Page 24 of Catch My Fall (Catch)

The sound of my phone chiming to let me know thatI had a message woke me up. Leaning across my bed, I picked the phone up off my bedside table as I peeked at my clock to see that it was just before nine-thirty. With a yawn I swiped a finger across my screen, breaking out into a big smile when I saw that the text was from Tristan.

Tristan: I’ve got a bazillion puzzle pieces on my table and they’re calling out to be assembled. You need to get over here ASAP to help put this thing together.

Me: Pretty sure it’s not a bazillion.

Tristan: Really? My OCD says there are that many. You have to come help me put this in order.

Me: I could come over this afternoon, if that’s okay with you. I need to eat, head to the fitness center to work out and then come back here to shower and get dressed.

My phone started to ring and when I saw that it was Tristan the butterfly feeling in my stomach went wild. Sliding my finger across the screen I answered the call.

“Is texting too much for your fingers?” I joked.

“Nope, I can go all day, trust me. I’m calling because I want you to work out with me. The facilities on campus are pretty weak. I work out at the gym next to the pool hall we were at that night that girl went loco on me. I’ve got a guest pass with your name on it and if you pack a bag, you can shower and get dressed in the locker room there. Wanna go?”

I did, I definitely did, but I was scared too. I didn’t think Tristan was boyfriend material, but after last night I knew that I felt something for him that was a lot bigger than friendship.

“You aren’t saying anything. Why aren’t you saying anything?”

He sounded…nervous. Adorably flipping nervous and my stomach started doing backflips because of it. There was no going back now—I wanted him in my life.

“Sorry, I just woke up so my brain is still half-asleep. What time do you want to meet up at the gym?”

“How about I pick you up at ten o’clock?”

That gave me just enough time to get dressed, pack a bag, eat a protein bar and drink a glass of milk, but it would work.

“Sounds good. I’ll be ready.”

“I’ll be right on time. See you then.”

Jumping from my bed I ran into the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, brush my hair and throw it up into a bun. Even though I leave my hair down as much as possible, I can’t do that when I’m working out because sweaty hair in my face is just too nasty. Rushing back into my room I grabbed a protein bar from the shelving over the microwave and munched it down while I stared into my drawer and tried to decide what to wear. Seriously, who spends time thinking about what to wear to the gym? In a stunning turn of events, I DID. After several minutes of going through the drawer like a crazy person, I realized that I really didn’t have any ‘cute’ workout gear. Grabbing a pair of black yoga pants and one of my sport bra tank tops, I quickly got dressed before throwing on my Nikes and packing a bag of clothes to change into after we worked out. Looking at myself in the mirror, I let out a groan of frustration. Why didn’t I have any attractive workout shorts with a matching top?

After taking a single serve carton of milk from the fridge, I headed out to wait for Tristan. I figured I’d have to wait for a few minutes but when I got outside he was standing next to his car at the curb in front of my dorm. I’ve never been one to say that a car can make a guy seem hotter, but in this case, it’s totally true, and it didn’t hurt at all that he drives my dream car. Seeing Tristan behind the wheel of his open-top yellow Jeep is definitelynota turn off. I’d seen the car in his driveway but this was the first time I was driving with him anywhere.

My heart went pitter-pat when he came forward and gave me a quick hug before opening the passenger side door for me. Thiswas the first time in my life that a male other than Neil or my Uncle Jesse had opened a car door for me and I was surprised by how touched I was by the gesture. Tristan Chamberlain was full of all kinds of surprises.

As I went to step into the car I heard Darby calling my name. Turning on my heel I found her walking hand in hand with Brandon toward us. She gave me a hug before turning to kiss Tristan’s cheek as he enveloped her in a big hug.

When she stepped away from Tristan she slid her hand right back into Brandon’s and pulled him forward. “Brandon, this is Tristan. Tristan, this is my boyfriend, Brandon.”

I couldn’t help it, I gasped. Darby laughed as she shook her head at me. “He asked me at dinner last night. For the first time in my life, I’msomeone’s girlfriend!”

She seemed to be trying too hard to be happy, but I said and did all of the right things that a friend should do in front of other people, high-fiving her and telling them both how great I thought the newswas. Even Brandon seemed less happy about it than he should have, but Darby wasgung-ho to doit and there was no stopping her.

After muttering congratulations, Tristan stayed completely silent while Darby and I prattled on. Once we finished talking we all said goodbye and Tristan helped me into the car as Darby and Brandon walked into our dorm building.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Darby is making a huge mistake with Brandon. He was definitely a really nice guy, and incredibly good-looking to boot, but I knew that she wasn’t over Trace and making it official with Brandon seemed like a bad decision.

After getting into his seat and buckling in, Tristan put the Jeep into gear and began to drive. He was silent for a minute before he finally spoke. “So she’s officially off the market now. That’s really…weird. Where did she meet that guy?”

Tracing figure eights on my pant leg I answered, “We went to a party at his frat a few weekends ago and they’ve been seeing each other ever since.”

My answer didn’t please him and I could tell because he went tense all over and hishands were gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were white. “You went to a frat party?”

“Well, yeah. Is there something wrong with that?”

The silence stretched out before he finally shook his head. “I guess not since nothing bad happened. But frats can be dangerous places, Mia. I don’t trust situations like that and I hate to think of you and Darby being there without protection. I just…reallyfucking don’t like that shit. I’m surprised that Darby did something so reckless. She damn well knows better and I’m annoyed. You could have been hurt. Promise me that if you go again, you’ll call me.”

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