“About that…”
The pause about did Ty in. She was going to back out. Panic filled him as he started organizing arguments to convince her to go.
She grinned. “I can’t wait.”
Ty caught a full breath again and pulled her next to the wall away from the flow of students. “That was cruel. Now you have to tell me everything—first, middle, and last name. Names of parents, siblings, I want it all.”
She tapped her hand playfully on his chest. “If I tell all what will we talk about on our date?”
“We’ll think of something,” he growled at her, trying to remain stern when being so close to her made him feel like he’d just run sprints.
“Kazlyn Jane Schmidt. Parents are Blake and Rebecca. Two brothers, Luke and Porter.”
Ty squeezed her hand, wishing he could pull her closer, but aware there were people watching them. “Kazlyn. I like it. Can I call you Kazzy?”
She shrugged. “You can call me anything you want to.”
“Hey.” He chuckled. “I’ve heard that line before.”
“Was it just a line?” She looked up at him shyly and if they’d been alone he would’ve kissed her right then.
“Definitely not. I’d never seen anyone as beautiful as you. I was trying anything I could think of to get you to like me.”
“It almost backfired.”
“But it didn’t?” His chest tightened at the thought.
“I don’t know. We’ll see how Friday goes.” She smiled coyly, took her bag from his shoulder, and walked away from him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kazzy,” he called.
“I’d be sad if you didn’t.”
Ty couldn’t help tapping his own chest with his fist as he watched her walk away. He was in a lot of trouble.
***
He walked her to work every day that week, but on Friday he noticed she wasn’t teasing and laughing like usual. They were almost to their usual parting spot when he asked, “Is everything okay?”
She gave him a small smile. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to pull it off this semester.”
“Pull what off?”
“I have an interesting scholarship. It’s privately funded and to keep it I have to be above a three-eight. If I didn’t have so many classes per semester it wouldn’t be so hard. I took a lot of A.P. classes in high school and planned it out so I can cram the rest of my bachelor’s degree into two years. The scholarship lasts for four years so my master’s program would be covered. If I can keep my grades up.”
Ty nodded his understanding. “That’s a lot to worry about. How can I help?”
She tilted her head to the side and studied him. “Thanks for not just reassuring me that it will all work out, telling me I’m smart or something empty like that.”
“Sure.”
“I just need to do it myself. Next week is finals, so I guess we’ll see then.”
“Are you still okay to go tonight?” He held his breath. If she said no, he’d have to respect that, but he’d been looking forward to this all week. He wanted more time with her than a short walk from class.
She smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“I’ll pick you up at your apartment at six.”
“Okay.” She took her bag and turned to go, looking less burdened.
“Kazzy.”
“Yeah?” She glanced over her shoulder at him.
“You’re smart, it’ll all work out.”
She laughed so loud, she snorted. Ty chuckled with her. Several students eyed them strangely, but more smiled along with them.
“See you tonight,” she said, walking away with her shoulders still shaking from laughter.
Ty watched her go, wishing he could take away her stress, but understanding how it was to know that all your dreams of success were determined by scholarships that may or may not be there the next semester.
Chapter Five
Complete and utter silence welcomed Kazlyn into the living area of her apartment a few minutes before six, Friday night.
Finally one of her roommate’s boyfriends whistled and then everybody started talking and exclaiming at once.
“Kazlyn, you look gorgeous!”
“Kazlyn, I’ve never seen you with lipstick on.”
“Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Please tell me it’s a guy, you’ve got to wonder.”
Kazlyn smoothed the silky, floral-patterned shirt that topped her favorite skinny jeans. Jeans she hadn’t worn in a year because she rarely dressed up. “Okay, whoever wondered if it’s a guy is going to get their butt kicked.”
Everyone started laughing. Kazlyn really did enjoy her roommates, but they were in a different world than her. All five of them had various boys over almost every night. It was always a party. Only Sheryl had a part-time job, the rest of them were completely financed by mom and dad. Kazlyn never participated in their fun as she spent most of her life at the library, only taking occasional breaks to exercise or eat.
A knock sounded at the door and Kazlyn’s palms started sweating. What would her roommates and their guys think of the school hero taking her out? What would Ty think of her all dolled up?
Jaileen rushed to open the door. Her jaw dropped and for the first time since Kazlyn had met her, Jaileen was speechless. Kazlyn looked around her roommate to see Ty dressed in a grey button-down shirt and jeans that really worked for him. With his characteristic grin decorating his face and his dark eyes sparkling, she was speechless, as well.
The rest of the room erupted into sound.
“Tyrese, Kazlyn is going out with Tyrese.”
“Holy crap, girl, when you decide to date, you do it right!”
The boys were more subtle, a couple of them shaking Ty’s hand and congratulating him on his latest game. Kazlyn quickly grabbed her coat and hurried to the door. “We’ll see you all later,” she said as she reached for Ty’s hand.
Ty’s large hand engulfed hers. “Nice to see y’all,” he said.
“You, too.”
“We won’t wait up.”
“Have fun!”
Kazlyn speed-walked away from the open door, dragging him with her.
“It was nice to meet all of your roommates.”
Kazlyn laughed. “I would not have done that to you.”
“Are they crazies?”
“No, they’re great. There are just so many of them and they would’ve kept you there all night drooling over you.”
“Speaking of drooling.” He squeezed her hand. “You look amazing.”
Kazlyn glanced all the way up to his handsome face. “You, too.”
He helped her into her coat. His hands brushed her arms, sending tingles throughout her body. He held open the exterior door and gestured to the parking lot. Parked in the visitor space was the ugliest Toyota pickup Kazlyn had ever seen. The rust spots had overtaken the blue paint and the front bumper sagged in the middle like a sad smile. Ty walked her to it and opened the passenger door. Kazlyn stared at the truck, then at him. “How in the world do you fit in this thing?”
“Ha! I’m not that big, you’re just teeny-tiny.”
“Five-six is not teeny-tiny. You just think I’m small because you’re enormous.”
“Once again, glad I’m so attractive to you.”
If you only knew. “That wasn’t what I meant. Seriously, how do you fit?”
“Watch and learn, darlin’,” he drawled.
Kazlyn scooted inside the beat-up, but surprisingly clean, truck. Ty shut her door, rushed around the front, and folded his body into the driver’s side. His head brushed the roof and his knees were in his chest. Kazlyn couldn’t help but laugh. “I hope you never drive this more than a few miles.”
He grinned. “I drove it all the way from Alabama four years ago and will be taking it back there after I graduate.”
“How did you survive that drive?”
“I was shorter then.”
She chortled. “Really?”
/>
“No, and it was miserable, but I made it.”
“Maybe you better fly home.”
“Naw. I couldn’t desert the old girl now. My younger sisters need to drive this beauty when they turn sixteen.” He adjusted some knobs and moldy-smelling heat poured out of the vents. “Even the heater works.”
“My condolences to your sisters.”
“Ha! Do you like sushi?” Ty asked.
“I do, but…”
“What?” He stopped at the light on Tenth North and Main Street and turned to look at her.
“I like mine deep-fried.”
Ty arched his eyebrow. “And here I thought you were a healthy eater. Maybe we should just go to A&W and get you some real grease.”
Kazlyn laughed. “I do try to eat healthy. Sushi is one of the few things I eat deep-fried, I can’t gag down raw fish.”
“Wuss!” The light turned and Ty punched on the gas, but the truck still crawled through.
“Who’s calling names now?”
Ty chuckled. “Sorry. Raw fish is scary, eh?”
“Scariest thing ever.”
They reached a strip mall with a restaurant called Takara. They’d barely entered the restaurant and were being escorted to their table when a group of middle-aged couples intercepted them, excited to talk to Ty about basketball. Ty wrapped an arm around Kazlyn and introduced her. The couples were all friendly to her and after a few minutes said their goodbyes. Ty and Kazlyn followed the hostess to their seats.
“You can’t go anywhere without being stopped, can you?”
Ty nodded. “Not in this town.”
“Do you ever get sick of it?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes, but they’re all so nice. They just want to feel like they know me a little bit.”
Kazlyn loved that he was so considerate of everyone. Having fans would be annoying to her, she liked her privacy.
“And those three guys are some of the biggest boosters for Aggie athletics.”
Kazlyn glanced over at the couples who had stopped them. The ladies were dolled up and beautiful, but they didn’t look extremely wealthy.
“They’re impressive to me,” Ty said. “You wouldn’t know they have money, but they donate a lot to the program. If it wasn’t for people like that, I wouldn’t have my scholarship.”
“It’s great they give so much.”
“Yeah.”
They placed their orders, Ty teasing her the entire time about choosing a deep-fried roll. Kazlyn was grateful when she saw that the sushi was half-priced. She didn’t want Ty spending a lot of money on her. From the looks of his truck, money was sparse.
“Are you going home for Christmas?” Ty asked as they waited for their dinners.
“Yes! My last final is Wednesday. I’ll take off right after I get done.”
“That’s great.” He toyed with his water glass.
“What about you?”
He exhaled slowly and leaned back in his chair. “No. I’m going with one of my buddies to his house.”
“Oh. I’m sorry you aren’t going home.”
“Me, too. We usually play in a tournament, The Gossner Classic, every Christmas, but this year Coach Anderson decided not to host it. I was so excited to go home, but…things are tight.” He shifted in his seat and looked away.
Kazlyn’s heart felt like it cracked reading the sorrow in his dark eyes. She understood financial trouble all too well. “Tell me about your family.”
His face lit up. “My mom is the best. She’s five-foot nothing and full of it. Always laughing, teasing, and smiling. I have two little sisters, Jezebel and Sheree. They’re twins, but look nothing alike. Jezebel’s tall, almost six feet, but her face is beautiful like my mom’s. Sheree is teeny, but her face looks like my dad and me. But she’s still pretty, not manly, you know?”
Kazlyn glanced at his handsome face. “You’d make a beautiful girl.”
He laughed.
“So you get your height from your dad?”
“Yeah.”
He paused. Kazlyn sensed something was off, but was still surprised when he said, “My dad died when I was eight.”
“Oh. Wow.” She understood how that felt, as well. She almost told him about her dad, but figured it would come out later, if they kept seeing each other. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “Me too.”
“What happened?”
“Stroke.” He took a long drink of his water. “He tore his ACL and had surgery to repair it. They think that’s why a blood clot went to his brain.”
She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I bet you miss him.”
“Yeah.” He stared at their hands. “But sometimes I have a hard time remembering everything about him. My mom talks about him a lot though, keeps us laughing with all the stories.”
“I’d love to meet your mom someday.”
“She’d love you.”
“How do you know that?”
“She appreciates a smart-aleck.”
She straightened in the hard chair, pulling her hand back. “I am not a smart-aleck.”
“You gave me a hard time the second I met you.”
“That’s because you acted so sure of yourself, like you were the womanizer of the year.”
“Maybe I am.”
“Maybe.” She rubbed her hand along the wooden table. Her stomach clenched at the thought of him being charming with other girls like he had been with her.
“Kazlyn.” His gentle touch on her arm brought her head up. “I’m not.” He cleared his throat. “I dated a lot the first couple years of college, and then I realized that wasn’t who I was and the girls who chased me weren’t the kind of girl I was looking for.”
“What are you looking for?” Oh, man, did I just ask him that?
He tilted his head to the side and studied her. “Beautiful blonde, about five-six, green eyes, likes to tease me.”
Kazlyn’s heart raced from his look, words, and the feel of his fingers caressing hers. The waitress brought their sushi and saved her from having to reply. Dinner passed quickly as they laughed and talked. Kazlyn refused to eat his raw sushi and he teased her about it.
The waitress came to clear their dishes and told them their bill had been taken care of by some other patrons. Ty looked frustrated.
“Does that happen a lot?” Kazlyn asked, standing and shrugging into the coat Ty held for her.
“Yeah. But you’d think they would realize a man wants to pay for his own date.” He glanced apologetically at her. “Sorry. Sometimes being well-known isn’t much fun.”
Kazlyn laughed. “You’re such a nutso. Most college students would be thrilled to get a free meal.”
He smiled with her. “You’re right. I just wanted to spoil you tonight.”
“I haven’t had dessert, yet.”
Chuckling, he put his arm around her shoulder. “I think I know the perfect thing.”
He drove to 7-Eleven and helped her make hot cocoa, complete with Irish Cream flavoring. Then, he drove through Kneaders and ordered a chocolate dome and a turtle cheesecake.
“When you say dessert, you mean dessert,” Kazlyn said.
Ty laughed. “You have to share with me.”
“We’ll see.”
Their final stop was a park in the center of town. Large trees sheltered them from a light snow as they sat at a picnic table and ate their treat. Ice skaters laughed while spinning circles on the man-made pond across the bridge.
“Why isn’t the wind blowing here?” Kazlyn asked.
“The wind mostly blows on campus. It’s the breeze coming out of Logan Canyon.”
“Huh.”
“I take it you don’t leave campus much.”
Kazlyn shook her head. “Only to grab some groceries.” She glanced around at the snow, the trees, and up the hill at the Latter-day Saint temple perched in all its splendor. “This is beautiful.”
“Maybe you should get away from campus more often.”
; She savored another delectable bite of the velvety chocolate dome and wrapped her cold hands around her cocoa cup. “Too busy.”
Ty tilted his head to the side. He turned and straddled the bench, closing the distance between them. She knew she was imagining it, but she felt his warmth permeating the air.
“What drives you so hard, Kazlyn?”
Studying the castle-like temple up on the hill, she swallowed a sip of creamy cocoa before answering, “I have to get through school with my scholarship. I could never afford it on my own.”
He nodded. “I can understand that. You told me you’re going to change the world. How?”
Kazlyn gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Well, hopefully change it for some children. I want to get a master’s in speech pathology, so I can help children with speech problems. Here and hopefully in some third-world nations.”
“Wow. That’s great.”
“What about you? You’re going into P.E.?”
“I’ll have a double bachelor’s in physical education and exercise science this spring. I want to coach, but I want to understand all the facets of the human body and exercise, so I can really help my students be successful. So many coaches made a difference in my life. I’d love to do that.” He took her cocoa cup, set it on the table, and wrapped both of his hands around hers. The heat from his fingers seemed to spread throughout her entire body. “After I play in Europe.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re playing in Europe?”
“I’ll start a month after I graduate. I’ve just got to decide which team.”
“Wow. That would be amazing.” But the thought of him being in Europe made her sad. Crazy. She didn’t even know him that well and next year she’d be in the middle of an intensive master’s program. “How long would you stay in Europe?”
“At least five years. It’s a big commitment, but the money’s amazing. I could help my mom pay the house off and setup college funds for my sisters. Then, hopefully, I could come back to the states and coach high school or college.”
He just kept impressing her. A double bachelor’s degree wasn’t easing through school like some of the other athletes she’d met. She loved that he wanted to make great money, so he could take care of his mom and sisters.
A slow song drifted to them from the ice-skating pond. Ty tugged her to her feet. “Will you dance with me?”
Full Court Devotion Page 3