by Toni Aleo
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Cool.”
He then reaches into his pocket to pull out some money. I watch as he lays a twenty on the table and then gets out of the booth, bringing me with him.
“Later, guys,” he calls, and the guys in the booth all wave.
Looking up at him, I ask, “I don’t get to meet your brother?”
He cuts a look at me and then shakes his head. “No way, I’m not sharing you yet. You’re all mine tonight.”
Man, I hate the doubt that settles in my stomach, because while I should be pleased by that statement, I can’t help but think he didn’t want to introduce me because he doesn’t plan on seeing me after this. Refusing to let that bother me, I smile as his fingers lace with mine. The night is quiet and so is the quad. Only a few people are walking around, and some even sit in the grass, lying with someone or making out, while others look at the stars through their telescopes. I love the Bellevue campus. It’s so remote, so amazing. It’s almost like we have our own world, and I like that. Everything I want is here.
Especially now that I’ve met Jude.
“So what do you want to be when you grow up?” he asks suddenly, and I laugh as I smile at him.
Grinning, I say, “A princess.”
“You’re already Princess Ariel, so what do you want to be after that?”
I laugh as my heart skips a beat. “I would like to choreograph concerts for big-name stars, like Justin Timberlake or someone like that. Or maybe come up with amazing Vegas shows, or maybe even own my own studio.”
“I can see it happening, and when you make it, make sure not to forget us little people.”
I laugh out loud at that as I cup our hands in my other hand. “Please, you’ll be some hotshot hockey player with babes throwing themselves all over you. So really, who will forget whom?”
He scoffs as he shakes his head. “I could never forget the most gorgeous girl in the world.”
He turns me then, taking me in his arms before crashing his lips to mine. As I kiss him, I snake my arms around his waist, holding him tightly as our lips move together in such an erotic way. I love how we fit. I’m only tad bit shorter than him, so he doesn’t have to bend to kiss me, and when we hug, we fit. As much as I want to say that it is meant to be, I’m not sure what is going to happen when Jude drops me off. I could always make sure that I see him again, but I refuse to beg for someone’s love. Been there, done that, never doing it again.
Cupping my jaw, he runs his thumb up and down my chin, searching my eyes for something. I’m not sure what it is, but before I can ask, my phone buzzes in my pocket, signaling a call.
“Oops, hold on,” I say, pulling away to pull my phone out. Jude doesn’t go far, his arms are still around my waist and his lips rest at my temple as I look at the display to see it’s Phillip. “I’m sorry, I have to answer this.”
“That’s cool, baby.”
Swooning. Ugh. Hitting answer, I say, “Hey!”
“Hey, you. Heard you killed at your audition today. I’m proud of you. Reese recorded it and, boy, you smoked that dance.”
I smile broadly as I look down at the ground. “Thanks, I’ll send you a text tomorrow and let you know if I make it or not.”
“There’s no question. They’ll be dumb not to take you.”
I laugh as I rock back on my heels, but Jude doesn’t let me get far. “I hope so. Are you home?”
“Yeah, got in about an hour go. I leave out again Friday, though.”
“Crap, I probably won’t get to see ya then.”
“Probably not. I miss you.”
“I miss you more.”
My heart explodes in my chest as I grin. “So tell me why Reese is crying at, like, everything. It’s scary.”
“Well, you did say some really great things that could even bring tears to my eyes, but really, I don’t know, she’s weird… Oopphmm, damn, Reese! That hurt!”
I laugh as I ask, “What happened?”
“She kicked me in the gut. Damn it, she’s crazy, I’m telling you.”
I hear Reese in the background and then she’s on the phone. “Hey, did you ask Jude to the wedding?”
“Ugh Reese, please,” I say and I hear Phillip start asking who Jude is. “We’re only friends.”
But when I chance a glance at him to see he’s watching me, his eyes tell me we’re way more than friends…but for how long?
As he takes my phone from me, I shriek in shock as he puts the phone to his ear and says, “Reese? Hey, it’s Jude Sinclair. Yeah, it was wonderful meeting you, but I want to say, Claire and I are way more than friends. Yup…okay…yeah.”
I try to take the phone from him, but he’s stronger than I am, holding me out from him as he continues to talk to my family!
“Mr. Anderson, yes, it’s wonderful to speak with you.”
I stop struggling then, my eyes going wide. He’s talking to Phillip! Fuck!
“As I was telling your fiancée, this thing between me and Claire is special, and oh, you don’t care? Oh. Okay. Well, I hope to prove to you that that is unnecessary. Yes, sir, thank you.”
When he hands me my phone, his lips are in a grim line. I put the phone to my ear just as Phillip yells, “What the hell do you mean she’s dating someone? And why put me on the phone with the guy? I don’t want to talk to him!”
Deciding that I do not want to speak to my uncle, I hang up the phone and then shyly glance up at Jude. “Sorry?”
He laughs as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I think it’s sweet he threatened to break my kneecaps and throw my body in the Red River. He cares for you.”
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I’m so sorry. He is sorta overprotective of me.”
Jude continues to chuckle as we start to walk toward my dorm. “Again, I think it’s endearing. To kill for someone means you love them more than you love yourself, and that’s special. You’re special, Claire.”
“So you’ve said,” I flirt as I lean into him.
“And you know I don’t lie.”
I smile as I hide my face in his shoulder, and when I see my building, my heart falls into my stomach. I don’t want this to be over, but I know Skylar is back in the room. She texted me during dinner asking if it was safe to return, and I gave her the green light since I knew I couldn’t keep her from her own room. Still holding my hand, he walks me up the stairs and then all the way to my room before he pauses in front of my door.
Reaching for my phone, he takes it and does something and then his phone rings.
“Now we have each other’s phone numbers. I should have done that the first time I met you.”
“I would have kicked ya in the balls.”
He laughs and I smile as he brings me in close for a long, toe-curling kiss. Threading my fingers through the short hair on the side of his head, I lose myself in the kiss. This could very well be the last time I see him, feel him like this, and I have to enjoy it. I just have to. As much as I believe he won’t ever call me or see me again, I can’t help but feel he will. I don’t know if it is my stupid hopeful need, but I trust him. Again, not sure that is a good idea, but I do.
Parting, he nibbles on my bottom lip before he whispers, “I’ve never had such a great first date.”
“It was the best.”
“I’ll see you soon?”
“You have my number.”
“And you have mine.”
I bite into my lip and he smiles before crashing his lips to mine again. Moving in unison, we kiss for what seems like ever. I could never get tired of the way he feels against me, and when he pulls away, I actually feel lonely without him.
“Goodnight, Claire.”
“Night, Hey Jude,” I say as his face brightens. I grin as my hand finds the handle and then I push it open, almost falling into my room, but to my delight, I catch myself before crashing to the ground. I send him one last grin before waving and shutting the door. Leaning against it, I lay my head against the coolness of my d
oor and let out a long breath.
Did that just happen?
“So?” I turn to find Skylar watching me. “The room smells like sex and mint, and I am so freaking jealous that you banged Jude. So jealous. Was it good, at least?”
A dreamy look comes over my face as I basically float to her bed, falling on top of it, not caring one bit for her books or notes. “Oh Skylar, good is not the word. Perfect is more like it.”
“Oh man, I bet it was. Is he hung?!”
Breathless, I say, “Like a Clydesdale!”
“Mother of God,” she whispers and I nod quickly.
“It was amazing and perfect and ugh, as much as I want to believe there will be a second time, the doubt is there.”
“Yeah, I get what you’re saying. Jude isn’t a one-woman man, babe. I hope you remembered that going in.”
I nod as I sit up, letting out a breath. “I did, but Skylar, the way he looked at me, the way he treated me and talked to me, it just seems different.”
“You’re hot, babe, believe me, I know this. But Jude just isn’t take home to Phillip material. He more than likely won’t even text ya, which is shitty ’cause you’re amazing.”
My heart sinks because I think deep down I know that is the truth.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Don’t be sad. He popped your celibate cherry. Now time to find Mr. Right!”
I shrug as I let out a very unhappy sigh. “I guess.”
When a text signals, I look down at my display and my heart skips a beat at what I see.
Hey Jude: I didn’t even make it out of the quad before I craved ur touch. I can’t wait to see u again, baby, I’m counting the hours.
“Is that from him?”
I nod my head as I reread his words. “Maybe it is different?” I ask, and my God, I sound so fucking hopeful.
“Are you sure that’s Jude?” she asks and I nod, pointing to the top where it says Hey Jude.
“Ugh, I’m a little speechless,” she admits and I couldn’t agree more.
“Me too,” I whisper but then quickly type him back.
Me: I can’t wait to see u, when will I?
Hey Jude: Sooner than u think. I’ll be thinking of u all night.
“Holy crap! Jude Sinclair does not talk to girls like this.”
I shrug as I bite into my lip still staring at the screen. “He does with me.”
Chapter 12
Jude
“First, you ever wink at Claire again, I’ll gouge your eyes out,” I say to my brother once I open the door to our room.
He looks up at me and laughs. “Whatever, dude. I was playing around.”
“Don’t do it again,” I say sternly and he rolls his eyes. “But hey, you’ve done the girlfriend shit, right?”
Jayden looks back up at me and raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, why?”
“’Cause I think I might want to do that,” I say, shutting the door and throwing my keys and phone down.
“I’m sorry, I misheard you,” he teases and I glare.
“Shut up and tell me what I need to do to have a girlfriend.”
He laughs as he shakes his head. “First ya gotta find a girl who wants that, which considering it’s you, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Check, got that. Next thing.”
He eyes me and then goes on, “You can’t sleep with anyone else but her. She is it, that’s all. You do everything with her, you call her, you walk her to class, you listen when she talks, and you treat her like a fucking princess ’cause she deserves it.”
My face scrunches up, not because I can’t do that, I can, no big deal, especially if it’s for Claire, but because how the hell does Jayden know this? So I ask, “How the hell do you know this shit?”
“One, I’ve had a girlfriend successfully until she turned dumb, and two, I do everything Dad doesn’t and it seems to work.”
Jayden has always been the smarter Sinclair. “Good plan. Okay, good, I got this. So do I ask her now? Like, I don’t want anyone else having her and shit, so do I just come out and be like, ‘Hey, we’re together’?”
Jayden is looking at me like I’ve grown three more heads. “What the fuck, dude? Who are you?”
I laugh as I shrug. “She’s a game changer dude. I’m into her, big-time, and I don’t want anyone else to scoop her up.”
He still doesn’t look convinced, or maybe he just doesn’t understand how his brother who has never had a girlfriend wants one now. “The redhead?”
“Claire.”
“I mean, she’s smoking, but I still don’t get it. You don’t do this kind of thing. This isn’t the Jude Sinclair I know, and I’ve known you since I was born.”
I nod. “I get it, but sometimes you meet the one who changes it all, and she’s it, man, hard-core.”
“More power to ya, man, just don’t rush it. See how it goes ’cause you may feel like this now, but what if someone comes up with a hotter pussy, and you’re after them?”
I’m shaking my head before he’s done. The great thing about talking to Jayden about this is that I can be the real me and he won’t laugh. So I say the truth.
“Won’t happen. I’m telling you, she’s changed me. I’ve never chased after a girl, and I chased her. And I sure as hell never second-guessed having sex with one because I didn’t want to rush it. This is real, man, and it’s scary as fuck, but I can’t see myself without her.”
His face is a thing of horror, and then suddenly, he’s reaching for his phone.
I ask, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Calling Mom. You’re sick or something.”
Knowing that Rachael works out in the morning, I head to the gym after practice looking for her. When I spot her on the treadmill, I lean against the front of it and she sets me with a look. “Funny seeing you here, but sorry, I’m not in the mood. It’s that time of the month.”
I scoff. “That’s not why I’m here.”
Her brow comes up. “Then why?”
“I want to know if Claire Anderson made the dance team.”
Her brows come together as her nose lifts in the air. “Why would I tell you?”
“’Cause if you don’t, I’ll make sure that none of the guys from the team ever look your way again. I think herpes will keep them away.” Her face fills with shock and I say, “Now come on, did she?”
She sticks her tongue out at me, and I wonder what I ever saw in her. Yeah, her ass is great, but she isn’t very pretty most the time because of the bitchy face she always wears. “Of course she did. She was the best one who tried out, and she’ll probably be the best on the damn team. Why? You trying to hit that?”
I shrug. “That’s not any of your business. When are you posting the list?”
Still glaring, she says, “Four.”
“Cool, have a good workout.”
I hear her call my name, but I ignore her and head out of the building toward my first class. Talking to her has made me late, but I had to make sure Claire made the team. Checking my watch, I know I only have two more hours till I can meet her after her class and convince her to have lunch with me. I’m sure she won’t say no, but still, it makes me nervous. Like Jayden said, this isn’t me, and while I’m scared shitless of this, I can’t wait for the next moment I see her, the next time I can touch her and feel her underneath me.
Speaking of Jayden, I could kick his ass. He really did call my mom, and of course, my mom fussed and begged me to bring Claire to dinner, but I quickly squashed that. There is no way I’m doing that yet. While I want her to be my girlfriend, I don’t want to scare her off. Jayden told me to cool it, wait for her to say that she wants to be exclusive before I start slamming my chest with my fists and claiming her as mine. So I guess I’ll chill even if I don’t want to. I’ve always been the compulsive type on the ice, taking the shot when I know I have it, but in life, I calculate and make sure that everything I do is a good idea. Like which school to go to, what classes to take,
who to be friends with, and who to trust.
Especially with females.
I never lie. I tell them upfront that our time together is a one-time thing and that’s it. If they can’t handle that, then sorry for them; I don’t have time for crazy. I’m a busy, hotshot hockey player. There are too many girls who want one night with me, and the crazy thing is, I never uttered those words to Claire. They weren’t even there. The only thing that was there was lust and need. When she touched me, everything went hot. She left her mark on me, and I am honestly A-OK with that. I like her. A lot. And I want her to see her, over and over again.
Thankfully the next two hours pass quickly, and while I have no clue what happened in my classes, I don’t care as I run across campus to where her class is letting out. I left a little early to make sure I’m on time, and when I see her coming out of the building in a pair of sweats and a large purple Assassins sweatshirt, her hair down in waves along her shoulders, everything inside me stops. I don’t even know who I am as I stalk toward her, and when she sees me, she grins, but I don’t say anything. I take her face in my hands, kissing her hard against her sweet lips. Deepening the kiss, I feel her books fall to the ground as her arms come up to wrap around my neck, her thumbs playing with the back of my neck, curling my toes and making me hard in every place possible.
Parting, I kiss her bottom lip, running my thumb along her jaw as our eyes meet.
“Hi,” I whisper and she grins.
“Well, hello to you,” she says, her cheeks warming in such a lovely face.
“I’ve waited all morning to do that.”
Her lips curve up even more, her teeth gleaming, and I see that one of her bottom teeth is a little crooked. For some reason, I find that incredibly sexy, and I can’t help but kiss her again. Her tongue comes out, licking my bottom lip, and I groan before deepening the kiss more, moving my tongue with hers. I want to rip her clothes off and then mine and slam her against a wall, but I know we don’t have time for that. We’ll be lucky if we have time for lunch. Parting so slowly, I grin against her lips as her hand comes up to cup my face.