“What did I say?” I asked, and her head popped up. When her glassy stare met mine, I felt like a Grade-A jerk. I’d put my size elevens in my mouth.
“Gorgeous, why are you sad?”
“I’m not a nerd,” she blurted out, and my eyes went big then narrowed.
“I never said you were.” I quickly slipped out of my seat, giving in to the need to be closer to her. To comfort her. “Baby, I meant that in the best way possible. You’re my Smarty Pants.”
“That’s so not sexy.” She laughed, rolling her eyes, and I cupped her face.
An intense need washed over me.
A need to protect, claim, and cherish. What the hell is wrong with me? S.O.S!
“A lot of the times, sexy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” I shared like an idiot. It was like I couldn’t help myself.
“Great.” She scowled, and I shook my head. I wasn’t making my case.
“I’m serious.” I looked around and pointed behind me. “You see those girls over there?”
“Gemma’s groupies?” she mumbled, and I nodded.
“When someone takes them home, and I know this is going to make me sound like an asshole, but those girls don’t stay over. They don’t matter. It sounds really shitty, but it’s true. And when they do stay over, they’re unrecognizable the morning after to the poor idiot when he wakes up.”
“Talking from experience?” she taunted, and I tried not to flinch.
“I’m not a choirboy.” I shrugged, for the first time slightly regretting the past and not really knowing why. “But a girl like you, you have no idea how fucking sexy you are, Cora, and that ups the ante. Sweet and kind. What you see is what you get. No games. Do you have any idea how refreshing that is? How rare that is? Nothing like those girls, in the best way possible. When a guy takes you home,”—the words burned in my throat at the idea of any guy touching her—“you’re the kind of girl a guy keeps.”
“Okay, Romeo, calm down. For keeps type?” she repeated, shaking her head. “I think you’re laying it on a little thick.”
“I’m just letting you know where I stand. Freshman year at that party—”
“Milo, you really don’t have to explain,” she quickly cut me off, but she had no idea how much I needed to.
“The thing is, an explanation has been long overdue.”
“It really hasn’t.”
“You gotta know that when I call you Smarty Pants, it’s because I know you’re the entire fucking package. Not just a wrapper.”
“That’s… sweet.” Her lips twitched, and she gave me the honor of watching her face transform with the most beautiful smile. A smile I wanted to be responsible for putting on her face. “Sweet but cheesy,” she teased, then her phone beeped. “I should get going. I need to stop and get some dinner before it’s too late.”
“You have an alarm to remind you to eat?” I asked, seriously liking everything I was getting to know about her.
“I can get wrapped up in homework and sometimes, time kinda runs away from me.”
“Come on.” I kissed the top of her head as I stood up and started putting my shit in my backpack.
“Where?”
“To get dinner, where else?”
“Milo,” she softly whispered, “what are you doing?”
“Taking my favorite Smarty Pants to dinner.”
“Milo,” she warned, but I wasn’t going to let her argue with me.
This might have started as a favor, but looking at her, something changed. I didn’t know if it was breathing in her light, fruity scent, or the way her eyes were warm and sweet, but I wasn’t an idiot. This was an opportunity. I was a goalie through and through, and I wasn’t going to let the possibility of whatever was going on between us slip through my fingers.
“My girl needs to eat, so I’m gonna feed her,” I shared. She scowled, obviously apprehensive about my intentions. Even I wasn’t even clear about what I was doing.
“When we made our deal,”—she leaned in closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear her—“I didn’t mean for all this.”
“Babe, I don’t play games.”
“Yeah, right,” she said, and the moment she caught my wince, her face softened. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just—”
“This is why an explanation is needed.” I watched as she put the rest of her things in her backpack.
Once she was done, I took it from her, carrying mine and hers over my shoulder and taking her hand in mine. We quietly walked out of the library hand in hand. I could tell by glancing down at her that she was deep in thought, and when we were nearing my car, I knew I had to set shit straight.
“There is no easy way of saying this. I was a stupid kid freshman year, babe.”
“Milo...”
“But to set the record straight, by the time I kissed you that night, I’d completely forgotten about pledging or the shit I had to do. Or hell, Sigma itself.”
“But you kissed Gemma,” she pointed out.
“I did. I’m not trying to say I didn’t. When I kissed her, I knew why I was doing it. And I can honestly tell you it was the worst kiss I have ever had,” I shared, stopping at the passenger side door.
“It was?” Her lips twitched, and her gaze brightened as she looked up at me. I could see it, the need to ask, and god, I wanted her to, but I wasn’t going to push her until she was ready. “And me?” she braved, and my hand moved up, skimming her arm and tucking a stray strand of golden hair behind her ear.
“You were the complete opposite,” I told her honestly. I wasn’t sure why I’d let so much time slip by us between that first kiss and my apology, but I wasn’t about to waste another moment.
“I was?”
“Complete. Polar. Opposite,” I made sure to emphasize.
“Polar opposite of the worst kiss ever would be?” She was totally fishing, and I was okay with that.
“Best kiss ever.” I winked, enjoying the moment, knowing in my gut there was something big about this moment.
I knew it like I did when I was out on the field, face to face with a forward from the opposing team when I was going to be able to stop a ball from entering the goal.
This was my moment, and she was my girl.
_____________
“Thank you again for dinner,” she said. I could see the sudden shyness starting to creep up on her, and damn it, made her even more irresistible. It made the hooks she had in me dig in deeper.
“You’re welcome.” I winked as I stroked the side of her face with my thumb.
We were standing outside of the Kappa Sweets house on Greek Row. Her body in front of mine radiating her sweet scent, her beauty even more hypnotizing under the moonlight. Damn me to hell, I was falling for the girl. One study session and dinner later, and I was falling.
Hard and fast.
In a way I knew in my gut there was no turning back.
What was that saying my grandmother always went on about? Life happened while we made plans. Well, Cora had certainly happened. Hell. I had to be honest with myself, I’d known she would be important when we had met.
“You should have let me pay my half,” she complained half-heartedly, her eyes drifting down to my mouth before meeting my gaze.
“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let you do that?” My fingers grazed the line of her neck, and her eyes fluttered closed, her mouth forming a perfect little O. The sight of it made me very aware of how my dick was straining against the zipper of my jeans, urging to move forward.
“Boyfriend,” she repeated, her voice softer and lower, her gaze back on my lips, and fuck me, I could feel it. My mouth ached to feel her full pout against mine.
“Boyfriend. And you’re my girlfriend.” My voice sounded like it was being grated against gravel. I hadn’t had a girlfriend in a long time. Years, really. Not since high school, and even then, it had been kid shit. Nothing serious. Nowhere close to the way I felt when I was around her.
“To make us beli
evable?” she asked, but I didn’t respond.
I couldn’t. Not when the truth was bigger than some dumb charade we’d somehow found ourselves in. Holy fuck, I was falling for Cora Meadows. The way her full lips beckoned me toward her, I couldn’t resist the bone-aching urge for a taste. I took the risk of her punching me in the balls and kissed her.
Slow.
Sweet.
I took my time, appreciating every little sound that escaped from her. That little sound that had haunted me for so damn long. The feel of her hands on my shoulders, her body pressed close to mine, ingrained its way into memory like that little sound had years before. We fit like two fucking puzzle pieces.
“Oh shit, sorry!” a girlish voice said, and Cora jumped, pulling back, ending our kiss. “Cora?” the girl said, and I turned, making sure to keep hold of Cora’s hand in mine. “Milo Clark?” The somewhat familiar brunette asked, her eyes wide behind her thick-framed glasses. “I’m so sorry, you guys. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t. Umm… Milo, this is my sorority sister and roommate, Cat.”
“Catalina Castro. We have social sciences together,” she said, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“That’s right. Hi.” I extended my free hand and shook her hand. She quickly took her hand away and pushed her heavy-looking backpack up her small shoulder as she looked back and forth between Cora and me.
“Well, I’ve bugged you two enough, sorry about that,” she shyly said, and when Cora tried to protest, she shook her head. “Umm, I’ll go, and you two can, umm, carry on.” The girl groaned, covering her face. “I mean go forward. Or well, umm…” She shook her head, her tanned face turning a slight shade of pink before she waved us off and headed into the house.
“She’s…”
“Shy?” I guessed, and Cora looked up at me.
“Yeah. She can be. But she’s honestly one of the best friends I’ve made here. She just needs help coming out her shell, I guess.”
“All in its due time,” I said, repeating words my mom had said to me when I’d once upon a time been the shortest kid in class. An unreadable expression fell over Cora’s face, and I looked at our joined hands. “See you tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” She looked up at me with wonder in her eyes, and damn, I wished I could take a picture, immortalizing that expression for all of time. Immortalizing an expression? What kind of voodoo am I under?
“You’re coming to see me practice,” I stated like a fact, trying to shake off the poetics she was making me wax, and her perfect brows bunched together. Damn, she’s cute.
“Practice?”
“Girlfriend duties.” I shrugged, unable to keep a grin off my face.
“Milo—”
“It’s at six, lower campus field,” I shared as I leaned in closer. My nose nuzzles hers back and forth for a quiet moment. “You can read while I practice, and then we can get dinner after.”
“Milo—” But I didn’t let her say another word. My lips touched hers and I kissed her. I had meant for it to be soft and sweet, but a rush of need flooded me. Greedy for her taste, I deepened the kiss, my tongue plundered, and, to my great surprise, she didn’t pull away.
She held on, gripping my shirt tighter as if willing me not to stop. But I knew if I was going to win like I did out on the field, I had to play it smart. I broke the kiss way too early, both of us aching and breathless for so much more. “See you tomorrow,” I whispered lowly before kissing the tip of her nose and walking away.
When I reached the end of the drive to the house, I looked back and saw her standing there, watching me. The tips of her dainty little fingers on her lips. I waved and kept walking before I did something insane. Like go after her and hoist her over my shoulder to whatever flat surface I could take her on.
But Cora Meadows was more than some random faceless hook-up. I hadn’t been pulling her chain in the library. She was the end game, for keeps, take-and-meet-your-mom kind of girl. Everything going through my head should have freaked me out. But it didn’t.
It was like a wave of calm settled over me as I realized exactly who she was.
She was the one who mattered.
She was the Smarty Pants I was gonna take home to Mom.
Cora
“Milo Clark?” Catalina shrieked the moment I walked into our room. “I know I’ve been in a haze about the new year, but, like, when did that happen?!” I winced at Cat’s question.
“I just… I don’t know. It’s not what you think….” I paused because I didn’t know how to explain how the hell I had gotten myself into the situation I was in. Cat was my friend, one of my closest, and out of anyone in the house, she seriously didn’t deserve being lied to. She was the one who always got me.
“And what is that? That you two are a thing?” She giggled and then sighed dreamily. “He is so beautiful.”
“Who’s a thing?” Allie asked from the doorway. Why hadn’t I closed the door! Her smile all too wide and excitement glittering in her eyes. Allie was the reason I’d had to come up with this scheme. She was hard set on making sure the seniors this year found love. Especially those of us who hadn’t dated, like Catalina and me.
“Milo Clark and Cora!” Cat blurted out, and I giggled wondering why in the world Cat was choosing this moment to come out of her shell.
“What? You two? Really? I thought you couldn’t stand him?” Allie asked, and I stifled my groan. I hadn’t made it a secret I didn’t appreciate Milo Clark.
“Yeah, well, umm…” I opened and closed my mouth when Cat cut in.
“Oh, trust me, she can stand him now,” Cat teased. “I walked up to them making out.” I shut my eyes and shook my head while exhaling slowly. How had I let everything get so out of hand? Milo’s kisses. They were completely at fault.
“Shut up!” Allie squealed, and I opened my eyes. Allie and Cat were in my room jumping and dancing like a bunch of lunatics, their energy weirdly infectious. My cheeks went warm.
If I was honest, I was torn. I didn’t know what I preferred more, wishing a huge black hole would suck me up or wanting to girl talk and tell them everything about Milo.
“You two are really a thing?” Allie asked, and my throat went dry. It had started as a charade just yesterday, but tonight, tonight felt real.
“Yeah,” I croaked with what I hoped looked like a confident smile.
“Oh, yay!!! That is exciting! You’re going to the Halloween party together!”
“You know that’s a little over a month away, right?” I laughed.
“So?” Allie argued, and Cat tilted her head, both their gazes focused on me.
“Yes,” I groaned, but then the thought of what Milo might dress up as popped into my head. “We’re going together.”
“Yay!” She clapped and hugged me quickly before pulling away. “I’ll check you off my list,” she rattled off and turned her attention to Cat.
Poor Cat.
Her eyes went wide behind her thick frames, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights. Allie’s romantic matchmaking headlights. I almost felt bad for her, but I was relieved to be off Allie’s radar.
“My sweet Catalina, how do you feel about frat guys?”
CHAPTER THREE
Milo
THE WHISTLE RANG, and I took my gloves off before swiping the sweat off my brow as I ran up to the defense line where my buddy and our team’s sweeper, Jonah, was waiting.
“Hot damn,” Jonah said under his breath. I looked in the direction his eyes were pinned, and my brows narrowed. He was looking at Cora. Cora, who had been sitting on the sidelines during practice but was now stretching as she stood up. Her tank top rising, showing slight sliver of smooth skin, before she dropped her arms and placed her backpack on the chair.
“That her?” he asked, tilting his head, obviously checking her out, and if he hadn’t been my friend since day one, I would have been ripping his fucking eyes from their sockets. Shit. Is this what jealousy feels like?
“Watch it, Jonah,” I growled, and my clenched jaw squared.
“Come on, man, she’s fucking gorgeous. Only you would luck out with her as your damn tutor.”
“She’s more than that.”
“Right. Sure. Women’s lib and all that. But this whole thing between you two, you said it yourself, it’s for pretend. Hey, after Halloween, you mind if—”
“Jonah, I’m gonna say this once and only because you and I are like brothers,” I growled. “She’s fucking gorgeous. I know that, and you know that. But keep your fucking hands to yourself,” I warned, my intentions clear.
“Whoa, bro, cool your ass, man. I thought this whole thing was for pretend?”
“Not anymore,” I told him seriously, and there was no hiding the surprise in his eyes.
“She know that?” he asked, his dark eyes wide and his attention fully on me.
“She will,” I clipped, and he took a moment, watching me closely.
“You’re serious.”
“Dead.”
“Wow.” I couldn’t read his expression, so I started walking toward her. He was hot on my heels. “So, it’s like that, huh? For reals?”
“Yes, Jonah.”
“Mr. I’m-not-gonna-fall is playing a Venus fly trap. I dig it, man. Proud of you. It’s like my little bird is fleeing the nest,” he teased only loud enough for me to hear as he patted my shoulder.
“Venus what?” I looked at him.
“You know, ‘cause they catch shit,” he pointed out like it made complete sense, and I shook my head.
“You’re an idiot,” I mumbled, not sure if I should laugh or hit him upside the head.
“Whatever, you’re friends with me. What is it that they say about the blind leading the deaf?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I chuckled, used to Jonah’s nonsense, my mood ten times better as I approached her.
“Hey.” She smiled brightly, her light brown eyes and attention completely on me. There was something about being near her that made me impulsive. I was sweaty and probably a little rank, but I didn’t think about that. I pulled her into me, not missing the way her hand touched the center of my chest. I could feel the heat of her touch like a sear, and I wished I were shirtless. She wasn’t trying to stop me from bringing her against my sweaty body. Her touch was a caress. My heart rate accelerated the way it did when I was one the field and we were going against the clock.
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