Drew: Book One of the Perfectly Independent Series

by Amanda Shelley

  I slink onto my stool and plop my bag down just as the professor begins. I quickly greet Abby with a smile as I pull out my notebook and materials needed to start.

  While listening to what our assignment is for today, I can’t help but notice Abby’s her typical self for class. It’s adorable the way her big dark glasses perch on her nose as she hunches over her notebook, taking furious notes about our expectations. Her hair is pulled back from her face, and she rests one hand on her notebook to keep it in place. We’ve sat in class several times together over the past couple of weeks, but for some reason today, is the first I’m noticing. Who the hell knows what’s changed? She even smells good, for crying out loud. Without a conscious thought, I lean closer to determine the exact scent that keeps intriguing my senses. Trying not to be obvious, I pull in a deep breath. Hmmm… Is it citrus or pear? A combination of both? Damn, whatever it is, it smells delicious. There’s also something uniquely Abby floating in the air, and my senses are on high alert.

  Abby’s body moves and when my eyes find hers, she looks pointedly at me, forcing me out of my revelry.

  “What?” she defensively whispers and looks herself over with care, checking if anything’s out of place.

  I quickly shake my head and dismiss her concern as I silently mouth, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

  Christ, Jacobs. Concentrate on the lab, not your lab partner. Get it the fuck together. Feeling like a dumbass for being caught, I shake all thoughts of Abby and her mouthwatering scent away from the forefront of my mind.

  Thankfully, I read over today’s chapters to better prepare myself last night after the game. It was hard concentrating with adrenaline from winning coursing through my veins, but after a while, I was disciplined enough to get the job done. Glancing at Abby, I wonder if she did the same. Knowing her, she’d already read everything a couple of days ago at best, so I don’t feel bad she was there to watch us win last night. Just the thought of seeing her cheering in the stands has my heart beating faster.

  When the professor suggests we get to work, Abby opens our conversation with, “Great game last night. I was on the edge of my seat the entire last half. You and DeShawn were so in sync with one another, it’s almost scary.”

  “Well, I do spend more time with him than just about anyone else on the team,” I say, rolling off my tongue sarcastically.

  Abby shakes her head. “That’s obvious. It’s almost as if you knew he’d be there to make the shot.”

  “Well, he and Grey are probably my closest friends off the court, so we’re bound to be in sync from time to time,” I say to keep things light, but when Abby’s eyes narrow and her lips purse, I’m not sure that was the message delivered.

  She stares and pulls in her lower lip as if she’s contemplating her next words. “Why do you do that?” Barely above a whisper, her question leaves me to wonder if she spoke her thoughts aloud, or if she wants an answer.

  “Do what?” I finally ask when she doesn’t release her gaze.

  “Downplay everything.”

  What the hell am I supposed to do? Act like a cocky ass and strut around as if I think my shit doesn’t stink. I don’t think so. Abby scrutinizes my reaction and when I realize she’s not letting this go, I ask, “Would you rather I be a cocky ass?”

  Abby laughs, and it’s a beautiful sight to see. “No. Been there, done that—on the first day of class. I’d rather not see that side of you. Thank you very much.”

  Wait, I was an ass the first day we met?

  Before I can defend myself, she places a palm on my bicep. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”

  Not entirely following her train of thought, I ask, “And what secret would that be?”

  “That underneath the cocky exterior you use to keep people out, you’re really a decent guy.”

  “Uh…” I start, but I’m clueless how to respond.

  “Forget I said anything…” Abby shakes her head dismissively. “Let’s get this lab done. I have to work, and you have practice.”

  I shake my head, relieved to let the subject drop. I’m obviously not the only task master here.

  As we exit the science building after lab, I pat my rumbling stomach. “Wanna grab a bite to eat?”

  Abby’s eyes nearly reach her hairline as she glances at her watch. “Uh… I guess so. I have about an hour before work. Mind if it’s near the library?”

  Knowing that the crowds are thinning out at this time of day, I make a split-second decision to break my typical rule about eating on campus. Hoping people will mind their own business, I reply with, “Sure. I’m short on time, too.”

  As we make our way to the center of campus, Abby suggests, “Thai sound good?”

  Placing my thumb on my chin, I mull over the possibilities of healthy menu choices. “Sure. Thai works,” and we turn toward the Student Union Building.

  Abby may be a full head shorter, but damn, the girl can eat up the pavement as she walks across campus. Is she a professional speed walker? Leaving no opportunities for talking, I quicken my pace, and we’re at the restaurant in no time. Thankfully, there’s no wait, and the waitress seats us right away. She quickly takes our order, after bringing glasses of water to drink.

  As soon as the waitress leaves, Abby takes a long drink of her water. As I watch, it dawns on me, she’s not making eye contact. She’s looking anywhere but at me. What the hell? Is something wrong with me?

  I clear my throat to get her attention. When her golden-brown eyes land on mine, she slowly places her glass down and lets her forearms rest on the table. I wouldn’t say she’s at ease; something still seems off. Through her large-rimmed glasses, her eyes look into mine as if she’s searching for answers.

  “Everything okay?” Even though I just cleared my throat, it comes out raspy.

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” Abby’s chin pulls back defensively.

  “I don’t know… you just seem off,” I suggest as I look her over with care.

  Abby’s eyes shoot to the ceiling, and her cheeks darken as she pulls her bottom lip into her mouth to chew on it. What the hell is going on? Is she embarrassed? She’s hardly said a word since we left class. Instead of asking one of the thousands of questions flying through my mind, I lean back in my seat and attempt to be patient as I await her answer.

  She nervously brushes back a strand of hair behind her ear as she shrugs. “I don’t know… I guess I’m trying to figure out why I’m here.”

  “You’re hungry?” I flippantly state, though it comes out as a question.

  She lets out a loud huff. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “What did you mean?” I pointedly ask. Because I don’t have a clue. We’re usually pretty at ease with one another, and her behavior makes no sense.

  As if she’s suddenly in the hot seat, Abby fidgets before looking me in the eye again. If I weren’t trying to figure out what was wrong, she’d almost be adorable. Each new train of thought brings an entirely different expression. I can’t help the smile that forms on my face as I await her response. Abby’s not usually so indecisive.

  “I guess…” She pauses as if she’s holding onto her thought by pressing her forefinger to her chin. “I’m wondering what this means.”

  I raise an eyebrow in her direction. “We’re eating,” I deadpan.

  She rolls her eyes as if I should know better. “What I mean is, what made you ask me to join you?”

  “This isn’t rocket science. I was hungry. Thought you might be, too. It’s as simple as that,” I quickly explain, though it should be obvious.

  She shakes her head and rolls her eyes as if I’m being dense. “Drew,” she sighs but suddenly shakes her head and changes her tone. “For the last few weeks, other than my birthday, you’ve kept things very business-like when it comes to our time together. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for that. I don’t have time for messing around, either. But what I don’t understand is why you’ve invited me to dinner when we don’
t have work to do?”

  Whoa? Where is this coming from? Have I been that much of an ass to her? I thought I’d been somewhat personable since we’ve met. “Am I allowed to enjoy your company?”

  This earns me a stare. Her mouth drops open, then shuts, then opens once more, but nothing comes out. She’s freaking adorable. Her blush reaches down her neck to the V of her mostly zipped hoodie.

  “It’s just dinner, Abby.” Though, as I get to know her more, I can see myself asking to do this again. She’s a bit of a riot to watch as she processes her thoughts, and she certainly keeps me on my toes.

  Her cheeks tint a beautiful shade of pink, and she looks to her hands. “I’m such a dork. I… uh… didn’t mean to make this into anything. Forget I said anything,” she tacks on the end, earning a light chuckle from me.

  “You have nothing to worry about, Abby. If I’ve given you the impression that I’m a complete douche, sorry. I love the fact that you work just as hard as me and take things seriously.”

  “Speaking of working hard… I’ve tried not to ask, but I’m dying to know… which medical schools have you applied to?”

  Caught off guard because everyone typically sticks to basketball, I grin at her elephant-like memory. I think I mentioned med school once in her presence, and she never asked about it again. “I’m waiting to hear from Johns Hopkins, University of Colorado, and the University of Pennsylvania.” Abby’s eyes widen as I prattle off my top three schools. I’ve applied to a few others, but if I get into any of these, I’ll jump at the chance. “I want to specialize in pediatric oncology.”

  “Is Johns Hopkins your first choice?” she asks, almost in disbelief.

  “Um… yeah,” I whisper. I’ve dreamed of going there since Summer was diagnosed. One of her best doctors had graduated from there, and it gave me hope for others. Just the thought of Summer alone makes my heart pang, so I quickly tamp that thought down and focus my attention back to Abby.

  “Wow… I can’t believe it,” Abby whispers almost to herself.

  What. The. Hell?

  Does she think I can’t get in?

  “Why can’t you believe it?” I respond, cold.

  She blinks a few times at my change of tone and pulls a face that tells me I’ve just offended her.

  Then she shakes her head as if to regain her thoughts.

  “Well, hotshot.” Suddenly, I wonder if she’s about to rip me a new one. “For your information, out of all the schools you could apply to, you just chose three of my top five.”

  Wait. What is she talking about? I stare and wait for her to continue.

  “Add Stanford and Baylor, and you’ve just mentioned the schools I’ve applied to. Though I just want to focus on pediatrics, not oncology.”

  “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”

  Am I that unapproachable?

  Hell. We likely have much more in common than I realize.

  What else don’t I know about her? When I stop and think about it, I don’t know jack shit. Looking into her golden-brown eyes, I know I need to rectify this.

  “Well, it’s not like we’ve given each other our life stories. Other than my birthday, we’ve focused on class. You’re not really forthcoming when it comes to divulging information about yourself, so I haven’t brought it up.”

  Fuck. She has a point. I’m tight-lipped when it comes to revealing my personal life. But then again… no one’s ever taken the time to get to know the real Drew Jacobs. Could Abby be the first? With a sly smile, I simply state, “Well, if we’re going to be friends, I need to know one thing.”

  “Oh, yeah, what’s that?” She smirks.

  “Your last name.”

  9

  Abby

  I stare at Drew in disbelief. He’s kidding, right? We’ve worked together for weeks. We’ve celebrated my birthday together. Hell, we’ve even danced together, and I’ve been wrapped in his arms. And the one thing he wants to know before he’ll divulge any information about his past is my last name?

  Have I never told him?

  Thinking back over our conversations, maybe it’s never come up. Instead of giving it to him right away, I raise an eyebrow and smirk. “Is this so you can run a full background check and look for references before giving up anything about yourself?”

  “Well, you might be sketchy,” he teases, and the smile that spreads across his perfect lips makes my belly flip and my spine tingle.

  He shouldn’t unleash his full potency on unexpecting co-eds. Damn. Drew even has a small dimple on his right cheek. His eyes crinkle at the corners, causing the blueness of them to pop.

  “So, I’ve been told,” I deadpan. “You’ve gotta watch out for those chemistry majors who want to go into pediatrics. We’re a real sketchy bunch.”

  This earns me a deep belly laugh from Drew. “Abby—with no last name—you’re killing me.” With that, I lose my battle at keeping a straight face and join him. I’m such a brat.

  When our laughter settles, I put him at ease. “It’s Angelos.”

  “Angelos… Like Angel.” He glances up to meet my eyes and shakes his head. “Sorry.” Drew’s cheeks darken, and he rushes to explain, “It’s how I remember names. I associate it with words the person reminds me of, and I’m much better at recall. I’m great with faces. Names—not so much. But it’s not like I’ll be forgetting either of yours anytime soon.”

  “And why is that?” I chuckle as I roll my eyes in anticipation to his response. Cue cheesy line now, I’m sure. You must’ve fallen from heaven… Can I borrow your phone? God’s missing an angel? With a last name like Angelos, I’ve heard it all. Trust me.

  With a smirk, he flippantly replies, “Let’s just say—You’ve made quite an impression.” Then almost under his breath, he adds, “For someone who I thought would keep me free of distraction, you’ve been anything but.”

  My mouth flies open, and all my air leaves with it. A huff escapes as my palms hit the table in front of me. He didn’t just say that. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? How am I a distraction?”

  “Oh, Angel…” He laughs. “You’re adorable when you get worked up.” He rolls his eyes. “Calm down. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  He called me Angel. I’m about to correct him, but the way he said it with the quirk of his perfect lips and the pop of his delicious dimple, makes me think twice. I’ll let it slide for now. But if it gets out of hand, I’ll squash that train of thought like a menacing mosquito.

  The waitress delivers our food. Drew picks up his fork and inhales half of his plate, leaving me to ponder why I’m suddenly okay with his endearment. When I realize he has dropped the subject, I dig into my cashew nut chicken. Damn, this tastes delicious. It’s not long before I hear Drew clear his throat and wipe his mouth with a napkin.

  “Now that we’re friends, can I ask if you’re coming to Monday night’s game?”

  Shit. I wasn’t planning on it. Is it rude to say no? Sydney’s going to the game. I’m sure she’d love the company, but can I afford the break from studying?

  Clearly, he reads this on my face because before I can say anything, he blurts out, “How can you miss the game? We’re playing the Spartans, and it’s bound to be just as good as last night’s.”

  Christ. Last night had me on pins and needles, dying to know what would happen next. I loved every moment, but my heart beat a thousand miles a minute. “I’m not sure I can handle the excitement,” I admit sarcastically. Sydney screamed her ass off, and I was right there with her.

  Drew’s mouth turns up at the corners, and his perfectly chiseled chin juts out to the side. “Oh, come on,” he practically pleads. “You know you had fun.”

  Yes. I did. But there’s no way I’m admitting he was a big part in my entertainment for the evening.

  Damn.

  Just thinking of his corded forearms, his bulging biceps, and the way he filled out his CRU uniform perfectly has me squirming in my seat.

  Who knew I was into ar
m porn?

  Geesh. Get it together, Abby.

  When his dark-blue eyes penetrate my train of thought, I realize he’s waiting for an answer from me. To distract myself, I reveal my regularly scheduled plans for Monday nights. “I’d planned on studying.”

  “Oh. Come on, Angel.” His deep voice turns gravelly, making my belly flip. Holy shit… I’d do just about anything if he keeps talking like that. I brace myself for what’s coming, hoping what he asks is at least legal. Because at this point, if he asked me to commit a felony, I’d go to jail with a smile on my face.

  Before I have a chance to respond, Drew’s phone must’ve vibrated in his pocket because suddenly, he pulls it out as he keeps his lazy smile on me, making my heart race. He greets the caller with a friendly, “Hello.”

  He’s silent for a moment then in an apprehensive tone validates who he is. “Speaking.”

  His eyes bore into mine, so I clearly witness his expression instantly morph from carefree and relaxed to rigid and… holy fuck, frightened. Clearly the person on the other line isn’t delivering good news.

  A chill runs up my spine as pain radiates through Drew’s features. He immediately bolts from his chair and stands as he states barely above a whisper, “Yes, they are.”

  Drew’s silent and his complexion pales. His bottom lip trembles, and he bites on his lip, trying to regain control. His free hand that dangles, fists then releases several times as he listens. Finally, after what seems like forever, I release the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding as he speaks once again. “No…” he says in a whispered cry, sending me immediately to my feet. His cracking voice alone has my heart breaking for the news that’s being delivered, as he continues, “I… I… No, I can’t.”