Page 126 of Study Buddies

“Eww. Very safe to say.”

For some reason, he took that as a challenge. He leaned in close, his hand settling possessively on my hip and squeezing.

“I could make you wear it,” he murmured in my ear.

“I could throw a thesaurus at your head.”

He laughed and gave me one more quick but searing kiss that left me breathless again. “You are so much fun,” he said right as he shut my door. Darkness filled the cab, but it gave me a moment to attempt to calm down.

Then the truck lurched to the left as he climbed in. He put on his seatbelt and then jerked his head to the side, inviting me to slide over.

Which I did.

“Good girl.” His hand brushed against my bare leg as he put the truck in gear, and then we drove off into the night.

I’d never had a date that had gone like this one—but I hoped I would again. Soon.

33

TORI

“So,how’s the hot baseball player?” Hailey asked. The little coffee shop was empty except for Mia at the counter. “And don’t you dare answer in terms of tutoring.”

I couldn’t help smiling at that. “He’s doing really well.”

Hailey smacked me. “You’re talking about tutoring, dammit.”

“I am, but it’s true.” Now that Kyle was actually putting effort into the papers he wrote—and now that he had an awesome tutor—he was improving faster than I’d ever imagined.

“Come on, give me some details,” Hailey pleaded. “He took you on the date to that… you know, that place, and you both looked amazing.” So far, she’d done a good job of not directly referencing the secret club from the other night. I still didn’t know what the hell that place was, but it had been an amazing evening with Kyle.

I took a sip of my chai tea. I’d been here enough either by myself or with Jayden that Mia knew exactly how I liked it. “He’s a friend…but… yeah, he… wow. He knows how to treat a woman on a date.”

“He couldn’t keep his eyes off you,” Hailey said.

“Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen on a date?”

“Good ones, yes, but the women there were all dressed up in the most unbelievably gorgeous evening gowns, and he never tore his eyes away from you.”

I grinned. “You were one of those gorgeous women. You looked incredible. Did Grant buy that dress for you?” Hailey was on a scholarship just like me and had very little money to spare.

“Something like that.” Hailey looked at the partially eaten scone in front of her.

“Grant looked so damn good, too. You two look good together—in spite of the height difference. And now I finally know which one of your handsome roommates you’re dating! I thought it was Ian.”

“You—what? Ian? Why?”

“I don’t know, but when I stayed at your place, he was the one on the sofa, so I figured that he might be keeping you warm at night when you didn’t have me crashing at your place.”

Hailey giggled. “Keeping me warm at night? He’s not a heating pad. Or a cat.” She smiled. “We’re thinking of getting one, though. A cat, probably, but Theo wants a dog.”

“Can’t you just steal one of the ones you pet sit?”

“I think that’s frowned on.”

Leaning back in my chair, I took a bite of muffin. “I’m glad you’re so happy there. Especially after what happened over the summer. But—shouldn’t you and Grant be looking for your own place? I know it’s soon, but you seem so happy with him.”

Hailey’s eyes unfocused, and I wondered what memory she was recalling that made her cheeks turn pink before she snapped back to the present. “I love living in that beautiful condo.”

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