Throwing my napkin into the now empty red basket, I glance over one more time at the mysterious man. This time I realize what it is about him that sets him apart from the other men. His face is chiseled and well defined, everything runs from his strong jawline, and his brown eyes are perfectly framed with his eyebrows. The man could walk a runaway fully clothed and still be the most gorgeous person. I can tell he’s built and very athletic, just like the rest of the men at the table.
“So are you all football players?” I dig for the information on my own and almost feel guilty.
“Yes, ma’am,” one of the quieter men in the booth pipes up.
“Names? I mean, I can’t leave just knowing Ethan and Lane.”
Ethan takes the lead and begins pointing out the men. “Gus T., redshirt freshman. Dustin, sophomore defensive end. Lane, resident pussy. Tuck, the best running back in college football, and he’s a junior. Jared, sophomore offense.”
I know Ethan continues, but after learning the name of the man who’s held my attention even over that glorious burger, I get distracted. His name is Tuck, and he’s a running back, and obviously his teammates speak highly of him. And he’s the oldest at the table, and by far the most alluring. This time I outright stare at him, not worried if he catches me or if the others notice my actions. Ethan finally shuts his trap.
“Nice to meet all of you,” I say, not breaking my stare.
Tuck finally looks up at me, but only for a second as he offers me a shy little smirk. Just the brief eye contact and the slight grin has my stomach doing double time.
“Well, I’m off, boys.”
I stand quickly, mentally berating myself for letting a football team turn me into a schoolgirl with a massive crush. Steadying my sea legs and getting one last look at Mr. GQ, I turn to walk toward the door. Welcome to college life, Blue. Good hell, I’ve been out of my dorm once, and heated up over several men and eaten with a group of football players. Whore, much?
My sandal catches on the leg of a booth. My upper body flies forward, while my shoulder purse nearly knocks me out as it sails over my head. The floor comes closer and closer to my face, and all I can think about is the group of men watching me. My knee grazes the tile floor—or actually thumps into the tile floor—and that’s when my senses kick in. Using all my strength on my right side, I pull myself back up into a standing position before making out with the dirty tile floor.
My heart thuds so loudly, I can barely hear a thing over it, and when I turn to see if anyone happened to catch my little stumble, I see the whole table of football players staring with their mouths hung wide open. Even the booths near me are all staring.
“Don’t worry, I’m a cheerleader,” I say as I sprint from the restaurant, but before I make it to the door I see Tuck smiling once again.
He was stone cold and showed no emotion except for those slight and very shy smiles. Tuck Jones, who the hell are you, and what have you done to my ovaries?
Chapter 2
I pull up my favorite yoga videos on YouTube and do a few sessions while waiting on Sophie. Her hour turns into more like three, but then the door finally opens, and in steps my roomie.
She’s my exact opposite. Similar builds, but that’s it. Sophie’s pale in complexion, with jet-black hair that trails down her back and bounces in curly waves.
“Hi,” I squeak out, sitting up in my bed and flipping off a dumb eye mask. Being bored beyond belief, I busted into a home spa kit and ended up with a lumpy cream and an eye mask. Thankfully, I’d washed off all the green goo and just laid bored out of my mind in my bed.
“Oh my god, I’m Sophie, and you must be Blue.” She bounds toward me, throwing the heap of items in her arms onto her bed. She knocks back onto my bed and lands right on me. “I’ve been dying to meet you. We got lost on the way here. Long story, I’ll fill you in later.”
I held no doubt she’d fill me in on everything.
“Can I help you?”
I tried sitting up and pushing her off to the side. I’m definitely the bubble type of person, as in stay the fuck out of my bubble until I feel comfortable enough hugging you on my own. And it’s clear within thirty seconds of meeting Sophie, she has no concept of a bubble.
“Holy shit, cheer orgy.”
Looking up, I see Lane standing in our doorway holding large boxes.
“Er mah god, thank you.” Sophie pops up and makes her way to Lane.
Along with no bubble, the girl clearly has no shame either. Lane nods in my direction, and then a huge smile covers his face when he recognizes me.
“Blue.”
“Lane.”
“You’ve got some green shit around your eyes,” he says as he walks in and gently sets down the boxes.
Springing from my bed, I go to the mirror behind the door, and holy fuck if I don’t have two perfectly shaped circles framing my eyes. I’ll be kicking the dog for this one when I get home. Damn spa kit. Damn Mom. And Damn Lane for pointing it out.
I snag a wet makeup remover cloth from my vanity and begin to scrub. My only saving grace is that it wipes away easily, only leaving behind a light red mark circling my eyes. Raccoon, it is.
When I turn around I’m surprised to see three more men join Lane in the room, and I find myself quickly scanning the small crowd for Tuck. I recognize one of the men from the diner, but that’s it; the others are all new faces. I don’t remember the name of the familiar man and feel sort of assholish for it. I’m thankful the crowd goes to setting down boxes and unpacking stuff for Sophie. I’m amazed to watch the men sort all of her shit out as she tells them where to place things and exactly how to unfold the bedding.
It only takes seconds before I know I landed the perfect roommate. She likes to talk and be loud, has men following at her heels, and will be the perfect person to hide behind and blend in.
“I’m starving.” Sophie plops down on her bed and covers her stomach. Lane quickly joins her, and the other men exit the room.
“I have some food over in that little fridge. Help yourself.” Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I take a seat at my hot pink office chair near my desk.
Sophie waves off my suggestion. “It’s probably all healthy shit. Right?” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer her question, she just continues talking.
“How do you two know each other, anyway?” she asks.
“Oh, Blue dined with me and the boys earlier.”
“You little hussy.” Sophie zings a pale purple zebra striped pillow toward me. I’m able to bat it away easily. “You told me you were walking downtown to get a bite.”
“I did.”
“Whatever,” Lane pipes up. “She practically begged to sit with us and even offered us a twenty dollar bill.”
Rolling my eyes, I nearly pop both eyeballs out of the socket.
“Well, let’s go eat. I want to see something other than the damn dorms.” Sophie stands, straightening out her tiny white shorts and shamelessly readjusting her boobies. Lane is standing right behind her like a lost little puppy.
The writing is clearly etched on the wall with these two. The only question left is whether they will be bedmates or have something a little deeper.
“I think I’ll just stay behind. I’m actually going to go for a run after the late lunch I mowed down.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Lane wraps his arm around Sophie’s waist, and she doesn’t even flinch. “Let’s go eat. I’m hungry too. Careful, Blue, it’s almost dark.”
“I’m going to use the running trail around the campus. My dad did some research and it seems to be pretty safe.” I shrug while picking at the hem of my shorts.
“Yeah, it’s well lit and the best place. The gym will be open for athletes tomorrow.”