by Anna B. Doe
“Mrs. G will throw us out if we don’t stop talking.”
Grabbing his wrist, I move his finger off my lips. “You’re just trying to get out of answering my question.”
“How about we make a deal?” He gets his hand out of my hold, and interlocks our fingers, holding tightly. My gaze locks on our joined hands on the desk between us, throat turning dry. “You go out with me on Friday and I’ll tell you afterward.”
“I thought I already said yes to the date,” I challenge, hoping that maybe if I push, he’ll give me more.
“That was drunk-Callie. I want you to say it sober too.”
I lift my gaze to look at him. The intensity with which he stares at me leaves me breathless.
“And you’ll tell me what happened?” I ask softly.
“Sure.”
I narrow my eyes at him. It seems almost too easy. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” He winks. Actually winks. Who’s this guy and what did he do with Hayden Watson? You know, the grumpy one?
Still, I can’t fight the rush of excitement that overflows me with that little motion. I’m not sure what is happening between us, all I know is that I’m not ready for it to end.
“Fine. I’ll go out with you.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
HAYDEN
Finishing with the final re-read of the essay for my marketing class, I save it and close the file.
An unhappy groan from next to me draws my attention. Not like I’ve forgotten about her. There is no way that anybody could just forget about Callie Stewart.
After she agreed to the date, we each got down to our business. It was almost too easy to fall back into the silent companionship that we shared during our studying sessions back in high school, but that’s exactly what happened.
She’s tapping the end of the pen against her lip deep in thought, her eyes moving between the notebook where she was scribbling something into and the book that I guess is her guideline.
Turning off my computer, I peek over her shoulder. “What’s making you frown so hard?”
Frustrated, she starts erasing the problem she’s been working on with such ferocity I’m surprised she doesn’t rip out the page.
“This stupid statistics homework. I should have known better than to take statistics out of all the subjects.”
“Math still gives you a hard time?”
“Giving a hard time is putting it mildly.” She sighs, puts down her pen and rubs her temples. “I’m giving up, not like there is any chance I’ll figure it out tonight anyway.”
Callie turns around, her eyes growing wide, a soft gasp parts her lips realizing how close we are. So close I can see a few pale freckles dusted over the bridge of her nose and feel her warm breath touch my skin. So close I can see the flutter of her rushed heartbeat in the curve of her neck that matches my own. So close that if I lean just a bit more I could kiss her. Again. Callie must think the same because her eyes fall down to my lips.
“You done?” My raspy question breaks her out of the haze.
“Um… yes.” She pushed one wavy strand behind her ear. “I think I’m going home.”
Just then her stomach rumbles loudly making her cheeks heat in embarrassment.
I chuckle at her discomfort. “Dinner first?”
Callie starts to pack her things. “I’ll just grab something on the way.”
I should let her go. I know I should, but I can’t help but tease, “Or order in. I hear you have a good relationship with Blairwood delivery guys.”
Her head shoots up, a look of surprise and annoyance passing over her face until she finally sets for the second: “I hate you.”
I bite my lower lip to stop myself from laughing. “You only wish you do. But seriously, let’s grab dinner. The cafeteria is like a ten-minute walk from here and the delivery will take forever.”
“Hayden I…” she starts to protest, but a loud throat clearing stops her. We turn around in unison to find Mrs. G putting away books not far from us. She isn’t even looking at us. Still, a shiver runs through me. Talk about witch powers.
“Pack your bag and let’s go.”
“This was such a bad idea.” Callie’s hand tugs on mine, pulling me back. She’s rooted in place, those violet eyes staring at the cafeteria like it’ll come and bite her if she dares to come any closer.
“How can dinner be a bad idea?” To confirm my statement, my stomach growls loudly in agreement. If she doesn’t move soon, I might be tempted to bite her. And now that puts a whole new set of ideas into my head that I absolutely don’t need right now.
Food. I need real food.
“It’s not dinner, it’s just…” She waves her hand in the direction of the building.
“Just what?”
“There are people inside,” she whispers just as a group of students walks past us, all of them giving us a curious look.
“People are a bad idea?” I ask, trying to connect this girl right here to the queen B she once was. It’s impossible.
“Me plus people plus you are a bad idea,” Callie corrects me, like that makes more sense. “The worst actually.”
I tilt my head to the side. “How so?”
She gives a glare to the group staring back at us. “They’re staring.”
“They’re probably wondering why we’re freezing our asses off.”
The look she gives me tells me she doesn’t share my opinion. “Nah, can’t we go somewhere else? Cup It Up has some pretty cool sandwiches.”
“I need something more than a sandwich. Have you ever been to the cafeteria?” I try to remember if I ever saw her in one of them, but for all the places we’ve seen each other this doesn’t come up as one of them.
“I grab something on the way.”
“Cafeteria is on the way,” I say yet again.
“Too many p—”
I wave her off, giving up on trying to figure her out. “Forget I even asked.”
Tightening my hold on her, I pull her closer. Callie crashes into my chest, her fingers digging into my shirt as she looks up at me.
“Hayden…” she protests but doesn’t pull away.
“Food,” I say decisively, not leaving her room to argue.
Puffing away a strand of hair that got in her face, she finally concedes. “Fine. But just so you know, I’m only going because I’m afraid you’re going to try and eat me if I don’t give in.”
“It might have crossed my mind.” I grin extra wide because I know it’ll piss her off.
Tugging at her hand, we finally enter inside, the warm air surrounding us instantly. The heat sends shivers through my numb limbs. It hasn’t snowed just yet, but it was a matter of days. I could feel it in the crisp air.
I should probably let go of Callie’s hand, but I’m still not one hundred percent sure that she won’t run for the hills if I do. And, as strange as it seems, a part of me actually likes it. I don’t remember the last time I held somebody’s hand like this. If ever.
Callie sweeps the huge dining room as soon as we’re inside, her big, like a deer caught in the headlights eyes taking everything in, before ducking her head and moving a step closer to me.
“Come on, let’s grab some food.” I steer her toward the food section where I start filling out my tray instantly. I haven’t had anything decent to eat since lunch and I’m starving.
Callie looks skeptically at the tower of food on my tray and then at me. “You’ll eat all that?”
“You’ll eat just that?” I throw back, looking at her almost empty plate. A lone chicken breast with some steamed veggies.
She rolls her eyes at me. “I don’t have a hole in my stomach like some people apparently do.”
“Well, after the practice coach put us through, you’re lucky I didn’t eat you while waiting to come here.”
Heat floods her cheeks. “Based on how much you’re planning to eat, I’m not sure there would be enough of me for an appetizer.”
>
Callie blinks at me, her words finally registering in her mind. I flash her a grin that makes her whole face turn red. She bows her head, hair falling on either side of her face and blocking my view.
Chuckling, I lean down, unable to resist teasing her more, and whisper in her ear, “But what a tasty appetizer you’d be.”
“Don’t tease me,” she protests, but there is no real heat behind her words.
“I just like to see you flustered. You look… different.”
She shakes her head at me and I steer her down the lane. We pay for our food, and before I can even lift my head to see where to sit, I hear my name called.
“Over here!” Nix waves his hand in the air.
He’s so loud people start turning their heads to look at him, and what caught his attention. Not like we actually need more attention than we already have. Where Ravens go heads turn.
Shaking my head, I push Callie toward him, a few more football players and Maddox all huddled up on one table.
“Look at what the cat dragged in. Hey, Cals.” Nixon looks at Callie before his knowing smirk turns to me. “Hades.”
“Hey, Nix.” She shifts uncomfortably under his stare, her cheeks growing pink in embarrassment.
“Fancy seeing you here. Together.” He wiggles his eyebrows, his eyes darting between the two of us. “I figured somebody would have to bring you in kicking and screaming.”
“Don’t be an ass,” I mutter in greeting.
Callie nervously shifts her weight from one leg to another but makes no attempt to sit, so I pull her chair and wait until she’s in her seat before taking the one next to her.
Of course the dumbass across from me follows my every move, his smirk growing wider, but at least he doesn’t comment on anything.
“Apparently nobody taught him how to take no for an answer.”
“No is for losers,” I mutter, digging in the food. “The better question is, what you had to do to get him out of the house?” I tip my chin at Maddox who’s barely paying any attention to people around him, way more interested in whatever’s happening on his iPad. He murmurs a greeting, but that’s as much attention as I’ll get from him.
“You and Maddox would be besties, neither one of you cares much for the human race and instead opts to stay closed in your rooms,” I say to Callie, taking a huge bite of my burger.
She watches me eat for a second, before finally shaking her head. “If you don’t slow down you’re going to choke.”
“Are you worried about me, angel?” I feign mock horror.
“Just that it would be expected of me to try and save you.”
“And how is that a bad thing?”
Her eyes dart to the side, avoiding me. “Because I’d die when all of your fangirls rush here like a stampede trying to rescue you.”
I frown, confused with the sudden change in her voice. It almost seems guarded. “I don’t have fangirls.”
“Yeah right.” She rolls her eyes at me and returns to cutting her meat. Once again her hair falls over her face and shields her from me. And suddenly I realize why she let her hair loose before we even left the library.
I look around, and sure enough, a group of girls sitting a few tables away from ours is looking here. They whisper something to each other and then start laughing.
“Callie…” I put my hand over hers, wanting for her to look at me, but she doesn’t.
“I warned you,” she whispers so only I can hear.
Fed up with her hiding from me, I gather all her hair in my fist, pulling it behind her shoulders. She tries to protest, but I don’t let her.
“No more hiding.”
“Hayden, let it go.”
“Either you tie it back, or I’ll do it,” I warn and she must see I’m serious, because she tugs the band from around her wrist and quickly works on twisting her hair in some kind of side braid.
“Happy?”
“Yes.” I push one strand that slipped the confides behind her ear. “I don’t give a crap and neither should you because they don’t matter.”
Sadness clouds those big, dark eyes. Haunted and weary, they pierce my soul. “I was just like them, so how can they not?”
“Callie…”
I’m not sure what to say to make it better. Should I do it? Do I even want to? A part of me was still pissed at her, but the other part… it wants her.
I want her.
It’s undeniable. The attraction I feel for this girl. But I’m not sure where we stand. Where I want us to stand. Where does she?
“Can we let it go? Please?”
I don’t want to, but I don’t want to cause her any more hurt. Instead I nod, giving her hand a squeeze and turn my attention to Nix, changing the subject.
“How did you get Maddox to leave the house?” I ask Nix because really, there is no way I’ll get an answer from Maddox himself.
“I didn’t, it was…”
Just then a familiar redhead pulls the chair next to Maddox and plops down.
“This better be coffee,” she mutters, and without waiting for a response takes a sip from the to-go cup in front of Maddox.
“Alyssa.” Maddox’s head snaps up instantly, his eyes fixed on his best friend.
She frowns at the first taste of coffee. “How can you drink that?”
“It’s coffee.” His eyes are fixed on the cup like he’s trying to figure out what she’s talking about. Creating video games and apps? No biggie. Trying to understand some of the basic human needs? Houston, we’ve got a problem.
“It’s mud, Maddox. You should try putting cream or sugar in it.”
“This is how it’s supposed to be drunk. Besides, you know I’m lactose intolerant and excessive amounts of sugar lead to diabetes.”
She shakes her head, already used to dealing with Maddox. “Almond milk and a little bit of sugar never killed anybody.” Alyssa steals the fry off his plate, dips it into ketchup and throws it into her mouth, moaning softly. “At least there are fries.”
“That explains it,” I mutter. Turning my attention from the two of them, I shove the last bite of spaghetti meatballs into my mouth.
“Explains what?” Callie whispers, her brows furrowed as she looks at their interaction. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Alyssa,” Nix fills her in. He already finished his dinner and is now happily leaning in his chair, staring at us.
“Maddox’s best friend,” I add when her confused expression doesn’t change.
That pink mouth of hers forms a little O. My finger slides underneath her chin and pushes it up.
“More like forever-crush-slash-unrequited-love-of-his-life,” Nix coughs the words into hand to cover them up. Not like Maddox and Alyssa are paying us any attention. They’re too busy bickering like an old married couple. Still, I shoot him a glare over the desk.
“She doesn’t look like his type.”
I watch the two of them. Alyssa with all that wild red hair, perfectly put makeup and top so tight it looks like a second skin and Maddox with his overgrown hair, pale complexion, and frames that hide half his face. “No, I guess she doesn’t. But it’s not like you can choose who you fall in love with.”
Her head snaps up, those big, round eyes staring at me. They’re dark and clear, surrounded by thick, long caramel eyelashes.
My heart picks up, the drum hard and steady.
Silence stretches between us, filled with all the things we have yet to say. So many things. There is so much I have yet to find out about the person she was before and the person she is now before we can clear the air between us to… to what really? I’m not sure.
Her lips part, that little pink tongue darting out to swipe over her lower lip drawing my attention. It’s not done on purpose. I know because her cheeks turn pink as soon as my eyes land on her lips, her throat bobs as she swallows the nerves.
And now I’m thinking about kissing her again. About the way her mouth felt pressed against mine, all soft and warm. How her br
eath hitched when we deepened the kiss. The way her slick tongue…
A loud muttering in Spanish stops my thoughts from moving further down the path of getting a major boner in the middle of the dining hall.
“I’ll be damned!”
In unison, we both turn around to find Yasmin standing right next to us, her mouth gaping.
“What?” Callie looks between the two of us completely confused.
“He got you to come here!” She rolls her eyes like it’s obvious.
“It’s not like I never come here,” Callie starts to push her hair back, only to realize it’s already tied up.
“Lies!” Nix shouts even before she can finish the sentence. “Every time I asked you, you said no.”
Yasmin nods in agreement. “Callie, I asked you like a hundred times to come and every single time you said no.”
The two of them exchange a glance, surprise evident on their faces. Yasmin’s eyes narrow as she takes in Nixon’s stretched out form, assessing every detail. “Nixon,” she mutters in greeting, her demeanor icy.
“Yasmin.” Nixon gives her one of his panty-dropping smirks, the one he uses on all the ladies, but she huffs and looks away. I watch as the smile falls off my friend’s face, eyes narrowing.
“That’s not true.” Yasmin turns her attention back to Callie and just lifts her brows, making her sigh in defeat. “Okay, maybe I don’t go to the dining hall, but why should I when Cup It Up has way better coffee and there’s food.”
“Those are sandwiches!” her roommate protests. “You’ve been living off of sandwiches since you got here.”
“Don’t forget the takeout,” Callie reminds her, which earns her another eye roll. “What? That’s real food, and not even you can protest that. Besides, I can order things you won’t find here in the next hundred years!”
“Yeah, yeah…” Yasmin rolls her eyes. “Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night.”
“You wanna stay with us?” Callie asks, changing the subject.
Yasmin looks over our already full table, her face turning grim before she promptly masks it away. “Nah, I’m good. My friends are waiting for me. We just came to grab a quick dinner before meeting for our study session. See you later?”