Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
ALEX
As we walk to the cafeteria, I place my hand on the small of Stella’s back. Hell, I just love touching her. As we walk through the buffet line, I notice that Stella is up to her old tricks again. She’s got a plate full of lettuce and a lemon wedge. Who eats that shit?
“Babe? If you get a piece of grilled chicken, you can cut it up into your salad for a boost of protein. It’s light, and it tastes good. As a matter of fact, I think I’m going to have that. Care to join me?”
“Yeah, that sounds good. Where do we get the chicken?”
I lead her over to the grilling station and order us two grilled breasts.
As she waits, I head over to the dessert station and grab a slice of strawberry cheesecake.
When I return, she spots my sweet treat and rolls her eyes.
“Hey, I can’t help it. I’ve got a sweet tooth. Besides, I was gonna share.”
“Alex—”
I don’t let her finish because I know she’s going to turn me down. “Who doesn’t love cheesecake? You’re going to share it with me, right, Pixie?
“You can just eat the whole thing yourself,” she mutters.
“Now, what kind of boyfriend eats all the dessert without sharing with his girlfriend? A selfish one, that’s who.
And, Stella, I am not a selfish boyfriend.
” I look down at her with a determined expression.
When I see her brows furl, I have to wonder if she missed me labeling us. Hmm, I think she did.
I hear Lily whisper in her ear, “Holy shit, girl. You’ve got a live one there!”
Stella looks dumbfounded. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Oh, you will. I promise you that,” Lily responds.
I chuckle. They’re a pretty entertaining duo. This is going to be fun.
“So, what do you girls have planned for tonight?” Hank asks after we all sit at the football table.
Lily tells us about their plans to watch horror movies and hang out.
Hank’s pretty excited. “I love horror movies. What are you going to watch?”
“I brought the classics because little Miss Scaredy-Pants can’t take the good ones, so there’s The Night of the Living Dead, Psycho, and Scream.”
“Those are classics, but have you seen Paranormal Activity? What about The Ring? Ooh, Saw is crazy too,” replies Hank.
“I’ve seen The Ring, but I haven’t seen the other two,” Lily says.
“What about you, Stella? Have you seen any of those?” asks Hank.
“No. I don’t really care for horror movies. I plan to spend the entire time underneath my blanket.”
Damn, I’d love to join her under there.
“Well, I have the best idea ever. As in e-v-e-r,” says Hank. “Why don’t you girls come down to our place tonight, and we’ll watch those scary movies with you? That way Alex can protect you, Stella.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
What’s this? Stella’s trying to get out of hanging with me?
“Yeah, that sounds great,” Lily says. “What do you think, Alex? Want to help keep your girl safe tonight?”
Stella starts to make excuses. She reminds us that it’s Friday night and that we probably have better things to do.
I’ve heard enough. “I don’t have any plans.
Big game tomorrow and all that; I don’t like to go out the night before.
Besides, there’s nothing I’d like more than keeping you safe from the boogie man, Pixie. ”
She sighs, but I see a slight smile play on her lips. “I guess.” She shrugs.
“Well, don’t sound so excited,” Hank deadpans
“Can you please at least pick something that isn’t completely terrifying?”
“Oh, we’ll pick something good. We promise.” I give Lily the stink eye because I know her better than anyone and she’s fibbing. She’s going to work with Hank to choose something extra scary.
I cough in my hand, so Stella doesn’t catch me laughing because Hanks philosophy about horror movies? The bloodier the better. No worries, if Stella doesn’t want to watch the movie, we can just go into my bedroom. Alone.
After we finish up dinner, Hank asks the girls to come down to our place in an hour. That will give us time to pick up some snacks and straighten up our place. It’s a pigsty, and I’m pretty sure it stinks like old socks. What do you expect? We’re football players. We smell.
“What’s your room number?” Stella asks.
“We’re in 273. We’ll see you there in sixty. Yeah?” I smile and give her a quick kiss on her lovely lips as I drop her off at her door. Lily and Hank aren’t far behind.
Back in our dorm, Hank works to straighten the living room up while I make my bed and shove my junk underneath.
I’m nervous. How in the hell can I be nervous?
I feel like this is my first date ever with someone I want to impress.
Part of me thinks I should say “fuck it” and leave the mess, but the other part of me says she’s worth it.
She’s worth the effort of making a good impression.
“Yo, Hank. Clean the bathroom,” I yell out my door.
“It’s your turn,” he yells back.
“Nah, I did it last year.” I hear him laugh from his room as I chuckle too.
I switch on some music from my playlist and work my way out of my bedroom into the kitchen.
I make a list of things we need from the store before I wipe down everything and shove the dirty dishes into our tiny dishwasher and turn it on.
“I’m going to the store. Back in twenty. ”
“Right on. I’ll keep cleaning.”
“Good.” Because I want to make a good impression.