Chapter 16 The Threshold
Chapter sixteen
The Threshold
Jasmine Chamberlain
I am going to regret this. I draw in a deep breath as I head inside the athletic dorms building.
Where Shepherd lives. I bite the inside of my cheek as I walk through the lobby, carrying the briefcase with my chessboard.
I sincerely hope no one sees me going to his dorm. I don’t need those rumors flying.
When Shepherd couldn’t stay at the last chess club meeting, an idea occurred to me. It’s likely a foolish one, but I’m following through with it anyway. I thought we could play outside of chess club. Then I could learn from him, and he could get more play time.
I asked MJ for the football practice schedule under the guise of surprising Bash with a visit, then asked one of Shepherd’s teammates who I share a class with what Shepherd’s dorm number was.
I told him I needed to drop off something for a class and didn’t have Shepherd’s number, but I think he saw right through me.
He muttered something like, Don’t get my boy in trouble, then gave it to me.
I make it to the elevator seemingly without notice. Since this is where a lot of the athletes live, it’s likely that any number of my teammates or other friends I’ve made are here. To not be seen is a feat.
The elevator takes me to Shepherd’s floor far too fast for my liking.
I walk down the hall with a whole garden of butterflies in my stomach.
What if he thinks it’s weird I showed up and tells me to get lost?
I try to imagine that and fail. A soft laugh escapes me.
It’s more likely that he’ll tease me until I scowl, then tease me some more.
No, I’m not risking rejection by coming here.
Just my pride. Plus, there’s always the possibility of him not being here at all.
I’m almost hoping for that as I approach the door.
Room 208 has a surprisingly cute welcome sign hanging over the door.
It’s in the shape of a football, with the word welcome in white font in place of the typical laces.
It makes me smile and relax a little more.
Shepherd may be my rival, but he’s not my enemy.
He’s just a guy with an adorable welcome sign.
With that reassurance, I lift my free hand and knock twice.
“Coming!” Shepherd’s muffled voice makes me clench my toes in my tennis shoes.
I glance down at my outfit to make sure I look okay. Not that there’s much I can do now besides run if I don’t. I’m wearing flowy black exercise shorts, paired with a matching black tank top. It was too hot today to wear anything else.
The door opens, and I look up to see Shepherd standing in his doorway wearing gray shorts and a white V-neck. His hair is messy and damp, likely fresh out of the shower. He blinks a few times, then rubs his eyes in an exaggerated manner.
“I don’t believe it. Jasmine Chamberlain, at my door. This must be a hallucination.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”
“Can you blame me? I’m in shock,” he replies with a smirk.
“What?” I huff. “I can’t visit you?”
He leans against the doorframe and crosses his arms. My eyes trace from his bicep to his forearm before skipping back to his still-smirking face.
“You can, but why would you want to?”
Logically, I knew I would have to explain myself, but I was really hoping he would know as soon as he opened the door and just let me in without any preamble. Delusional, I’m aware.
I hold up the briefcase. “I’m here to beat you at chess.”
His smirk transforms into a real smile. A dimple appears, and I feel like I just landed a back tuck. “You can’t get enough of me, can you?”
I meet his gaze with a wry smile. “It would seem that way, but I hear things are rarely as they seem.”
He chuckles as he moves to open the door wide. “Just come inside, Chamberlain.”
I pause for a moment, suddenly overcome by the realization that stepping over this threshold is going to change things between us.
Once crossed, I won’t be able to pretend like I don’t enjoy spending time with him.
We both know I could play chess with anyone in the club.
But now I’m making it undeniably clear that I want to play with him.
Shepherd holds the door open. He doesn’t rush me, just watches me as I wrestle with this decision. Does he sense it too?
It occurs to me that his holding open the door is a vote for change too. He’s admitting not just to enjoying playing against me—something he’s already done in the past—but that he’s okay with me being in his space. The knowledge that he must want me here emboldens me. I step inside.
If you would have asked me to describe Shepherd’s dorm, I think the image I would have given would be close to this: Not much decoration, and most of it football related.
There is one thing I didn’t expect, though, which is the scent.
A candle flickers on the coffee table, spreading a sugary, sweet but pleasant aroma throughout the space.
A guy I recognize as another football player, though I’m not sure what position, looks up from his laptop. He’s sitting on the couch, legs sprawled out over the chaise lounge. ESPN is playing on the TV, making me wonder if they were hanging out when I showed up.
“Were you busy? I can go,” I say to Shepherd as he shuts the door behind us.
It’s probably for the best. If I leave fast enough, I can retract the statement I made by coming in.
“You’re not getting away that easy,” Shepherd says with a knowing look, then gestures to the guy on the couch. “That’s Owen, my roommate. I was just watching TV while he studied.”
Owen gives a quick wave, already collecting his things to leave.
“Oh, you don’t have to go, it’s okay,” I tell him.
“He’s not a very social person,” Shepherd says in a stage whisper.
Owen gives Shepherd a dry look. “I heard that.”
Shepherd smiles, the perfect picture of innocence. Owen finishes gathering his things and heads toward a door opposite the couch. He pauses in the doorway to his room and says, “Nice to meet you,” then disappears inside, closing the door behind him.
“Nice to meet you too!” I call out in return before turning to face my doom.
Shepherd opens his mouth to say something I will likely wish he didn’t. I hold up a hand to stop him. “Save it, Captain. I’m here to play chess, not talk.”
He grins. “Yes, ma’am.”