15. Sleepless In Star Cove
Sleepless In Star Cove
TALIA
There isn’t going to be enough concealer in the world to hide the dark shadows under my eyes. The thought hits me as I rub my fists over them in a futile attempt to wake myself up.
Turmoil kept me up most of the night. I fell asleep as the sun was rising and now I’m exhausted.
That kiss with Macklin was everything.
I haven’t had many kisses in my twenty-one years, but the second Macklin’s lips touched mine; I knew that wasn’t just a regular kiss.
It was The Kiss.
It felt like the earth shifted on its axis and nothing will ever be the same again after kissing Macklin Shayba.
His lips were so soft, and when his tongue slipped into my mouth, my body went into total overdrive.
I felt his kiss everywhere. Pleasure washed over me and my pulse migrated between my legs.
My nipples tightened against the fabric of my bra and my clit pulsed with need.
I can count the kisses I’ve had before on one hand, and they were nothing like the one with Macklin.
They were sloppy, all tongue and left me feeling cold and a little repulsed.
Kissing Macklin was better than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams.
I should have been on cloud nine, but the feeling that expanded in my chest when his lips left mine was just the opposite.
He didn’t kiss me because he wanted me. He kissed me to spite Gen. To make her jealous.
And speaking of jealousy, what does it say about me that I was kissed by the man I’ve been crushing on all year and yet there was a big part of me that broke at the sight of Gen and Becks kissing?
I wanted to walk up to them and rip Gen off Becks. Maybe throw her in the pool.
That’s why I stormed out like a silly middle schooler.
Thoughts of Macklin and Becks kept me up all night. I would do anything to kiss Macklin again, but I can’t help but wonder how it would feel to kiss Becks.
I’m a stupid basket case. Not only am I not over my hopeless crush on Macklin, I had to go and feel attracted to his brother too.
But in both cases, I’m shit out of luck. I might be stupid enough to crush on two popular men who could have any woman they want, but I’m not blind. The hottest brothers in the world are both into Gen.
Becks came to the party as her date and didn’t leave her side all night. And Macklin wants her back despite what he’s been saying to Gen during summer training.
He gave away his bluff by kissing me. That’s another thing that kept me up all night.
The best kiss I’ve ever had was a lie. Macklin didn’t kiss me because he wanted me. He did it to make his ex jealous.
My heart is crushed, but I have myself to blame for it.
I should have known that men like Macklin and Becker Shayba don’t go for women like me.
They go for the thin, willowy types with a body fit for a high fashion runway and millions of adoring followers on social media. Women like Genevieve Bergen.
I’ve been so busy wallowing in self-pity that I almost forgot that I agreed to have the first tutoring session with Macklin.
He should be here in about half an hour with breakfast.
Canceling on him now is cowardly, but I don’t think I can handle being in his presence after last night.
The truth is that there’s no way to back totally out of my promise to tutor Macklin this semester.
It would be a dick move to leave him high and dry after I agreed to help him.
Especially because he already fulfilled his end of the bargain.
He bought me brand new copies of all the books listed in Professor Cantucci’s syllabus; they arrived yesterday.
Maybe I could get a refund and pay him back. But I would need to give him a reason for backing out, and I can’t find anything that would make sense.
And even if I did, I would still have to see him in class and at every party and social event on campus since we gravitate in the same social circles.
Maybe Macklin would understand if I told him why I’m struggling with the idea of spending time with him.
But I can’t tell him how I feel about him when I know there’s no way he feels the same way about me.
Refusing to tutor him without a valid reason would make things between us more awkward.
I’ll have to put my big girl panties on and find a way to get over my embarrassing feelings for him. But not today. That kiss is too fresh in my mind.
I can still feel his lips on mine, taste him. The way he explored my mouth with the same sexy confidence he puts into everything he does.
Just the memory of how he nipped my bottom lip with his teeth sends a new wave of tingles to all my nerve endings.
I’m so fucked.
I grab my phone, racking my brain for an excuse to buy myself out of at least today’s tutoring session. Those big girl panties will still be waiting for me next week.
But the universe has a sick sense of humour. I’m still trying to come up with a plausible excuse when my phone vibrates in my hands. It’s a text from Macklin. He’s outside, waiting for me. He’s early and I’m still in my PJs.
They say women are supposed to be great at multitasking. But whoever said that must have not met me.
Trying to get out of bed at lightning speed and typing an answer announcing that I’ll be downstairs in five minutes proves that multitasking isn’t one of my innate skills.
I land on the hardwood floor of my bedroom, dragging the bedsheet that’s tangled around my ankle off the bed.
For the first time since moving into this room, I wish there was carpet on the floor.
But my sore ass is nothing compared to the horrific scene that awaits me once I make it to the bathroom.
Spending all night crying about my unrequited crushes without taking my makeup off first wasn’t a smart idea.
You know those game apps where you have to give your avatar a makeover and you start with zits that need popping, a wild bird’s nest as hair, and last night’s mascara smeared all around your eyes?
That’s the image that greets me when I look in the mirror. Hopefully, Macklin won’t notice that the five minutes I said I needed will be more like twenty. And that’s just to tame my hair and clean up my face.
Maybe this is why women like Gen get all the hot guys. She wouldn’t show up to a study session with the hottest man on campus looking like a complete train wreck.
Macklin
Maybe getting my car washed before coming to pick up Talia was overkill.
But I didn’t stop there. I got new floor mats, and there’s one of those pine tree-shaped car deodorants that’s dangling from the front mirror, mocking me. I didn’t have enough time, or I would have gotten it detailed.
The worst part? I already picked up breakfast, and I pull up in front of the Zeta House half an hour early.
If I wait thirty minutes to text Talia to let her know that I’m here, breakfast will get cold. But if I text her now, I’ll look like I’m overly eager. Like a fucking loser.
I debated it for a whole five seconds and then texted her. Loser it is, I guess. No one likes a stone cold sausage and egg biscuit.
The truth is that I can’t wait to see her again.
After I kissed her on the dance floor and she stormed off, I went after her. But Talia wouldn’t open her bedroom door, and in the end, I decided to go home and give us both the night to cool off.
Of course, I didn’t sleep a wink. I spent the night tossing and turning, wondering why she reacted that way.
Was she upset because she didn’t want to kiss me? It’s possible, but if that was the case, why would she kiss me back?
The other option is that she was upset about Becks and Gen’s kiss. I caught Talia stealing glances at my brother all night, and I think she likes him.
It’s also possible that both options are true. But that kiss was too fucking good for her not to be into it. I’ve never had a kiss like that. It was… perfect doesn’t seem enough to describe it. It was fucking everything.
So I’ve been going back and forth about what I should say to Talia when she comes out of the house.
My eyes land on the breakfast bag on the passenger seat. Is that going to turn into an apology breakfast? It would be hypocritical of me to apologize. I’m not sorry at all. I actually hope to get to do it again. As soon as possible. Maybe even today.
I exhale a frustrated breath, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. I need to keep my burning desire for Talia under control, or I’ll fuck this over even before I had a chance with her.
The rearview mirror shows the front door of the Zeta House opening and Talia coming out.
I adjust it to get a better look at her as she walks out of the driveway and toward my parked SUV.
The movement causes that stupid pine tree air freshener to dangle in front of my face.
Fuck it. It is overkill. I grab it and throw it out of my car window. I usually don’t litter but this is an emergency.
Sadly, there’s no way to make the car look less pristine.
I mean, a clean car is a good thing. On second thought, I’m glad I didn’t get it detailed.
Only serial killers keep their cars that clean so they don’t get caught.
Ok, that’s probably not true, but I don’t want Talia to think I’m one of those douche bags who are anal about their cars.
At this point, it doesn’t matter. A clean car smell and a touch of hot breakfast food is definitely a better smell than stale hockey gear.
As Talia approaches the passenger seat, I unlock the door for her.
Maybe I should have come out to open it for her, but I have to remind myself that this isn’t a date.
Besides, I’m trying to keep the lowest possible profile in case Gen, or one of her minions, spotted me out here. That’s why I texted her rather than ringing the doorbell.
“Hey.”
Fuck, she’s so gorgeous I have to tighten my grip onto the steering wheel to avoid touching her.
Talia’s blonde hair is up in a soft bun that lets a few tendrils of hair fall down to frame the perfect oval of her face.
Her face is fresh without a hint of makeup, yoga pants and a tank top are officially my favorite women’s clothes as of right now.
But it’s Talia we’re talking about. She’d look gorgeous in a trash bag. Or, better yet, without any clothes on. Fuck, I need to get my head out of the gutter before I say or do something stupid.
“Morning.”
I grab the takeout bag from the passenger seat so she can sit down.
“Mind holding onto this? I thought we could park somewhere nice on the way to the library to eat.”
Our fingers touch when she takes the bag from me. “Sure.”
What I really want is to lace our fingers together. Or take them and bring her knuckles to my lips.
But I’m not crazy enough to risk it.
We drive in complete silence until I park behind the library.
This parking lot is always empty because people tend to park out front so they don’t have to walk all the way around the building to get inside.
The back door is a service door, mostly used by staff who come to sneak a smoke or a vape out here, in spite of the campus-wide ban on any kind of smoking.
But what a lot of people don’t know is that this parking lot has a sea view. I come here on late night runs whenever I can’t sleep before an important game or exam.
“I didn’t know what you wanted to drink so I got you a few alternatives. There is hot coffee, iced coffee or soda.”
Didn’t I say I was overly eager?
“Is it ok if I take the soda?” She asks. “I’m not the biggest fan of coffee unless it’s one of those fancy lattes with flavored syrups, whipped cream, and possibly something crumbled like cookies, chocolate flakes, or candy canes at Christmas. Basically, something with a million calories.”
I feel myself smile at that tidbit of information. “Really? Me too. Everyone else in my family are black coffee drinkers and they make fun of me. Yuck. I can’t. It tastes like ass.”
She laughs, and for a second, the thick tension that was charging the air around us dissipates. “And how does ass taste?”
The way she tilts her head in question is so cute I have to busy myself with pulling the soda cup out of the cup holder.
Our fingers touch again when I hand it to her.
“Thank you.” She hesitates for a second, and I don’t let go of the cup. Any excuse to keep touching her, even if it’s just her fingers. “But if you don’t like any other coffee, what are you going to drink? There’s only one soda.”
“I’m happy for you to have it. I’ll drink the ice coffee. It’s less gross than the hot one.”
She shakes her head. “No, that’s unfair. You paid for all of this, you should get first choice of the drink.”
“Absolutely not.” I argue. “Ladies first. Sorry if it sounds sexist, but you get first choice.”
“On one condition.” She throws back at me. “We’ll share.”
I nod, mesmerized by the way her lips look wrapped around the straw as she takes the first sip. There’s no need to mention what I’m picturing those lips sucking rather than the straw.
“Very few things beat a sausage and egg biscuit with a side of hash browns for breakfast.” I sigh. “I woke up too late to eat something before morning skate and I’m starving.”
Talia takes a bite of her breakfast. “This is pretty good. But there is one thing that beats anything else for breakfast. Leftover pizza. Either warmed up or room temperature. It’s the breakfast of champions.”
Jesus. If there was any doubt that Talia and I should be together, this settles it. “Can you tell that to my parents? They’ve been cracking jokes at me my whole life for my insane obsession with pizza. Especially at breakfast. I eat it even straight from the fridge.”
“Straight from the fridge isn’t my first choice, but if I’m in a rush, I don’t mind. The trouble in my family is that if there is leftover pizza, you have to get up early. If my dad or one of my brothers gets to it, they’ll polish it all off.”
After we finish our food, I put all our empties back in the bag and move to throw the bag on the back seat.
“Wait,” Talia asks me for the bag. “We’re going into the library, right? There’s a trash can right at the entrance. Your car is so clean, it would be a shame to litter.”
Fuck me and my stupid idea to make sure the car was clean. She probably thinks I care about my car way too much.
“Don’t worry about that.” I reassure her. “And before we go in there, I think we should talk about last night.”
The words leave my mouth almost without warning. Talia’s face drops, and that isn’t a good sign.
I wanted to talk about it in the hopes that somehow we could do it again, but she’s looking like she’s about to throw up her breakfast.
I kissed Talia because I wanted to but it’s obvious she thinks it was a mistake.