Page 24 of Red Zone
“Eh, maybe, but she’s pretty fucking blind, so I may have to intervene again,” she says as she takes another sip of her drink.
I can’t help but read what she got, making a mental note for any time I might need to bribe her down the road.
A decaf caramel latte, extra sweet. Who in the world would get a decaf coffee at this time of day?
“Didn’t really take you as a decaf coffee kinda girl.”
Her eyes leave her friend and meet mine across the table. “I can’t drink much caffeine.”
“Why?”
“Just can’t.” She shrugs, starting to gather her things.
“What classes do you have today?” I shock both of us by asking a normal, friendly question.
She studies me for a moment, before finally deciding to answer. “I have a study group every Wednesday morning, then I head over to the athletics building to get more editing in before it gets crazy.”
“Wouldn’t you know that I’m actually about to head over there myself.”
I’m really not, but I don’t want to say goodbye quite yet for some reason.
“That’s weird.” She takes one last sip, tipping her head back and giving me a perfect view of her neck. Her skin is creamy and looks so incredibly soft. I wonder if she likes it squeezed. “I thought you had history on Wednesday mornings.”
“Must be mistaken,” I say, holding the door open as she walks through while narrowing her eyes at me, calling my bluff without saying anything.
We walk in silence until I can’t take it anymore.
“So,” I say, leaning in just enough to make her uncomfortable. “Still pretending you don’t like me?”
“Still pretending you’re relevant?”
I chuckle. “If I’m so irrelevant, why’d you freeze when you saw that girl’s hand on me Saturday night after the game?”
That gets her attention.
A tiny flick of her eyebrow. That’s all I need.
“You’re a walking headline waiting to happen,” she mutters.
“And yet you keep reading.”
She finally meets my gaze. “One of these days, Hayes, someone’s going to call your bluff.”
I hold her stare. “Hope it’s you.”
She huffs and looks away.
“You are exhausting.”
But her lips are twitching, fighting a smile.
And so am I.
Because whatever this is?
It’s just heating up.
We make it to the entrance of the athletics department, and she turns to face me when she opens the door.
