I stepped around her and walked toward the hallway.
“How are your classes going?” she asked.
“Oh, they’re fine, I think.”
“You think?”
I turned around and saw her sitting in my recliner.
“Yeah, I think. Do you want to get lunch tomorrow? We can talk more then, I’m tired and over today. I just want to go to bed.”
“Yeah, that would good.”
“I should have called you to pick me up from the lab.”
“You can call me anytime. You know that. It doesn’t matter what’s going on between us, I’m here for you.”
“I know, Jocelyn. Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
“You too, babe. Talk to you in the morning.”
I waved then resumed the journey to my bedroom. I closed the door behind me and locked it. As I got undressed and ready for bed, the events from the night played themselves out in my head over and over again.
The danger had etched Austin and all his features into my mind. I drifted off to sleep with images of his hot, naked body trying to seduce me in my dreams. Between classes and my job at the Med-Center, I hadn’t been with a man in a long time. Too long for my liking.
Could Austin really be interested in someone like me?
THREE
Austin
On my way to the house I shared with Trey and two guys who weren’t on the football team, I ran the events from earlier through my mind. Had I done something wrong in saving her or wanting a little thanks in return?
Brooke had overreacted. Big time. I had no need for women like her, but thoughts of her lingered in my mind unlike most of the women I met. She’s just stuck-up. Don’t let it get to you, I told myself as I neared our two-story house a few streets over from where Brooke lived.
If I had left earlier or later, I would have never crossed paths with her. As I walked up to the porch, I heard the sounds of guns and explosions coming out of the screen door.
Brian and Teddy were hardcore gamers, but I enjoyed having them as roommates. Neither of them looked up from their spots on the couch as I walked in our shared living room.
The stench of sweat, Mountain Dew, and junk food hit my nose as I walked over and looked at the carnage happening on the television screen.
“What’s up, fellas. You won the war yet?”
Teddy looked up and grinned, a mess of curly red hair on the top of his head.
“Oh, hey, Austin. Trey said you guys almost beat down some frat-fucks tonight.”
“Almost,” I said nonchalantly, as if it had been an everyday occurrence.
“We didn’t think you would make it back.”
“Watch out! Your flank!” Brian yelled.
Teddy turned back to the television. I made my way upstairs where Trey and I had bedrooms across the hall from each other. Seeing light streaming across the hardwood floor from under his door, I knocked. No tie on the doorknob meant he wasn’t busy.
“You up, bro?”
“Yeah, come in,” he said.