Chapter 8
Anna
“Be sure to review the section on phospholipid structures, everyone. That’s going to be a major portion of your next exam,” my cell biology professor says.
He dismisses us, and I pack up, then head out of the classroom and out of the building.
“Hey, Anna.”
I turn and see Kyle walking up to me, smiling. I try to plaster on a happy face.
“Oh hey, Kyle.”
“You doing okay? I haven’t heard from you since you left the party Saturday night when you weren’t feeling well.”
“Yeah, I’m better. Thanks.”
Kyle’s texted me a few times since that night, but I’ve left him on read. I’ve been so focused on Travis.
Even just his name sends a wave of heat through my entire body.
I can’t stop thinking about him. About how the argument we had behind the diner led to the single hottest hookup of my life.
I’ve never had an orgasm in a public place, where anyone could see me or walk by me. I’ve never jerked a guy off in public either.
If you had told me even just a week ago that I’d be having the hottest hookup of my life in an alley, I’d have laughed until I passed out.
But it happened. With Travis.
Because Travis brings out something inside of me that I didn’t know existed. Some desperate, hyper-aroused version of myself that gets turned on when I argue with him…a version of myself that is completely okay with letting him get me off with his hands and giving me a screaming orgasm…
I try not to think about how filthy and wild I let myself get around him…I try not to think about how every night since we hooked up behind the diner, I’ve played with myself and come so hard to the memory of his mouth on my body and his hand on my clit…
I clear my throat and try to refocus on my conversation with Kyle.
“Sorry, I didn’t text you back,” I say. “I’ve been so busy with class and tutoring at the Writing Center. And studying for the MCAT.”
He waves a hand like it’s no big deal. “I’m just glad to see you now.”
His gaze lingers on me, which sets off an uneasy feeling in my stomach. It’s crazy how quickly things have changed for me. Just last week, I was crushing hardcore on Kyle. But now my interest in him has evaporated completely. I still like him as a friend, but I don’t want anything more.
“You don’t have class now, right? Wanna grab a coffee?” he asks, brushing a chunk of hair out of my face.
I stiffen. “I actually promised my brother I’d drop off some notes to him while he’s training at the campus fitness center. He’s taking a class I took last year.”
Kyle’s smile doesn’t budge. “We can grab coffee on our way to the fitness center.”
I exhale sharply at how he’s invited himself along on my errand. But that faint hit of guilt lingers. I feel bad blowing him off for the past week. The least I could do is have a coffee with him and let him down easily.
“Okay, sure,” I say. Together we walk to the student union, and he buys me coffee, even though I try to pay for myself.
On our walk to the gym, I ask him how studying for his physics exam is going, and he drones on about it the entire five-minute walk to the gym.
I space out a handful of times, unable to focus on what he’s saying. I glance over at him, taking in his shaggy blonde hair and the patchy stubble on his cheek. A disappointed feeling settles inside of me.
Crazy how just a few days ago, I thought he was so cute. And now even just looking at him does nothing for me.
It’s also crazy how he didn’t seem all that interested in me when I was flirting with him the past month, but a few days of going silent on him and he suddenly wants to hang out more.
We make it to the entrance of the gym, and I give him a smile that hopefully doesn’t look as forced as it feels.
“Well, thanks for the coffee,” I say.
“My pleasure,” he says.
He stands there like he’s waiting for me to say more.
“I should really get going,” I say. “My brother is waiting for my notes.”
“Yeah, of course. If you feel like meeting up to study, shoot me a text.” He takes a step closer to me. “Or if you want to just hang out, I’d like that too.”
I offer what I hope is a polite smile. “I just don’t think I’d be interested in anything more than just being friends right now. Things are so busy for me. I can’t afford to lose focus. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”
His hopeful expression eases, and he nods. “It’s okay. I get it. I’ll see you around, Anna.”
He walks off, and I head inside the entrance, relieved that things are resolved with Kyle.
I make my way through the maze of workout equipment to the weights section. I spot Nick doing squats in one of the power cages against the far wall. He racks the barbell and nods at me.
I pull the stack of notes and study materials from my backpack and hand them to him. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” he says through a breath. He wipes his sweaty brow with his forearm. “With your notes and study guides, I’m gonna ace this class, I can feel it.”
“You know, I actually think you might. Especially with Poppy tutoring you.”
He grins, grabs his backpack from the floor, and stuffs the papers inside it.
He guzzles from his water bottle and looks past my shoulder and nods. “You doing squats today too, Travvie?”
I still at the mention of his name.
Travis walks up to Nick. “Yeah. You finished with the rack?”
“One more set and I’m done. Then it’s all yours,” Nick says.
I back away to give Nick room to finish his squats. When I see Travis backing away to stand next to me, I let out a slow, deep breath, trying to keep my cool.
But he’s standing close…barely half a foot away from me…
I can feel the heat from his body skating over my arm…
I breathe in and get a whiff of his musky scent. Spicy and peppery with a hint of sweat. I should be grossed out, but I like the way he smells when he’s covered in sweat. It’s so manly and rugged.
I cross my arms over my chest, feeling hot all of a sudden.
“Relax, Anna,” Travis says, his voice low and rough and bossy.
I whip my head at him and glare. I try not to focus on how insanely hot he looks right now. He’s wearing this tight, long-sleeve shirt that shows off every single muscle in his torso. Biceps, triceps, delts, shoulders, forearms, pecs. Jesus, I can even see the outline of his abs through it.
He tugs a hand through his hair that’s damp with sweat. He doesn’t even look at me. He just keeps his gaze forward as he scans the crowded gym, looking annoyingly disinterested.
Just like he did when we sat together at the diner booth after our hookup in the alley. Barely looking at me. Not even speaking to me.
Anger simmers inside of me. I hate it that he can ignore me so easily. I hate how unbothered he is in my presence. I hate that he’s probably not thinking about me twenty-four-seven, how he’s probably not jerking off to the memory of how quickly I made him come with my hand.
The anger inside of me morphs into embarrassment. God, I’m pathetic. I’m worked up just standing next to him, and he’s acting like he doesn’t care one way or the other if I’m even here.
“Screw you,” I mutter as I walk off. I’m making my way back through the maze of fitness equipment and turn the corner when I bump into someone.
I stumble back, but the guy I ran into catches my arm, steadying me.
“Shoot, sorry, I…” I trail off when I look up and see Colin staring down at me.