Chapter 6 #2
Just then I’m startled back to reality when a deep voice says, “So, how did Alex get so lucky to get you to have dinner with him?”
Lifting my head slowly, I see a blond guy, who is even bigger than Alex, staring at me.
He winks at me with pretty gray eyes. He looks kind of like a big Viking––a Viking that’s had his nose broken a time or two, but he’s still very good-looking.
His best feature is definitely his boyish smile.
I bet he gets away with all sorts of things when he smiles.
“Um, I don’t know,” I say, blinking quickly.
“I’m Hank, by the way.” He reaches his huge hand across the large table.
His arm is so big and so long that he can almost reach from one side of the table to the other without leaning.
I raise mine to meet his hand and find it is swallowed up in his massive paw.
This is about the only time in my life that I’ve felt small––being at this table with these football players.
“It’s nice to meet you, Hank.” I smile back at him.
He grins, but he won’t let go of my hand.
Just then Alex clears his throat. “That’s enough, Tank. Hands off.”
Hank smiles and winks at me again. “I meant nothing by it. I just wanted your girl to meet your best friend and roommate. I’m assuming I’ll be seeing more of her….”
His girl? What the heck does that mean? “I thought your name was Hank?”
There’s a collective laugh around the table.
“It is,” another huge guy responds, “but we call him Hank the Tank because he’s as big as one. He hates it, so that’s why we keep using it. You know, to piss him off.” More laughs from the guys.
“Oh, I see.” I pick my fork back up and continue playing with my salad.
Alex leans over to whisper in my ear, “Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?”
Great. He had to bring up my mother? I know he has no idea what he’s just said, but I’ve lost whatever appetite I may have had.
I set my fork down. I try not to look upset, but it’s hard holding back my grimace.
I think Alex can tell he said the wrong thing because he quickly changes gears and says, “You haven’t tried your ice cream. You’d better eat it before it melts.”
I sigh and pick up the small bowl and dip into the melting chocolate ice cream. I taste the cold, creamy goodness and say, “Mmmm, it is good, Alex.” When I look at him, his eyes are on my spoon, then my mouth. He has a funny look on his face. Is he breathing hard? “Alex? Are you okay?”
“Uh, yeah? Yep, your ice cream, it looks good. It looks really good,” he says, nodding. He squeezes his eyes closed tightly before turning back to his plate to eat his pile of food while I finish my ice cream.
“So, is our football team any good?” I ask the group. That’s when I hear a few laughs and a gasp or two, and see some people giving me blank stares. “What? I don’t know anything about football.”
A rather slim guy, at least compared to everyone else, sitting next to Hank replies, “Uh, yeah! We went to the Sugar Bowl last year. Have you heard of the Sugar Bowl, sweetheart?”
Another guy interjects, “And the year before that, we were the Big 10 Champions. Have you heard of the Big 10?”
I wait to reply because, in fact, I have no clue what a Sugar Bowl is. “Of course!” I sound so sure of myself. “Which one of you is the best player?” I ask to change the subject.
More laughter erupts. I’m so glad I’m the entertainment tonight.
Then Hank says, “It’s all right, Stella. It’s refreshing to meet a girl who isn’t after Alex for his future NFL earnings.”
“I’m not after Alex!” The heat of my blush rushes to my cheeks. Dropping my spoon, I push away from the table.
Now the laughs have turned into cackles and even a couple knee slaps.
“I’m not. He's just a friend.” Tears start to burn right behind my eyes.
This is not what I need right now, people thinking I’m after Alex.
He must be so embarrassed. When I turn to him, concern lines his face.
Oh no! This is too much right now. I whisper, “Alex, I’m so sorry.
I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I didn’t mean to make you think I was after you. ”
I jump up from my seat as quickly as possible, grab my tray, then drop it back down.
I don’t know what to do with it. I dart out of the cafeteria, not daring to glance back, and head to the elevators, but then I think better of it.
If I take the stairs, I can get back to my room much faster.
I hope I’ve gotten enough distance between Alex and me.
I just want to get to my room, shut my door, and put on some music.
Music soothes me, and I’m in desperate need of comfort right now.
Gah! This is ridiculous. I’m a frigging happy person normally.
Is this what college is going to be like?
Maybe I should find Lily. Then I’d have a friend with me at least. Things have got to be better tomorrow.
They’ve just got to be. When I reach my floor and turn the corner to my hallway, Alex is leaning against my door.
I’m sweating and panting from all the flights of stairs while he looks like it took him three strides to get here. Unfair.
When I reach my door, Alex asks, “What’s going on, Pixie?”
“Nothing.” I stare up at him and release a lungful of air. “I don’t know.” I shake my head, my fingers gripping the doorknob. “Everything has been so overwhelming, and I’ve only been here three days. Plus, I didn’t mean to embarrass you down there, Alex.”
“Why would you think you embarrassed me? The guys should be embarrassed. They made you feel bad. Don’t worry, I’ll kick their asses at practice tomorrow.”
“No, don’t do that! I know you must be embarrassed to have them think that I’m after you. You know, for your money and body and stuff.”
“Why would you think I’d be embarrassed by that, Stella? I rather like the idea that you’d be after me for my body.” He gives me another glimpse of his perfect smile.
“Well, just look at me!” I exclaim.
“Oh, I’ve been looking at you,” Alex says as he looks at my face, then my chest, then back at my face.
“I’m definitely not your type, Alex.”
“And what type is that, Pixie?”
“Stop calling me Pixie. I’m not little!” I say, frustrated.
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m short, but I’m definitely not little.”
“Stella, I could pick you up with one hand.”
“No, you couldn’t. Plus, you’d get hurt if you tried.
I weigh a lot.” But he isn’t listening anymore.
Nope, he’s wrapping his huge, muscled arm around my waist. He then lifts me off the ground like I’m a small child.
He’s lifted me just high enough so we’re face-to-face, inches apart.
I’m not sure what to do with my legs because right now they’re just dangling, so I wrap them around his waist.
“See, I told you I could lift you with one hand.”
He moves my body back until it’s up against the wall. “Please put me down, Alex. You’re going to get injured!”
Alex doesn’t listen; instead, he uses his other arm to wrap around me, pulling me even closer.
“What are you doing, Alex?”
“Well, Pixie, I’m about to kiss you. What do you think about that?”
I don’t have any words after that, and apparently, neither does he because his lips brush against mine in a gentle, sweet kiss.
My body comes alive in his arms just from that little kiss.
I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into him.
I turn my head to get a better taste of his full lips and nip at his bottom one, which produces a sexy moan from him.
Where did I learn to do that? I’ve only ever kissed Bradley, and his kisses more closely resembled a grandpa kiss.
When Alex’s tongue slides into my mouth, my first instinct is to pull back, but I quickly change course and meet my tongue with his.
He swirls his around in my mouth, and I feel a connection so deep, so powerful my entire body tingles.
I press my center into him to feel some relief down there.
His big palm slides down and passes over my butt, squeezing gently.
Wow. I think I get it now. I see what all the fuss is about.
Just then, the door to my dorm opens abruptly. “Stella! What are you doing?” Bradley practically screams. “Put her down! That’s my girlfriend you’re kissing!”
Slowly, Alex loosens his hold on me to enable me to slide down, but it’s like slow motion.
In the process, I feel every single one of his hard muscles against my soft ones.
My nipples harden to the point that I know that he knows.
Alex winks at me, and I’m mortified. Please kill me right now.
After my feet are solidly on the ground, I turn toward Bradley and say confidently, “I’m not your girlfriend, Bradley, and I’m not talking to you right now. ”
Brooke peeks her head out of the doorway, but her expression only reads bored—well, bored and pissed, so that’s something. I’m the one who should be angry. Why did she let Bradley back into our dorm? I suspect the answer to that is because she clearly likes to stir the pot.
“Come on, Stella, you know it was just a misunderstanding. We need to talk. Our parents want us to work this out. Your mom is heartbroken and very upset with you right now.”
“Upset with me? Do they know what you did?” I ask defiantly.
“Not exactly. They just know that you broke up with me and that you're being unreasonable.”
“What the fu—” Apparently, Alex is just as shocked at his words as I am.
“That’s ridiculous. Please leave, Bradley.” I take a deep breath, tired from all the drama. Alex places a comforting hand on my lower back and slides his palm around to my front, gently guiding me back into his chest so that I’m in a cocoon of protectiveness.
“What the hell is going on between you two, Stella? Doesn’t he know you already have a boyfriend?” Bradley demands.
“I don’t think it’s any of your business, and frankly, you lost the right to call Stella your girlfriend when you screwed around on her.”