CHAPTER18
Ronan touched her, stroking her silky long hair away from her face, and repeated her name louder, firmer. “Calista.”
Calista jerked up and rubbed her eyes; a slow smile curved her lips. “Did you get me a cookie, too?”
Oh. His chest rose and fell. He hadn’t known she was hungry. “Just the drink. Were you asleep?” That was a first, he could put that on his dating profile. Dating him was better than a sleeping pill. He didn’t share the self-deprecating thought, though he did mentally kick himself again for thinking of her as his date.
“No.” Calista’s gaze darted away from him and returned. “Yes, sorry, I was out cold.” Calista grimaced and took the coffee from him. She pried at the white lid. “Thanks.”
“Why are you so tired?” Ronan hated the images that came to mind of some other guy keeping her busy all night.
Calista shrugged. She got up and grabbed sugar and creamer and stirred both into her coffee. She didn’t meet his gaze. “Got wrapped up in a special project last night. By the time I realized how late it was, I thought it would be easier to just stay awake than to sleep for two hours and have to respond to an alarm.”
“Special project?” Not his concern. Ronan was trying to become less entangled with the front office, not more. He shook his head. “Sorry, not my business.”
The doorbell clanged as two women hurried inside, giggling. They looked around, ignored the line, and came directly over to him. “Can we get a selfie?”
These interruptions happened at times too. Fans put the word out on social media, and more fans seized the opportunity to come and meet him. He and Calista were going to have to leave if they wanted a private conversation about the changes in the organization.
“I’ll take the picture for you.” Calista held out her hand and took the women’s phones.
The women wrapped their arms around his waist, and Ronan smiled graciously. Then, with practiced ease, he thanked them and sat back down.
Calista gave their phones back and joined him. Had she taken the photos to be nice, or to control the social media?
“It’s not normally like this.” Ronan rubbed his jaw. “But fans post and more come. We should probably head out.”
“Yeah, okay.” Calista sounded disappointed then covered her yawn with her palm. She stared at her cup of coffee and then at the trash can, then she dumped it.
She’d only taken two sips. “Was the coffee that bad?” Ronan took a drink of his own bitter caffeine. The brew didn’t compare to Seattle coffee. He should take her to his favorite place up town.
Calista shrugged. “If we’re not hanging out, I’m going straight to sleep.”
Whoa, their hanging out had at no point been on the menu. He didn’t correct her word choice though, women rarely liked that. “Got ya.” Ronan took another drink.
Three more coeds came through the entrance looking around instead of hopping in line.
Ronan led Calista to the back door.
A customer came through the exit and stopped. The vest-wearing man was looking at Calista and not him. He pointed to his watch.
Calista winced and hurried out without saying anything to the man.
When they got clear of the outside tables, Ronan asked, “What was that about?”
Calista adjusted her backpack. “Professor Terrence pointing out I’m not in class. He’s overseeing my group’s special project.”
This was the point where most women would normally volunteer more information. Comment on the man’s looks to make him jealous or jump into flirty banter to reassure his ego, not Calista. She walked quietly beside him, making him wonder what she was all about.
They continued along the path, an easy stroll in the crisp, dry January air.
Winter in his hometown Seattle never looked like this. Ronan missed the lush green misty views. Then again, there was a lot to be said about the year-around bright sun and the clear blue skies of Texas. He’d appreciate Austin while he was here, especially because he’d be moving away. As soon as the offer came in, he was gone, no matter who won the Applebaum-Amvehl fiasco.
Of course, if his teammates were secure in their positions, they’d take the news of his leaving better. Ronan could at least get that much information for them. Whatever the word from the front office was, he’d tell the news to them straight, not leave them anxious and unknowing like what was going on now. Ronan automatically headed toward the parking lot where he’d parked, but realized that Calista could have parked clear across campus. That could work, he’d walk her to her car, and they’d have twenty minutes to get the team’s status pinned down.
Ronan’s stomach chose that moment to crunch, reminding him that he’d burned a concession stand’s worth of calories at practice and needed to refuel. All this coffee was doing was burning a hole in his gut. He tossed his cup into the nearest bin. He had to do this part carefully. “I’m hungry, you wouldn’t take it wrong if we grabbed a bite, would you?”
“How could I take food wrong?” Calista sounded bewildered. She kept going right beside him though.