19. Teddy
CHAPTER 19
TEDDY
Vanessa’s hand is warm in mine as I lead her through the off-campus house located in Frat Row. We’re celebrating our first winning game, and I’m riding high from the victory.
Something else that has me worked up is Vanessa in my shirt. She wanted to change after the game, but I refused. I like seeing my name on her too much, and the way the fabric stretches across her tits is fucking magnificent. Seriously. It makes my mouth water.
She had every right to question me this morning.
I have been avoiding seeing her in person. Texts are easy, because I don’t have to look at her, be around and feel … things . Things I’ve never felt before. Last weekend made me realize that while I’m attracted to Vanessa on a physical level, it goes much deeper than that, and it fucking terrifies me.
I’ve never really dated or had an official girlfriend. I don’t know how to do this, and I don’t know how to tell her fuck this fake-relationship, I want it to be real, because something tells me she won’t be as keen on the idea as I am.
And rejection?
That’s not something I’m used to at all.
So, for now, I have to hold my tongue. I can’t risk sending her running for the hills. Not when I do still need her to uphold her end of the bargain when it comes to my parents.
“Ugh, this music is awful,” she remarks, wrinkling her nose at the dub-step. “Who listens to this shit?”
“Frat boys,” I reply, gripping her hand tightly as bodies press against us. “Smithy!” I call out to one of the frat guys I know, and he pulls me into a one-armed hug. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much, man. Nothing much. I’ve got your zombie shit in the basement fridge. I put a Post-It on it for no one to take it, but you know how it is, so no promises it’s still there.” His gaze moves over to Vanessa at my side, looking her up and down with a gleam in his eyes I don’t like. “Who’s this fine lady?” He licks his lips like she’s some juicy morsel I’ve brought forth in offering.
“This is my girl, Vanessa.” My tone is possessive, and I don’t care in the least. Smithy and I have shared a few classes, that’s how we’ve gotten to know each other, but he’s not a good enough friend for me to think twice before decking him in the face if he keeps leering at Vanessa.
“Your girl, huh?” He eyes her, ignoring me.
“Yeah, my girl. So stop looking at her like that.”
He chuckles, finally looking at me. “You’re a possessive bastard, aren’t you? Maybe when she’s done with you, she’d like to get to know me.”
“Smithy,” I warn.
“I can speak for myself, thank you very much.” Vanessa lets go of my hand, shoving her body in front of mine so she can stare down Smithy. “Bold of you to assume I’d be interested.”
Smithy throws his head back and laughs, then wags a finger at me. “I like her.”
He picks up his beer and disappears into the crowd.
I pull Vanessa back by her hips and turn her around. “It’s hot when you get all bossy.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re such a raging horndog you probably get hot and bothered watching a worm wiggle.”
I snort, pressing my lips together so I don’t dissolve into full-blown hysterics. “A worm?”
“It was the first thing that popped into my brain. It’s weird in there sometimes.”
“Seems like it.”
“Are your friends here?”
“Some of the team will be, but Mascen is probably celebrating with Rory and Cole doesn’t really like parties, so I’m sure he’s home with Zoey.”
Wow, my best friends are really wifed up—well, basically—and that’s … weird. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for them, but it sucks being the odd man out. I look over at Vanessa, and think to myself at least I have her , but I don’t. Not really. Not in the way I want.
“Shouldn’t we go to the basement so you can get your weird zombie beer?”
“Don’t diss my Zombie Dust, woman.”
I reach for her hand, and she slides hers into mine, giving me a shy smile.
We push our way through the throng of bodies. It’s got to be a fire hazard with how many people are crammed into the house, but campus always overlooks these parties. I guess they figure that college kids will be college kids and let the cops deal with us if it gets that out of hand.
Down in the basement, it’s less crowded, and I feel Vanessa relax a tiny amount.
“Want to play some pool?” I ask her, pausing at the fridge to dig out a beer. Blessedly, they’re still there untouched.
When I look over my shoulder at her she’s grinning. “Only if you want me to smoke your ass.”
I grin back, letting go of her hand so I can pop the cap. “I do love a challenge.”
“Oh, I know,” she laughs.
Over at the pool table I greet the guys there, William, a frat brother of Smithy’s, De’Andre a beefy football player, and Daire one of my good buddies who’s a hockey player.
“Hey, guys.” I greet all of them with a hand smack. “Mind if we join? My girl here says she can kick my ass.”
The guys chuckle in amusement, Daire the first one to speak. “Absolutely, this I’ve got to see.” He passes his pool cue to Van. “You guys go on and do a one-on-one. We’ll observe.”
If Vanessa is bothered by the idea of the three of them watching, she doesn’t show it.
Vanessa bites her lip, trying to tame her smile. “You’re going down, pretty boy.”
“Oh! She smoked you again!” Jude chortles, smacking me on my shoulder.
Him and some other guys showed up during our first game and have been hanging around ever since, watching me get my ass handed to me.
I don’t mind, because it means I get to check out Vanessa’s exquisite ass any time she bends over the pool table.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I chant, lining up my next shot.
The ball should go right in the pockets, it’s perfectly set up, but just as I’m about to hit the ball, Vanessa laughs at something one of the guys says and I’m distracted, completely missing it.
Her laugh deepens when she sees I flubbed again. “Looks like I need to give you some lessons.”
“Where did you learn to play so well?”
She bites her lip, wiggling her ass as she bends over the table. The worst part is I know she’s not doing it on purpose to entice me, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t working.
“Would you believe me if I told you there was a club at my high school? After…” She cuts herself off, but gives me a look and I know exactly what she was about to say. “I needed a distraction and the guys in the club were funny and never judged me. I still talk to a few of them even now.”
And now I’m fucking jealous over dudes I don’t even know the name of.
Cole told me once that when I fell, I’d fall hard and fast for a girl. I laughed in his face, but the joke is on me.
“Any of them attend school here?” I ask casually, and Jude shakes his head knowing there’s nothing innocent about my question.
“No.” She hits the ball, and it smacks another one, the two of them shooting in opposite directions and somehow both ending up in the pockets.
Cheers ring out among the guys gathered around. The girls sneer, irritated by the lack of attention for themselves.
Vanessa smirks at me. “Tired of having your ass whooped, pretty boy?”
I smirk, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “You think I’m pretty?”
She rolls her eyes, lining up her next shot and calls the net.
I’m not surprised when she beats me again easily.
“My turn,” Jude declares, stepping around me.
“That’s my girl ,” I warn, my voice dropping.
He looks over his shoulder at me with a curious smile. “Dude, chill. It’s only pool.”
Except this is Jude, and he fucks practically anything that moves. He might be one of my closest friends after Mascen and Cole, but that doesn’t mean I won’t whoop his ass if he looks at Vanessa the wrong way.
“Jealousy is cute on you, sweetie.” She pats my stubbled jaw as she passes by me. I sigh. There’s no winning with this girl. “You can be my cheerleader.”
“Sure, where are my pom poms?”
“I don’t have any pom poms,” Daire pipes up, his eyes glazed from whatever is in his solo cup, “but I have this.” The idiot pulls a tissue out of his pocket.
“Ew, dude. I don’t want to wave around your used tissue. That shit is nasty.”
“Wave your dick around!” Someone else yells out from the crowd, a couple of girls chime in with agreement.
Vanessa suppresses her laughter but points at me in warning. “Don’t even think about shaking your dick in my face.”
I wet my lips with my tongue. “Babe, that’s not what you were saying the other night.”
She turns red as the crowd rings out in a chorus of ohs . “Get me a drink,” she demands.
“Yes, milady.” I bow deeply.
Melting into the crowd, I make my way over to the fridge, grabbing a fresh beer for myself and one for Van.
Getting back through the group takes a ridiculous amount of the time, since no one wants to give up precious space. Eventually I manage and approach the table to find Vanessa already beating Jude’s ass, which makes me feel infinitely better—not that I care about losing to a girl, I don’t, but what I don’t want is to deal with Jude’s ribbing if he wins.
Passing Vanessa the beer, she gives me a grateful smile and takes a sip before lining up for her next play.
Fuck, I love watching the way she concentrates. She’s taking this seriously, but then so is Jude. They’re game takes longer than the ones between Vanessa and me—probably because I kept fucking up checking out Vanessa’s ass every five seconds, not to mention her tits.
Her game with Jude wraps up, with her winning, and everyone groans when I announce we’re leaving. More than one person—all guys—stop Vanessa on her way out, making her promise to play them next time. I growl in annoyance. I can’t help that I’m a jealous fucker.
I keep my hand on hers all the way to my car, opening the passenger door so she can get in.
Once I’m behind the wheel she turns to me with a smile. “That was actually fun.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” And I mean it. I don’t like the fact that most of the things I take Vanessa to are things she hates. I want her to want to do things with me. I’m treading in dangerous territory, I know.
As she’s buckling her seatbelt, she asks, “Do you mind stopping and getting something to eat? I’m starving.”
“Me too,” I admit, maneuvering around the badly parked vehicles. “What do you have in mind?”
“Anything but The Burger Palace,” she pleads.
I chuckle. “I’ve got an idea.”
“Mmm, pancakes,” she hums as the plate is set before her in the twenty-four-hour diner.
“I’ve never seen someone so excited about pancakes before,” I quip, nodding my head in thanks at the waitress when she sets my plate of eggs and sausage in front of me, along with a strawberry milkshake.
She stares at me, dumbfounded. “Pancakes are the superior breakfast food and one should always be excited when basking in their presence.” I shake my head at her, fighting a smile. She pulls her dark hair back and off her neck, securing it with an elastic band. “God, all this hair makes me so hot. I keep thinking about cutting it to my shoulders, but then never do.”
“Don’t cut it,” I blurt, practically begging.
She looks at me wide-eyed. “Why the hell not?”
I shrug innocently. “You’re beautiful either way, but I love your hair.”
She points her fork at me, a piece of pancake speared on the end. “Why should I do what you say?”
I smirk at her, leaning across the table. “Just admit you like arguing with me. Is this your version of foreplay? Please, tell me you’re getting wet right now.”
Her mouth falls open, and she flings the piece of pancake off her fork so it pelts me in the forehead. “I can’t take you anywhere,” she admonishes. “Stop making everything sexual.”
I pick the food off my face and put it on the table. “I can’t help it when you like fighting with me, and your cheeks get all flushed, and you look hot and bothered.”
Pressing her lips together, she stares down at her plate for a moment and then says, “I won’t be cutting my hair. But not because of what you said. I like my hair, and I know I’d regret all my life choices if I cut it all off.”
“You’re kind of dramatic. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“Me?” She blinks at me like I’ve caught her off guard. “What about you?”
“I know I’m dramatic,” I admit. “But don’t tell anyone else I said that.”
She digs into her food, ignoring me for the moment.
I do the same, hungrier than I realized. I didn’t eat anything except a protein bar after the game and before the party.
“What’s your plan after graduation?” I fucking hate silence. Sure, with Vanessa it’s surprisingly comfortable, but I’d still rather be talking. Silence lets my mind wander too much, where I dwell on things better left forgotten.
She sips on her milkshake—chocolate—humming at the flavor. “Ideally, I’d love to move to New York City and get a job at a PR firm. More than likely, I’ll have to intern somewhere back home, which isn’t ideal, but you do what you have to do. What about you? Where do you want to go?”
“I’m not sure.” Pushing the eggs around my plate, I think about what I say next. “Once I come into my inheritance, I can go wherever I want. Do whatever I want. I could even give myself time before I figure things out. I know I want to start my own business, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.”
“You should do something with baking.” The response rolls off her tongue without a second thought.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know.” She wipes her mouth with a paper napkin, crumbling it up when she’s done and setting it by her plate. “What about a food truck? Those are popular.”
I don’t know why, but I laugh at the idea of me driving around a food truck selling baked goods, but then I sober because it’s not a bad idea. Not at all. “Hmm, you have a point.”
“I do?” She sounds surprised that I agree. I guess I can’t blame her since I did laugh at first.
“I enjoy baking and being around people. A food truck could be fun. Not that it would be easy, but I think I’d like it.”
She bites her lip, her blue eyes serious when they meet mine. “Whatever you do, you should love it, Teddy. You deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else.”