Page 34 of For Three Seconds

My human behavioral science class was smaller, more intimate. I was somewhat fascinated to know what made all us do and/or act a certain way.

After my last class ended, I walked out feeling better about my week. More than I had since I came to college. It was a whole new world, and Gavin might be in it, but I could easily get lost here.

* * *

My weekend was spent finishing makingmy room mine, as in adding some decor and doing laundry. Audrey, Kenia, and Delia had to go to practice and whatever the hell they did after that. When I started to feel like I was coming out of my skin, I changed into jogging capris and a sports bra, then grabbed my iPod and walked out the door. I needed to clear my head; it felt like there was too much clutter.

I was sweaty and out of breath. My feet were killing me, and I was also lost. I ran and took turns, and by the looks of things, I was a lot closer to campus. Shit, how was I getting home? I’d left my phone at home and only brought my iPod.

Removing my iPod from the sleeve on the side of my arm, I tried to see if I could find some Wi-Fi. This was a fucking school for crying out loud; someone had to have their Wi-Fi open. This street seemed to be a little busier, walking around.

I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going until I heard someone scream, “Watch out.”

When I looked up, I screamed and dropped my iPod. I held my hand out, trying to catch the ball that was headed my way. My hands stung from where I caught the football. Fuck, that hurt. As soon as I stopped the ball from hitting my face, I threw it to the side and bent to pick up my iPod.

Well, just my luck. The screen cracked.

“Damn, baby, that was hot.”

My skin itched with uneasiness. I had to bite my lip to prevent a groan from leaving my lips. Jeff was looking at me like he wanted to see me naked, and that made me feel really uncomfortable.

“Come on, baby, don’t be shy,” he said as he took a step toward me, and I took one back—only to collide with a body.

My breathing started to labor. Oh fuck me, I was having a panic attack in front of the frat house.

It was like I was in my body, but I wasn’t. My brain was focusing all the energy on keeping me breathing that I forgot about my other four senses.

“Mamas, you need to calm down.” I heard a raspy voice say, but I couldn’t concentrate.

Next thing I knew, I had a wall of muscle hugging me tightly. Not in any sexual way, nor even soothing, but more clinical.

“Breathe,” he said soothingly.

My heart started to come back to normal, and it was like I could see and feel again. I saw a chest covered in a tight black shirt, and I smelled cologne. I slowly craned my neck to see a guy holding me. He was dark-skinned and tall, very muscular.

“I’m okay,” I whispered.

He stopped holding me immediately, and God, was he gorgeous. His face was smooth and lashes curly and long, fanning light green eyes that made a striking combination with his dark skin.

“Guess the whole Oxytocin shit isn’t bullshit,” he mumbled.

“What?” I asked.

“Oxytocin causes a reduction in blood pressure and hormones that stress you; therefore, it calms you down enough for the panic attack to subside.”

Well, I didn’t know if that was true, but that was really sweet of him.

“Thank you,” I told him as I wiped my sweaty hands on my leggings. “I’m Scarlett.”

“I know.” He grinned at me.

My mouth pulled into an O, and I wondered how he knew me.

“I’m Quincy.”

That’s when I took a step back and really looked at him, and felt stupid for not knowing that. He was only the number one recruit. He was my brother’s wet dream. Professionally, that is.

“Well, thank you, Quincy. Do you always come to a helpless girl’s defense?”

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