Misadventures of a Rookie (Misadventures #11)(44)

“I’m not going to call him to ask him to bring me food. That’s so relationship-like.”

Again with the dry look. “Aren’t you two in a relationship?”

I made a face. “We’re dating.”

“Uh-huh, which means you’re in a relationship.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes, pulling my phone out to text Gus. I had spoken with him earlier, but then I was in classes the rest of the morning. I sorta, kinda, in a way, missed him. Things were good with us, like really good, and while I was still trying to hold back being honest with myself about my feelings, it was getting harder and harder by the day.

I was about to text him when Lizzy said, “Wait… Isn’t that Gus right there?”

I looked up, following where she was pointing, to in fact see Gus leaning up against his truck. My face scrunched up in confusion while he pushed off the truck, his lips curving as he came toward me. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I said, still not sure what he was doing there.

“I brought you lunch.” He reached for me and kissed me softly on the lips before squeezing my hips.

“Guess you won’t be alone now,” Lizzy sang as she started off the other way. “Bye, Gus.”

“See ya,” he called before he wrapped his arm around my neck, pulling me close. “Are you hungry?”

I leaned my forehead into his cheek. “Starving. What made you think of doing this?”

He chuckled. “I just figured you’d be hungry since you had a long day. Plus, I just wanted to see you.”

“You did?” I asked. I felt my heart flutter as we reached his truck.

“I so did,” he answered. He reached for the bag of Panera and then guided me to the bed of the truck. “I’ve been thinking about you all morning.”

“Whatever. You were not.” I giggled as he brought the back hitch down. He took my hand and helped me up into it and then set the food beside me.

He shot me a look as he hopped up with ease. “I did too. You’re all I think about.”

That warmed me from the inside out. “Well, that’s a nice thing to say.”

“It’s the truth.” He handed me a salad and cup of soup. “That’s what you like, right?”

I smiled as I nodded. It blew me away that he remembered what I ordered the last time we went. “It is.”

“Good.” He dug into a hearty sandwich and a bag of chips. “So you leave in a couple weeks?”

“Week after next.” I wasn’t necessarily dreading going home, but I wasn’t too excited. My parents, or better yet, my mom, were a bit trying, to say the least. While I was looking forward to going back on one level, on another, after all the stuff that had gone on between us, I was dreading all the drama I knew I’d have to face.

He nodded slowly, and I could tell he wasn’t too pleased I was leaving.

“Don’t want me to leave?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, but then I’m leaving too for a couple days, so we’ll both deal.”

“Have you heard good things about long-distance relationships?”

He scoffed. “Relax, Bocephus. It’s a road trip and a trip home for you. It’s not like I’m moving. We’ll be fine.” I sent him a grin, and he shot one right back before he asked, “How was class?”

“Long.”

“Cool. How much longer do you have in school?”

“I graduate in May.”

“That’s awesome. Not much longer.”

“Yeah, I’m excited. I’m doing really well.”

“Of course you are. You’re smart as a whip.”

I beamed over at him. “Okay, you don’t have to suck up to me. I’ll sleep with you tonight.”

He laughed out loud. “That’s a given. Your puss is healed, and now it’s time for me to make it happy.”

I shook my head, completely and utterly blown away by him. He was… Shit, he was Gus, and I absolutely adored that about him. That no-holds-barred, no-shits-given-about-anything way he had. I was feeling things I hadn’t felt in a really long time. Dangerous feelings.

“How was practice?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the flush warming my face. “How’s your hand?”

“Fine. I got the stitches out this morning. I’m good.”

“Will you play tonight?”

“Duh, and watch out, ’cause I’m scoring all the goals for you tonight.”

“For little old me?” I gushed.

“Yup, for being so amazing.” He laughed.

I couldn’t help it. I swooned at that.

“So I gotta be honest,” he said.

I looked up from my soup. “You brought me food thinking we’d do it behind the building?”

He thought that over. “Man, why didn’t I think about that? Yet, not what I need to be honest about.” He chuckled softly. “So I brought you food because I wanted to talk to you about where we are on the meeting-the-parents thing.”

I choked a bit on my lunch. “Um. I don’t think we’re anywhere near that.”

He made a face of distress. “See I assumed so, but my mom is being a pain in my ass about meeting you when they come this way next month for a game.”