“Xavier, we’re in a cafeteria. Get some food.” Swerving around him, I add a scoop of potato salad onto my plate, and some cottage cheese, then swipe my college ID card. I find a small table with booth seating in the corner and tuck in. Xavier slams his tray down, dropping some fries on my ranch, so I steal one and bite down, moaning.
“Yeah, I should have got the burger.” I groan, the saltiness of the deep fried heaven hitting my tongue. He chuckles at me and stands up, moving back to the line. I glance his way and shrug.
I eat my salad and wait for him to come back. He brings me a plate of fries and a huge slice of chocolate cake with two forks.Yep, there goes my weight. He gives me a big smile, before taking a large bite of his burger.
“Thank you,” I say softly, reaching over to grab some more fries. Connor plops down next to me giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, before smacking Xavier on the arm.
“Way to wait for me dude.” Connor says, Xavier glances his way and shrugs.
“I was hungry,” he whines with his mouth full.Gross.
“Dude, close your mouth. I know you weren’t raised in a barn,” Connor says, I giggle at that and continue eating my lunch, listening to the guys bicker back and forth, talking about a party coming up. A shoulder nudges me, the same time a foot hits my ankle. I glance up and they are both staring at me.
“What?” I ask, covering my mouth as I’m still chewing.
“I asked if you were going to the party?” Connor says, giving me a once over as I wince. Yeah, me and parties. I think not.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” I say quietly, setting my fork down and moving my hair over my other shoulder. “I have a big assignment to finish and my partner isn’t answering my texts,” I say, before looking down at my food once more. I don’t know why East is blowing me off, I thought we had a nice time the other day, well until I freaked out and dropped the whole virgin bomb. Maybe I freaked him out, but we still have to finish the song and the massive paper.
“Bummer, but you should still come. We will be there for sure and I bet your roommate will go if you asked her,” Xavier says, before taking a huge bite of the cake. He hands me the other fork and I scoop up a tiny bite. I place it in my mouth and groan.Wow, that's good.Connor coughs and I glance his way. His eyes are full of heat and he’s staring at my mouth. My cheeks redden and I duck my head. “I’ll think about the party,” I say at long last, and Xavier gives me a nod, then polishes off the rest of the cake. The guys start discussing the fraternity, and I zone out thinking about the other night with East. I pull my phone out and send him another text. I don’t want to come off clingy, but I need him for this project. School is important to me, and I have always prided myself on getting good grades.
Connor leans towards me and places his arm over my shoulders. I instantly relax and snuggle into him. He sighs, making his chest shake slightly. “I missed you,” he says quietly, running his nose into my hair. A groan escapes his lips and I smile. “Why do you always smell so good?” He looks at me and presses a small kiss to my lips. I kiss him back and try to deepen it, but he pulls back with a grin. Xavier coughs and I glance his way. He gives me an odd look, but I can’t ignore the lust in his eyes or the way he keeps glancing at my lips. A phone buzzes on the table and Connor grabs it, reading something, then moaning. “We have to go back to the locker room. Coach needs to talk to us about something,” Connor says to Xavier. They stand and I hop up to give them hugs. Connor moves in for a hot kiss that leaves me wanting more. Xavier holds me a little tighter than normal and I can feel a hardness on my stomach that has never shown before. He coughs and pulls back, giving me a wink, before walking after Connor. I sit down and lay my head on the table just missing the ranch splatters on the surface. Seriously. I have enough guy problems at the moment. I don’t need Xavier in the mess too.
e
“Hey, Carson, right?” I look up annoyed. This is the fourth time someone has hit on me since sitting down. I just need to get this paper written. East still hasn’t returned my texts and the first draft is due tomorrow. Why did I waste all that time kissing him? Should have listened to Sassy. So much for ‘I’m a hidden nice guy’. I glance up and my scowl turns into a flirtatious smile as I see the guy from move-in day standing above me with a coffee and pastry wrapped in a napkin.
“Hi. Yes, but you can call me Cara.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “I like Carson. It's different.”
I roll my eyes and wave my hand for him to join me. He quickly sits down and sets the treats in front of me. I raise a brow in confusion and he shrugs. “I noticed you usually get a pick me up around this time.”Wow isn't he just the sweetest, or maybe a little creepy.
“You’ve been watching me?” I ask, he immediately stutters and blushes a deep shade of red.
“Not in a creepy stalker way. I just like to hang out here too. It’s peaceful.” I glance around at the near empty library.
“I agree. Thank you, you’re right, usually at this time I’m dragging, but I haven't had a chance to pop out yet. I have this paper I need to finish—” He cuts me off with a finger to my lips. “Say no more, beautiful. I just wanted to introduce myself and give you your treat. I’ll see you around," he says, hopping up from the table and moving away faster than I can say, “no stay”.
What is it with the guys here? I glance down at the coffee and can’t help the chuckle escaping. At least he left me his number. Still don’t know his name though. He glances over his shoulder and shoots me a wink. It was a sweet gesture, but I don’t think I should risk drinking it. I continue my assignment and start to become more frustrated with each word. Easton is supposed to be doing half of this damn paper. I had to finish the lyrics on my own and they’re good, but not the best. I pull my phone out once more to send an angry message and it vibrates in my hand.
I hesitate a moment, before answering, but give in at the last second.
“Hey,” I whisper, quickly packing up my things, I grab the coffee and shuffle to the door. I toss it in the trash. What a waste, but just to be safe. I move to the door so I can talk. I don’t want to piss off the librarian, she’s actually really sweet. I give her a wave and she mouths, “have a good night.”
“Hey, shortcake. How’s college?” Memphis says, I sigh and find a place to set my bag down and talk. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve heard his voice, and I forgot how much his tone soothes me. Even if it’s tainted now by the video.
“College is college,” I say back with a laugh.
“Wow, extremely descriptive there, Cara,” he scoffs. I roll my eyes even though he can’t see it. “It’s like nothing I ever expected Memph. The people here are so much more mature and sophisticated than what I’m used to.” I fidget a bit and bring my nail to my teeth. I haven’t bitten my nails in years, but lately I find the stress making me bite them down to the quick.
“Don’t let them intimidate you, babe. You belong there as much as they do.”
I huff and cover it with a cough. I smile thinking of the hot guy who gave me the coffee. He definitely doesn’t intimidate me. His adorable stutter and blush.So cute.A noise on the other line brings me back to the conversation. I groan. “I know. It’s just hard. I can’t connect to the girls here, Memph. They hate me and I don’t know why.” I’ve tried multiple ways to make myself fit in, I even let Penny call me Courtney.“Give it time. You’ve been there what, a month?”
Holy crap has it only been that long? Seems so much longer.
“So tell me what else is new? How’s your roommate? Last we talked she was amazing, and you loved her. Everything still good there?”
I laugh, thinking about my Sassafrass. “Yeah, she’s great. I don’t think I would still be here if not for her and Connor.”