4. Savanna #2
“Thanks again, Niki,” I whisper, squeezing his finger again and then dropping my hand.
He looks down at the hand I’d just been touching, and when Deirdre stands next to me and he lifts his face, I catch a glimpse of his smile before it disappears at the sound of her voice.
“Savanna, who did you sneak over?” She nudges my arm and giggles, and I’ve never wanted to shove someone out of the way so badly in my life. “You never use the ladder,” she says, making it clear she thinks I’m a prude before she gives Niki a cutesy wave. “Hi, I’m Deirdre.”
“Hey,” Niki says, but he barely gives her a glance before he looks back at me.
Deirdre isn’t used to not having all the attention, so I’m not surprised when she flicks her long, dark hair back, giving him an unobstructed view of her perky tits. I almost laugh when Niki completely ignores her.
“Leaving so soon,” she asks him, refusing to accept defeat.
“Van has an early class,” he tells her.
She raises a brow at the nickname and then says, “I don’t. You could stay and keep me company.”
I shouldn’t be surprised by the offer, but it still stings.
Deirdre is the kind of girl who would declare you her best friend one second and then fuck your boyfriend as soon as you left the room.
She’s my least favorite person at the sorority house, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.
The breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding leaves my chest when Niki says, “No,” and then turns around and grabs the ladder.
Placing one black boot on the closest rung, he steps onto the ladder with a gracefulness that surprises me.
It shouldn’t. He makes everything look sexy.
There’s a natural athleticism to him, and I could happily watch him for hours.
Before he descends, he gives me another smile and says, “Night, Van.”
“Night,” I tell him before he starts to climb down.
Deirdre gives an annoyed, pouty-sounding grunt before walking away, but I stay where I’m at, watching as Niki puts the ladder behind the shrubs and then gives me a little wave.
I keep staring, even though he’s already disappeared around the side of the house.
I don’t go back inside until I hear his motorcycle start, the sound of it growing softer as he drives away until I can no longer hear it.
Once I’m back in my room, the first thing I do is text Cindy because I need my best friend to talk some sense into me.
ME:
He didn’t kiss me. He’s going to give me his old laptop to use, and he taught me some basic computer stuff, but he didn’t kiss me. We were interrupted by Deirdre, so maybe he would have if she hadn’t been there. I don’t know.
CINDY:
Please tell me she was wearing a bra.
ME:
No such luck.
CINDY:
What did Niki do?
ME:
He ignored her.
I can’t help but grin when I send the response, remembering the way Niki had completely brushed her off, not even bothering to give her body a quick glance.
CINDY:
Well, that says everything, doesn’t it? From what Sasha says, Niki is kind of shy. I can tell he’s into you, though. Just be patient with him.
ME:
I think I could do just about anything for him. He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. I’m in big trouble, Cindy.
CINDY:
Welcome to the family! I can’t believe we’re going to share a last name!
I laugh and shake my head, even though she can’t see me. Lying on my bed, I send her a reply.
ME:
Don’t start planning the wedding yet. We may have been interrupted when he was leaving, but we were in my room for a long time. He could’ve tried to kiss me if he’d wanted to.
CINDY:
Trust me, he will.
I text her a quick goodnight and then roll over, staring up at my ceiling while I think about the man whose presence still fills every inch of my room.
I’ve been obsessing about him since I first met him when Cindy started dating Sasha.
I’ve seen him a handful of times since then, but never alone, and never with the closeness that I’m craving, Tonight had been different.
For the first time it had just been the two of us, but now I’m more confused than ever.
I’d felt something between us, but I have no idea if he did.
I’d thought for sure he had, but now that I’m alone I’m second-guessing everything.
Usually I’d distract myself with classwork, but I no longer trust George, and I don’t want to spend time working on a paper that may or may not actually get saved.
Deciding to do it the old-fashioned way, I grab my childhood development textbook, a pen, and some paper and start reading the chapter on cognitive development milestones.
Unlike a lot of the students here, I’d had no idea what I’d wanted to major in.
I’d stuck with basic core requirements during my freshman year, and then over the summer the couple who lives next door to my parents asked if I’d be interested in babysitting their three-year-old daughter while they were at work.
I’d jumped at the opportunity. Scotty and Dave waited years to be able to adopt, and I knew how nervous they were to leave Mei with someone new.
After just a few weeks of watching her, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.
I’d quickly set up an appointment with my advisor and switched to an early childhood education degree.
I have my heart set on becoming a kindergarten teacher, and now that I know what I want, I’m determined to make it happen.
I end up studying for way too long, and by the time I roll out of bed the next morning, I’m exhausted and wishing I could sleep in.
Knowing I’ll be seeing Niki is incentive enough to get my ass moving.
Instead of just throwing my hair in a ponytail, I take the time to wash and dry it, and I even throw on a bit of makeup and choose a much cuter top than I’d usually wear to class.
We hadn’t set a time to meet, and when he doesn’t show up before I have to leave, it suddenly occurs to me that he might not show up at all.
He might just decide to drop by later at some point.
I try to brace myself for that possibility and how I’ll need to pretend that I can be laidback and chill about this.
I let out a relieved breath when I step outside and the first thing I see is Niki leaning against a beautiful black Porsche that’s parked against the curb.
I’m not a very good actress. Casual nonchalance is not something I’ll ever be able to pull off around this man.
My heart is already racing, a big smile on my face, and I feel suddenly wide awake and elated by the time I walk over to him.
I know I’m letting myself get too attached too soon, but I’ve waited weeks for this moment, and I feel like I’ve been patient long enough.
As soon as I’m close enough, he gives me a big smile.
Even though he looks just as gorgeous as he did last night, I can tell he’s exhausted, making me wonder if he got any sleep last night at all.
I want to pull him in for a hug, ask him what kept him up all night, but I’m fairly certain that would shock the hell out of him and possibly push him further away, and that’s the last thing I want.
“Morning, Van,” he says, pushing off his car and then opening the door for me. “Come on, I’ll drive you to class.”
“Morning,” I say and then slip into the buttery soft leather seat as he closes the door for me while I put my heavy backpack down between my feet.
The mouthwatering scent of him mixed with what’s sitting in his console has my mouth salivating.
When he gets in, he must see my starved look, because he grins and hands me one of the hazelnut coffees.
“I thought you might need some caffeine before class.”
I take it from him, and when our fingers brush, my eyes jump to his to find he’s already staring at me. The interior of his Porsche is already on the small side, but it feels even more intimate right now.
“I got you this, too,” he says, handing me a small bag. He gives me a crooked smile. “I already ate mine on the drive over.”
I peek inside and as soon as I catch a whiff of the bacon and egg croissant sandwich my stomach lets out a very loud growl.
My face heats up while he gives a soft laugh and starts his car. “I guess I made the right call.”
“You did. I usually grab something on my way to class, but this looks way better than what they serve on campus. Thanks, Niki.”
“Anytime,” he says, and that one word has me taking a big bite just so I can hide my grin.
I’m so busy chewing and working my way through my coffee that I don’t realize he’s taking me to my class without me having to tell him where to go. He drives around campus, leading me right to my building like he knew exactly where it was.
I open my mouth to ask how he knew, but he’s already reaching over so he can grab a bag from the small backseat. He’s so close I can see the dark stubble on his face, and that nose ring that’s going to be the end of me is in a very kissable range. It makes me forget about everything else.
“Here you go,” he says, handing me another messenger bag that looks like a slightly smaller version of the one he carries.
The leather scent is strong as I run my fingers over the front of it before lifting the flap and opening it up.
There’s a laptop inside, and when I pull it out, my eyes widen as I look over at him.
“This is a MacBook Air, and it looks brand new.” I set it on my lap, almost too afraid to touch it.
It does look brand new, and I know the price tag on these things is pretty hefty because I’ve been saving for one for months.
It’s a pretty greyish blue color that I’ve never seen before, and my first thought is that it reminds me of his eye color.
When I turn my head, he’s watching me, an intent expression on his face, almost like he’s afraid I won’t take it.
He’s right. There’s no way in hell I can accept this.
“I can’t,” I say, already reaching for the bag to slip it back inside, but he reaches over, covering my hand with his as he gives it a soft squeeze.
With his hand still on mine, he says, “Please take it. It’s just sitting around collecting dust.”
“This thing looks brand new.”
His shoulder lifts just enough for me to see the shrug. “I replace my equipment a lot, and I take good care of it, so it always looks new.”
The laptop he’d let me see last night had also been in excellent condition, and that makes me think he might be telling the truth. He must sense that I’m caving because he says, “Please, Van. It will make me happy to know it’s being used, and you have to have a reliable computer.”
I look down at the hand that’s still holding mine, watching his thumb slowly graze the side of my finger.
That one small touch is enough to make me feel like a human sparkler.
All those hours I’ve spent watching Pride and Prejudice adaptations and any other period piece romance I could get my hands on didn’t prepare me for this.
I’ve seen this feeling in others, but I’ve never gotten to experience it firsthand for myself.
One small touch, and I’m hooked. That’s all it took for me to know that Niki Melnikov is it for me.
I’d laugh at the absurdity of how fast the epiphany hits me, but I’m still too lost in it to feel anything other than a deep longing for the man who’s still slowly stroking my finger.
“Here,” he says, clicking a few keys and then grabbing my finger again so he can press it to the top right key. I hold still while he gently moves my finger, scanning my fingerprint so I’ll be able to unlock it.
I swear I can feel my hand softly shake beneath his touch, and when it’s over, he doesn’t let go. His eyes stay locked on our entwined fingers, and I let out a shaky breath when he gives them a soft squeeze.
“You’re going to be late for class,” he finally says, breaking the silence and forcing reality to come crashing back in.
I look out the window, recognizing several of my classmates rushing up the stairs so they won’t be late.
“Yeah, I better get going. This professor is really strict and hates it when you’re late.
” I look down when he gives my hand another squeeze before letting go so he can pack up the laptop for me.
When I realize he wants me to take the bag, too, I shake my head.
“I can’t take the bag too. It must’ve cost a fortune.
It’s bad enough I’m accepting the laptop. ”
“You have to take the bag,” he insists. “How else will you keep it safe?” He glances at my stuffed-to-the-brim backpack. “Please don’t try to cram it into that thing.”
He has a point, and I’m not about to damage the beautiful piece of equipment he’s just given me to use. “Fine,” I say, making him smile, “but I’m serious about it just being a loan until I can buy my own.”
“Of course,” he says way too quickly for it to sound believable.
“I’m serious,” I say again.
The corner of his mouth quirks. “I know you are.”
If I had the time I’d insist on it again, but I wasn’t kidding about my professor. He really hates it when students are late, and I don’t want to get on his bad side.
Before I get out, I hurry up and drink the rest of the coffee and then grab both my bags. “Thank you again.” I gesture towards the bags and then the empty wrapper and cup. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Have a good class, Van.”
When it’s obvious he’s not going to say anything about seeing me again, I open the door and step out.
I’ve just slung the messenger bag across my chest like Niki wears his and pulled my backpack over my shoulder when he leans across the console and says, “My old iPad is in there too. I loaded it up with all your textbooks and the extra required reading material for your courses.”
“What?” I ask, too stunned to get beyond that one word.
He grins and grabs the handle. Before he pulls it closed, he says, “Get to class, Van. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Then the door is pulled from the shocked grasp I still have on it, and he drives away, leaving me with what I’m sure is a very stupid look on my face and a million questions running through my head.