Chapter 9 #2
“I told you before, I like hard work. I might be an athlete, but I enjoy studying. Committing something to memory. Learning all about it.”
He lets the statement hang between us with the implication that I’m the one he’s studying. His fingers brush mine and I don’t pull away.
“What are we talking about over here?” Reagan returns from the other side of the room. “Hey Easton.”
He pushes off the wall we’re leaning on to give her a friendly hug. “Hey.”
“Where are the rest of the guys?”
He shrugs. “Noah might be here. He hits the gym with some of the guys from the frat.”
She peers between us, catching my eye to give me a yes girl smile. I shake my head, laughing her off.
“Squeeze in. Let’s take a photo,” she says.
“Sure,” he says.
Before I have the chance to react, she has her phone up. With a wry exhale, I hug her shoulders from behind since she’s shorter than me.
Easton moves in behind me, keeping a small breadth of space between us so I’m hyper aware of everywhere we’re not touching. I stare at the small version of us on the screen. His attention is on me rather than posing for the camera.
His masculine scent fills my nose, clean and fresh with a hint of musk. It’s heady. Another wave of tingles spreads through me, and I slide my lips together as his chest grazes my back.
Finally, he looks at the camera. Can he see the ways he’s affecting me written all over my face? I hope not.
“Ok, ready?” Reagan prompts.
When he steps away, my back goes cold from the loss of his warmth.
“It’s cute! I’ll text it to you guys,” she says.
My phone vibrates in the back pocket of my jeans while I’m trying to recenter myself. She captures my hand, squeezing.
“Hey, are you okay? Your face is all red.”
Oh, great.
Easton leans in to check, features morphing with concern. I duck my head.
“I’m okay. Too many people in here, I think. I’m getting overheated.”
“Oh yeah, I feel you.” She fans herself. “Let’s go find some water.”
Someone calls Easton’s name, stopping him from coming with us. I offer him a small wave, following Reagan.
Once we get two bottles of water, I run into two girls in my animal sciences class. Reagan’s frat boy finds us while we’re talking to them. When the girls see other people they know, the guy flirts with Reagan, whispering in her ear to get her to smile.
I catch her eye.
We exchange a conversation completely through facial expressions and subtle gestures, understanding each other with ease. She’s fine, so I’m going to search through the house for an open bathroom while she’s occupied.
I’m directed upstairs by one of the house members, passing a few locked doors where people are definitely having a good time before finding it.
Easton’s people watching alone when I come downstairs. Instead of finding Reagan, I wander over to join him.
“I thought you weren’t staying long?”
The corners of his blue eyes crinkle in pleasure. “Didn’t want to leave without seeing you again.”
A flutter tickles my stomach. “I was going to go find Reagan, but I think I’ll chill here for a bit.”
He angles his body towards mine. “Yeah?”
“As long as you quit trying to get me to another one of your hockey games.”
He captures the finger I point at him. I pull, but he holds it, lips twitching.
“How about I ask for your number instead?”
I lift my brows. His easygoing grin stretches.
“Asking as a friend.”
“A friend who is forward about wanting to get with me.”
“But who also knows damn well you have the final say on that. We can hang out like this otherwise, right? We’ve shared donuts.”
“Oh, so that makes us friends?” I ask slyly.
He’s still holding on, playing with my fingers. He uses it as leverage to tug me closer.
“Definitely.”
“Okay. Friends.”
I’m reluctant to admit it, but he’s fun to hang out with. He keeps making me laugh and I like the good natured bickering.
A commotion sounds behind me and Easton reacts in a split second. He takes me by the waist to swing me out of the way of someone spilling their drink. It puts my back against the wall with him shielding me. He leans in, eyes roving over me.
“They almost bumped into you. Did any beer get on you?”
I shake my head, throat dry from his grasp on my waist and the intimate proximity. “Looks like they got your shoulder instead.”
He shrugs without checking, not tearing his stare from mine. I wet my lips and his attention falls to them. My heart thuds.
I tilt my head a fraction and he draws in a sharp breath, massaging my waist with his big hands. My lashes flutter and I feel the warmth of his breath on my mouth as he dips his head lower.
Rowdy shouts from the next room break the moment.
We stare at each other. He goes still, eyes bouncing between mine. His brows pinch together. I swear I hear a frustrated rumble vibrating in his chest.
It hits me that I was about to kiss him, causing my stomach to bottom out.
The shouting turns tense. It sounds like a fight, and it’s drawing a crowd.
“Oh, shit.” Easton takes a step away, then hesitates. He cups my face with a resigned expression. “I think that’s Madden getting into it again. I’ll be right back. Wait here for me?”
“Okay.”
Relief crosses his face before he pushes through the crowd to find the source of the shouting. Spotting one of his teammates, he motions for the guy to join him. The fight must die off quickly, because once they disappear from my sight, someone turns up the music and the tension leaves the air.
Reagan finds me not long after. “Hey, ready to go?”
Reluctance washes over me. I told Easton I’d wait, but he didn’t come back right after breaking up the fight. Chewing on my lip, I nod.
“Um, let me just say goodbye.”
“Sure. Let’s do a drive by.”
We make our way through the frat house. I scan each room for him without any luck.
I give up searching for Easton and trail after Reagan to the door when she finishes her goodbyes. The two guys blocking the door make me pull up short. One of them is Easton, and the other must be his teammate. He’s muscle-bound with dark brown hair and a brooding expression.
“Keep that short fuse in check,” Easton says. “You good now?”
He drops his gaze. After a moment he gives a jerky nod.
“I’m done for the night,” he says flatly.
“Okay, man.” Easton squeezes his shoulder.
“Hey,” I say.
Easton’s attention flies to me. “Hey. I was just coming to find you.”
“We’re heading out.”
“Oh. Already?”
“I’m ready to crash.” Reagan leans her head on my shoulder. “Ohh, we should do pancakes tomorrow. Yes? Yes.”
“Fine,” I say with a laugh.
Easton and his teammate follow us out. He buffs my arms against the cool night air when I linger on the front steps to the frat house. I can’t help closing my eyes for a second. He smells nice and his big hands are comforting.
He studies my face. “Want us to walk you back to your place?”
My stomach tightens. If I let him walk back with me, I think I’d invite him inside for the kiss we almost shared. I swallow thickly and shake my head.
“We’re okay. Thank you. Stay and have fun.”
The corners of his mouth tip up and he releases a soft chuckle. “Nah. No point.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not there.”
My pulse jumps. I twist the strap of my clutch around my fingers to keep myself from reaching out when he retreats from my space to hold an arm out so I can go down the steps.
Ducking my head in the hope it hides my blush, I hurry to Reagan, hooking my arm with hers.
“See you,” he calls.
“Bye, boys. See you at The Landmark.” Reagan waves, snickering when I pinch her side.