I walk with Kendall and Janine to the locker room with the rest of the team so we can grab our things. I tell the girls I’m going to the restroom as we start to depart and head there, but I don’t use it. I just stare into the mirror, trying to figure out why the hell I performed so poorly today.
Clearly, jealousy doesn’t suit me, and it doesn’t help me win either. I overreacted today and Torres knows it. He definitely deserves more than my insecurities.
I pick up my gym bag, sling it over my shoulder and leave the bathroom, but as I walk out, I notice someone standing across the hall and gasp. At first, I have no idea who it is, but I know it’s a male. The locker room hallways get really dark at night, and the hall is made of cement that looks dark gray, which doesn’t help. There’s one light on and it’s a few steps away from the bathroom.
But from the light that spills out of the restroom behind me, I can make out who it is.
Torres.
His back is pressed to the wall, fingers in the pockets of his track pants.
“Torres,” I gasp. “What are you doing?”
“You done with your tantrums?” he asks, pushing off the wall.
“What are you talking about?” I frown as he steps closer.
“Let me tell you something about Medina,” he goes on, ignoring my question. “She is a nice woman, but I am not attracted to her. I used to work with her. We now attend track meets separately and like to compete with our players. I told her I had a good sprinter this year—told her that you couldn’t be beat.”
I work hard to swallow as he takes another step closer to me.
“That’s all there is to it. She doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her—not in that way. Matter of fact, the only person I can’t seem to get off my damn mind is you, so in my opinion you have nothing to be worried about.” His fingers clasp my chin. “I want you, Amber Lakes. Not Medina. Not the girls from the club asking for my number. You. And even though that kills me to admit sometimes, it’s the truth.”
I don’t even know what to say to that. My belly is a bundle of butterflies, my heart playing an even harder beat. My mouth opens, but snaps shut instantly.
Torres’ eyes soften and even though it’s dark, I swear they shimmer. “That’s okay,” he murmurs.
“What’s okay?” My voice is soft.
“You don’t have to say anything right now.” And with those words, he’s using the hand that was holding my chin, and cupping it behind my head. I feel his fingers dig into the hair of my ponytail to hold me firmly, and then his mouth is on mine, and I melt.
It’s all I can do when he’s near. Melt.
I drop my bag immediately to throw my arms around the back of his neck. A throaty groan slips out of him as I thrust my tongue between his lips to get a taste of him. He tugs on my hair, yanking my mouth away to kiss my throat and I’m held hostage to him.
“I need you again,” he rasps on the hollow of my throat. “What happened over break wasn’t enough.”
“No,” I breathe out raggedly, lowering my head. “It wasn’t.”
We stare into each other’s eyes, despite the dim lighting in the hall. His eyes fall to my lips and mine do the same to his. Our lips press, and I tangle my fingers in his silky hair, wanting so much of him. I want him right now, but I know this isn’t the place or the time. This kiss will have to be enough—this kiss that’s secluded in darkness and only a skip and a trot away from the locker rooms.
Our kiss breaks and I start to speak, but then I hear someone call my name and they don’t sound too far away. Torres looks over my shoulder, and his face is struck with horror, eyes wider than I’ve ever seen them before.
I snatch my body out of his hands and spin around, and when I see Kendall standing in the middle of the hallway, her eyes wide like saucers and her jaw slack, my heart sinks to my stomach.
THIRTY-FIVE
I don’t even know how to react right now. I stare into my best friend and roommate’s eyes as she looks between Torres and me incredulously.
“I—I’m gonna go.” Her voice is hurried, and she doesn’t hesitate to leave. She turns and jogs away.
“No—wait. Kendall!” I call after her.
I rush forward, but Torres catches my arm and shakes his head. “Talk to her when you get back to your apartment,” he says. He releases me and picks up my gym bag to hand it to me. “Do you trust her?”