Page 14 of Chess Not Checkers
He kisses the top of her head, and I quickly look down at the counter to hide my shocked expression. She called himTeddyGraham? And hekissedher?
“I will. See you next week,” Saylor chirps.
They break apart, and Graham tips his head at me before leaving.
“I’m sorry about that,” Saylor repeats her earlier sentiment once Graham leaves. “I’m so used to him being around that I forget not everyone knows him.” She lets out a tinkling laugh. “Did I hear you say you have dessert?”
I debate asking her about Graham but decide against it. She clearly doesn’t see him as a husband candidate, or else she would have said so. And I’m going to be late for chess club if I don’t get out the door soon.
“No worries about Graham. Now I’ll know him when I see him.” I pull the tinfoil off the top of the aluminum pan. “And yes, we made tiramisu yesterday in pastry class, but it had to soak overnight. So I grabbed it on my way back today.”
“Oooo, I love tiramisu. Your school work is way more fun than mine. I don’t have anything to share except how many bones are in the human body. 206, by the way.”
I laugh. “Help yourself, and let the other girls know to do the same if they come home before me. I have to head to chess club.”
“Have fun! I’ll be here, memorizing flashcards and eating this whole pan,” she jokes.
I rush to my room and throw a few of the books in my backpack onto my bed to lighten the load. Then I grab a sweatshirt hanging from my chair in case it’s cold and head back out the door. As I’m on my way out, I smile at Saylor’s hunched-over figure. She’s balancing a bowl of tiramisu in her lap while her notes and flashcards surround her on the floor. Hopefully the dessert helps make her study session a little sweeter.
My walk to the Bernard Hattington Building is quick, thanks to my half jogging. While I don’t want to spend more time with Shepherd, I do want plenty of time for chess. Last week made it abundantly clear that I need a lot more practice. And loath as I am to admit it, Shepherd has a lot to teach me.
As I’m walking up the steps, my phone buzzes. It’s a message from Levi’s brother Grayson.
Grayson: How’s college life treating you? Is my chess prodigy taking over the world yet?
I grimace at his use of the wordprodigy. It was a running joke in the family that he was trying to make a prodigy out of mewhen he started showing me the game. Now, the word stings like alcohol on a cut. He spent all those hours teaching me, only for me to lose all three games I played last week. I need to do better to make him proud.
Jasmine: College is great! And chess club is going well, too. I’m learning a lot about the game!
Hopefully, my nonspecific answer doesn’t sound suspicious. I don’t need a family intervention. And that’s exactly what would happen if anyone thought something was wrong.
I walk up the rest of the stairs and get inside before my phone buzzes again.
Grayson: That’s great. I’m a phone call away if you ever need anything, even if you just need a reminder of what it’s like to lose.
His message ends with a laughing emoji. My chest aches. He thinks I’m doing so well that I’d need to play him to have a chance of losing. In reality, I’m unlikely to win a single game for a while.
I send a quick thank you, then head into the club room. Shepherd is already sitting at the table by the window. When he spots me, his expression takes on a level of mischief I’m not prepared to encounter. I heave a sigh, then trudge over to him.
“You look chipper,” Shepherd comments as I drop my backpack on the ground next to my chair.
“This is what my face looks like when I have to see you,” I deadpan, and take my seat across from him. He’s already set the board up, this time with the blue pieces on my side.
“Ah, yes, frustration disguising barely contained attraction.”
I gape at him, my face heating. “I amnotattracted to you.”
He grins and leans forward. “Are you sure about that?”
I let my eyes wander over him. His blond hair is messier than usual today, and his blue eyes are shining in the light of the sunstreaming through the window. My stomach flips when his grin transforms into a smirk.
“Admit it, Chamberlain, you find me attractive.”
Okay, sue me. The man is gorgeous. But I’m not about to lethimknow that.
I bite my lip for show, and his eyes follow the movement. I lean forward and lower my voice. “I guess it’s time I confess. I find you…” I trail off, and watch with glee as he hangs on my every word. “Utterly repulsive.”
His mouth drops, and he lets out a shocked laugh. “You are a cruel woman.”
