Page 21 of From Our First

I had five minutes until class started, and if you weren’t on time, Mr. Augustine did not let you in. Oh, he might keep the doors open and didn’t nail them shut, but he made sure you got shamed for daring to walk into his class late. And he didn’t put notes online, didn’t share his slides.

You had to read the textbook before class started, do all of the worksheets and questionnaires beforehand, and then come in to learn what you’d already pretty much taught yourself. However, it wasn’t like you could teach yourself that because everything was too complicated, and you needed him to explain it.

In other words, it was the worst way to take an organic chemistry class. Next time, I was just going to Metro where I knew Dr. Thomas was.

That was a good idea. I would get coffee here and then walk to my advisor to drop out of this organic chemistry class and use one of my transfer credits to take a class at Metro.

Yes, that was brilliant.

Only it was also stupid.

I didn’t have time in my busy class load to change my schedule like that. I had to get organic chemistry out of the way this semester so I could move on to other things. Being an EMT wasn’t going to be easy, but I couldn’t let this class and my lack of caffeine stop me.

Determined, I turned on my heel, knowing I’d just have to deal without the coffee. The soft body that ran into me felt like heaven, and I cursed.

She hit the ground in front of me, and I blinked down at her, trying to make my mind catch up to what I saw.

A beautiful woman with blond hair, wide eyes, and killer curves glared at me from the ground where she lay, the contents of her messenger bag strewn around the pavement, and her eyes, initially wide and beautiful, now narrowed into slits.

Though still gorgeous.

“Are you kidding me?” the girl said before scrambling to her feet. I reached down to help her up, and she slapped at my hand.

“No, we already know you copped a feel. That’s enough.”

Given I had done no such thing, I blinked at her. Others whispered around us, and I winced.

“I didn’t. At least I don’t think so. I’m sorry. Here, let me help you pick that up.”

She slapped my hand again, and I winced.

“No need to hit me.”

“You’ve done enough of that for both of us, haven’t you?” she said before stuffing all of her things into her bag. “It’s going to take me forever to organize this the way I want it.” She rolled her shoulders back and sighed. “Thanks for that.”

“I’m seriously sorry.”

“Sure, you are.”

Then she sauntered off, and I couldn’t help but watch how her ass moved as she walked away.

“Damn, I’d like a piece of that,” the guy beside me said, and I frowned.

“Hey, be nice.”

“You’re the one checking out her ass and copping a feel.”

“I didn’t,” I said, my cheeks reddening.

“Whatever you say. Just be careful, women these days don’t like it when you look up their skirts and shit. The female movement and whatever.”

The guy, who had to be at least twenty-five, rolled his eyes, pushed his hair back from his face, and walked away, hacky sack in hand. Were hacky sacks even popular anymore? What did it matter? It was Colorado. He was likely stoned, and hacky sacks were probably the thing he was best at.

And now I was going to be seriously late. And I still didn’t have caffeine. But I did have the image and feel of a woman with curves that would haunt my memory for ages to come.

I ignored the taunting jeers from my fellow classmates, my professor, and my TA as I finally made my way to class and was forced to sit up front. That’s where all the late students were placed.

I pulled out my notebook and took copious notes, hoping to hell I’d be able to understand them later.

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