A small gasp bubbled up my throat, and my cheeks grew warm. “If you think I’ll sleep with you, I have news for you, Sterling Weston. You’ll never touch me again.” The last place I wanted to have this discussion was standing outside my classroom.
He held out his hand to me, and I gave him a weird look. “Should we bet on it?”
I ignored his outstretched hand, not wanting to touch him again. “Why bother? You’ll lose.”
He flicked the end of my nose, and I thought about biting him, but I didn’t want the taste of his skin in my mouth. “I can’t wait to prove you wrong, Splash.”
CHAPTERFIVE
MICAH
After Mads left this morning, I didn’t get much sleep, regardless of my efforts. I noticed that I tended to sleep deeper when she was in bed with me. Before college, there hadn’t been a lot of opportunities to spend nights together. Unlike my parents, who rarely knew when I was home, Mads’s were the opposite. They were very involved in their daughter’s life and her whereabouts, but not enough so that she felt suffocated or wasn’t able to spread her wings. They gave her freedom without losing touch. I envied that about Mads, having parents who were sincerely interested in you and your life.
I took a quick shower and threw on a pair of sweats and a shirt, intending to hit the gym before I had football practice at 3:00 p.m. and class tonight right after practice ended, which meant I wouldn’t see Mads again.
That didn’t work for me.
Checking my phone, I saw I had a text from her. My lips bent at the message, and I could picture her frantically typing it in class. She had about fifteen minutes left, just enough time for me to run over and greet her before heading to the gym.
I sent back the password for my laptop, adding a few explicit emojis that I knew wouldn’t just make her smile but also put a bit of color on her cheeks. I fucking loved making that girl blush.
I headed into the main living area, finding the room and kitchen were both empty. The utter quietness of the house led me to believe Brock was already gone for the day. We had similar schedules with practices, working out, and classes. Perhaps he had gotten an early jump at the gym or was grabbing a protein shake with Josie. Either way, it worked out with my plans.
Stepping into the bright sun, I cursed for not thinking of grabbing my sunglasses. Despite it being close to the end of August, the heat of summer still clung to the air, which I both loved and detested. This kind of weather was fabulous for parties on the beach and going on long rides on my motorcycle but not so great for football practice. Sweating under a helmet and tights was not something I recommended, not to mention the dirt and grass stains.
I ran my fingers through my slightly damp hair and rounded the corner to the business division. With just a few minutes to spare, I plopped under a shady tree and screwed around on my phone while I waited for Mads.
Not big into social media, I rarely scrolled through my accounts, but I used the little time I had to do a bit of cyberstalking on Sterling. Not that I found much. He also didn’t seem to be active in sharing his life online. Inconvenient but smart, especially for someone who had secrets to hide.
An increase in activity drew my gaze up. Students meandered out of the building one by one, headed to their next class or back to the dorms. Locking my phone, I stood, keeping my eyes on the door, and waited for Mads. After a minute or two, I shifted my weight, becoming a bit restless.
Where is she?
Had she stayed behind to speak with the professor?
No, that was a very un-Mads-like move.
Just when I was about to go inside and look for her myself, she rushed out of the building, her dark blonde hair flying out behind her. I only got a glimpse of her face before she was briskly walking away from me, but it was enough to catch the hard set of her features. She was pissed.
I started after her, convinced I had somehow unknowingly upset her, but the reason she’d been late and for her sudden aggravation made itself known a few moments later when the door opened again. I wasn’t sure why I glanced over my shoulder as I jogged to the pathway, but I was glad I did.
Sterling fucking Weston.
Skidding to a halt, I swore under my breath and veered paths, heading straight for the son of a bitch. He hadn’t seen me yet because he was too busy scanning the grounds as if he was looking for someone. I didn’t have to follow the line of his gaze to know it was Mads he sought.
His lips curved, informing me that he’d located her not too far ahead up the sidewalk leading to the dorms. My brows furrowed together. I was about to do something stupid, but it couldn’t be helped.
I stepped right into his line of sight, blocking his view of Mads. “See something interesting?” I asked, my lips pulled tight into a hard smile. It was forced but effective.
Sterling blinked, and I caught a flicker of annoyance before he quickly shifted to condescending, like he thought I was beneath him. As if. I made a note of how quickly he masked his emotions. It was good to know your enemy and what he was capable of, physically and mentally, and Sterling struck me as more of a mental fighter. Those were the ones you had to watch out for.
“Bradford, right?” He posed the question as if he wasn’t quite sure who I was.
I wasn’t buying it. My eyes narrowed. “Let’s cut the bullshit. What are you doing?”
Stoic, Sterling’s lips quipped. “Right now? Grabbing lunch.”
Smartass. That title was already taken. By me. “What do you want with Mads?” I demanded.