The Locker Room(44)
Up, down, up, down. I can still hear his voice chanting as we dropped to do burpees with him hovering over us. When one of the freshmen threw up, I swear I saw a smile cross the old bastard’s face.
From the corner of her eyes, she catches me approaching her bed and smiles while taking off her headphones.
“What are you listening to?” I ask, sticking my hands behind my head and making myself comfortable on her comforter.
She unfolds her legs from her chair, snaps her book shut, and hops up on her bed to sit next to me.
“The Harry Potter soundtrack. Gets me all amped up to learn.”
I move my hand over her thigh. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who was amped up to learn.”
She picks up my hand and threads her fingers with mine. “Well, now you do.” She squeezes. “How was practice? I didn’t know you were coming over.”
“Practice was good. I didn’t think I’d make it back to the loft with how exhausted I am. And I wasn’t about to let another night go by when I didn’t see you. We made an agreement, I saw you in class on Monday, you denied me lunch—again—and now it’s Thursday, and I was wondering why I haven’t tasted your lips since the dining hall. Are you avoiding me, Ealson?”
She smiles and shakes her head. “Never. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Yeah? Even though I wasn’t invited to come over?”
“Yes. Gives me an excuse to stop studying.” She reaches up and lets her hair out of a clip. The long, brown strands fall past her shoulders, framing her beautiful face.
“Are you trying to make me hard?” I ask, taking in her full, pouty lips while tracing my finger over her thigh.
“Seriously? I undid my hair.”
“And it was sexy.” I pull on her hand and shift her back on the mattress beneath me. I look toward the ceiling and say, “The fire alarm isn’t going to go off again, right?”
“No, but if you’re thinking of sticking your hand down my pants, you’re going to have to wait.”
“Why’s that?”
“I have my period.” She shrugs as if sharing this information is no big deal. It’s not, but since we just started “seeing” each other, I’m really happy with her level of comfort she has with me.
“Shit, that sucks.” I move my hand over her stomach. “Do you need anything? I can run out and get you candy or something.”
She smiles sincerely and moves her hand over my cheek. “I have a stash of Pretzel M&M’s I keep around for this joyous occasion. Want to break into them and watch a movie?”
Fuck, she’s cute. What I said to my mom was right: she’s beautiful inside and out. And I’m the lucky fuck who gets to be with her. Mom will seriously love this girl.
“Do you have popcorn too?”
“I think Lindsay does.”
I hop off the bed. “Then it’s a date.”
Chapter Seventeen
EMORY
Knox: Dining hall, 7 p.m. Don’t be late.
I stare at the text and then look at the time. He’s two minutes late. How dare he? I smile. He’s so busy, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s working his hardest to get here.
I lean against the brick wall, thinking back to our movie night the other night where Knox took down my entire stash of Pretzel M&M’s—plus a bag of popcorn—in one sitting. The man can eat.
He also really likes snuggling, but only if he can have his hand up my shirt. He made that an “honorary” rule the other night when he slipped his hand under my shirt and pressed his palm to my stomach. According to him, he wasn’t getting frisky, he just likes the feel of my skin when he holds me.
How can a girl say no to that?
She can’t.
He was right when he told me his schedule was really tight. Mix that with mine, and there aren’t many options for us to meet up during the week, but that’s okay, because we’re keeping it casual. It also makes me want him more, because the moments I do have with him fulfill a need in my soul I didn’t know I had. Which only makes our time together that much sweeter.
From over the hill, I spot Knox briskly walking with Carson and Holt toward me. I know the minute Knox sees me, because a gorgeous and happy smile crosses his face. Carson taps him on the stomach and then points directly at me while saying something I can’t hear, but whatever it is, Knox seems to issue him a warning.
It’s a warm fall day, which means I’m wearing a cute, short black flowy skirt with knee-high knitted socks and a long-sleeved button-up blouse, and I left the first few buttons undone to show off a little cleavage for my man.
By the way he’s dragging his hand over his face, he likes what he sees.
Instead of meeting him halfway, I wait for him to close the distance and when he does, he loops his arm around my neck and brings his lips to mine where he slowly works his mouth over mine. Small, closed kisses at first that build and build until my mouth parts and our tongues connect.
“Dude, I’m starving, and you’re paying, so can you remove your mouth from Em’s so we can get some food?”
Sighing, Knox pulls away and squeezes my side. His forehead connects with mine as he says, “You look fucking hot, babe.”