked grin.

‘Fair enough.’ He took a sip of the beer he had clasped between his hands, and I remained quiet, watching the game. ‘Oh, you’re still going to make me do all the talking, huh?’ he noted with a chuckle.

‘I’ll talk. But you’ll probably be disappointed, because I don’t have a lot to reveal.’

‘If you’re too boring, I just won’t call you again.’ One side of his mouth curled up when I raised my eyebrows in offence.

‘I’m anything but boring,’ I retorted, focused on his clear blue eyes.

‘I had a feeling,’ he murmured, not breaking the connection. I redirected my gaze back to the game, even though I had no idea who was playing and couldn’t concentrate enough to figure out who was winning. I fidgeted on the stool and tried to contain the impulse to get up and walk out the door, knowing it was what I should do.

‘So, have you thought about the next new thing to add to your list?’

‘Um …’ I cast my eyes towards the ceiling in thought and said the first thing that came into my head. ‘Skinny-dipping.’ Granted, I’d never had the desire to strip out of my clothes and swim before, but I hadn’t done it yet – so I blurted it without considering whether I would.

‘You don’t have anything small on your list, do you? It’s all or nothing?’

All in, huh?

A hot spear shot through my chest as his words echoed a voice from my past.

‘That’s the point,’ I responded calmly, despite the tension along my back.

Cole chuckled with a small shake of his head. Evidently he found me entertaining. ‘As long as you don’t go skinny-dipping at a party – that would be a little too much.’

‘That’s not my style.’

‘But jumping in the pool completely clothed is?’

‘I wasn’t supposed to get pulled in,’ I explained. ‘But I had a little too much to drink, and I wasn’t fast enough when she grabbed me.’

‘So, you were pushing your room-mate in?’ he clarified. I nodded.