A Kiss in the Dark

by Sotia Lazu

  She listened to them talk about their home towns and their athletic scholarships. She winked at Leo and smiled seductively at Mike. And she might have overdone it a little when she ran her fingers along her collarbone and bit her lower lip once or twice, while looking at Cal.

  What she was doing was wrong, but the end justified the means. Or it would, if any of them noticed her efforts.

  She licked her lips and batted her eyelids innocently, feigning interest on what Cal was saying.

  She guessed it was about football. At some point, she’d stopped listening, her mind occupied with thoughts of how she could decipher which of the three guys could be into her.

  It didn’t take a genius to realize Cal, Michel, and Leo were inseparable. They hung out together inside and outside of campus, studied together, and trained together. If one of them liked her, the others would know. All she had to do was show she was available. Her flirty-yet-not-aggressive routine would either get her mystery man to ask her out or make his friends suggest they go out.

  It wasn’t working so far.

  In fact, the men were talking to each other now, patting backs over their team’s victory—assuming the subject was still football—and ignoring her.

  “Wow. Look at the time.” She glanced at her watch-free wrist. “I’d better get going.” To Cal, she said, “Don’t want to hog all your lunch-break time. I’ll take your notes with me and bring them back tomorrow, if that’s okay.” She pushed back her chair.

  He stood and helped her up. “We could… I mean, if you want, we could meet off-campus. For me to walk you through them. My writing is hardly legible.”

  “No. It’s okay. I’m sure I can make it out.” Positive none of the men was interested in her, she smiled at the table and turned to go.

  Cal curled a hand around her upper arm and tugged her to face him. “We don’t have to talk about the questions. We could talk about… class in general. Say at The Zoo?”

  If she hadn’t caught on, Mike and Leo’s wolf whistles would have clued her in. She smiled. “Say Saturday?” Also, someone needed to build a new bar in Sweetapple Bay, stat.

  “I’ll pick you up at your dorm. Is eight all right?”

  “Sure. See you then.”

  He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Actually, you’re wrong.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’ll see me tomorrow, in class.” His goofy grin said he was pretty darn proud of himself for making a joke.

  Eliza decided to call it boyish charm. If he was her mystery kisser, a little goofiness could be forgiven. “Right. Tomorrow.” She wiggled her fingers at the guys. “See ya.”

  She’d bet good money they were all staring at her ass as she swished it side to side on her way out of the cafeteria.

  * * * *

  So her taste in men hadn’t improved much. At least the big guy smiling down at her looked like the wholesome boy who wanted to grow old with his childhood sweetheart. He was a jock, but a low-profile one. And to his credit, he didn’t high five his buddies the moment Eliza turned her back.

  Nate pretended to be busy refiling his coke as Eliza approached. He didn’t feel like seeing the contempt in her eyes.

  He deserved it, but he’d rather see her pissed off than hurt.

  He stole a glance at her backside. Exquisite.

  And he was an asshole.

  He wished he could make it all better. Walk up to her and say he was sorry for being a jerk. But then he’d have to stop talking to Troy, and he couldn’t do that. He owed the guy.

  Maybe he could strike a balance, like Bill did. Bill was on good terms with Troy and still hot the benefit of an Eliza smile once in a while.

  But Bill hadn’t insulted her. Repeatedly.

  God, he’d been a fucker.

  He’d convinced himself he could live with her hate. And then the lights had gone out, and he thought he could get away unscathed with a kiss to tide him over till he got over his stupid infatuation. Only the kiss made it all worse. The fierceness and need she responded with were like a drug. He needed another shot. And he wasn’t getting any.

  Suited him right.

  Fuck.

  He took his sandwich and cola outside and spread out in the shade of the large oak. The grass was cool and inviting. He wished he could light up. He no longer smoked the pack a day that made him feel like a rebel his first year out of high school, but he still craved the habit when he was stressed.

  “Who kicked your puppy?”

  Nate looked up to see Troy smirking at him. For a disconcertingly long second, Nate wanted to punch that smirk off his face.

  He reined in his irritation. “This assignment I’m working on. Why are you here? Thought you had no classes today.”

  Troy parked his ass beside Nate and ignored his question. “Assignments are boring. Think about pussy instead. I’m meeting a freshman chic tonight. She’ll bring a friend with, for you.”

  Nate stood and brushed blades of grass off his ass. “Pass. Have an early class tomorrow.” No, he didn’t.

  Troy shrugged. “More for me.”

  The urge to punch Troy didn’t leave Nate the rest of the day.

  Chapter Five

  There was a spring to Eliza’s step, as she entered her dorm room. If nothing else, she had a date with a hot guy on Saturday.

  “Well?” Krista said in lieu of a greeting.

  “You first.” Eliza dropped her armful of books onto her desk, and sat on her bed to undo the laces of one sandal.

  Krista lay on her stomach on her own bed, reading with her head hanging over the edge. She carefully placed her book mark all the way to the spine of the book, closed it, and laid it on the floor. “Me first what?” She slid higher up the mattress and rested her cheek on her palm, facing Eliza.

  “Playing dumb doesn’t suit you.” Eliza dropped her sandal, grabbed a pillow from behind her, and threw it at Krista’s head. “You suck.”

  “Me suck what?”

  Eliza laughed. “Idiot.” She fumbled with her second sandal. “Do I have a date for Friday?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Krista gave a mock salute. “Bill was a little too eager to go out with you. He may be the one.” She ducked, but not before Eliza saw a shadow cross her eyes. When Krista looked up again, she was smiling. It seemed the teensiest bit forced.

  “What’s wrong?” Eliza asked.

  Krista shook her head. “Nothing… Talking to Bill was weird, you know? It never used to be weird. When I stayed here for college, I thought things would remain the same. I mean, we practically grew up together. But he’s been hanging out with your stupid ex, and today reminded me we’re not best friends anymore.”

  Eliza went to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Kris. I don’t have to go out with him.” He was too goofy to be Prince Charming, but even if he was the one, Eliza lived by the sisters-before-misters motto.

  “No, you should go. If the two of you get together, maybe he’ll ditch those creeps and revert to the Billy I grew up with.”

  “And if things don’t work out, I can use the date to try and talk some sense into him.”

  “Sounds good.” Krista’s smile was more genuine this time. “So do you have a date for Saturday?”

  “Uh huh.” Eliza grabbed a pair of tracksuit pants and a T-shirt from her closet and walked to the bathroom.

  “Wait. With whom?” Krista ran after her, but Eliza slammed the bathroom door in her face. Krista banged her open palm repeatedly on the wooden surface. “With whom?”

  “I can’t hear you.” She totally could.

  “Are you gonna make me wait?”

  “Yup. And I want to shower, too.”

  “I’ll wait.” A thump came from the other side of the door. Could have been Krista’s head.

  Eliza turned the water on, full force. “You’d better.”

  When Eliza opened the door, Krista stood outside the bathroom. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and one eyebrow aimed for the
sky. “Tell me, or you’re staying in there forever.”

  Eliza grinned. “Cal.”

  “Which one’s that?” Krista stepped aside.

  Eliza leaned against the doorway. “Oh, you know—tall, blond, and dreamy.”

  “Blue eyes? Sort of buff?”

  “Sort of buff?” Eliza snorted. “Guy’s built like a tank.”

  “I’m guessing we like?”

  “Definitely.” Eliza grimaced. “But if it wasn’t him who kissed me, going out with him pretty much kills my chances with his BFFs.”

  Krista shrugged. “Did you ask him out?”

  “No. I flirted with all three, and he was the one who went for it.”

  “There you go, then. If one his friends had the hots for you, he’d make a move.”

  And if he didn’t, he wasn’t the guy for Eliza. She’d had enough of bending over backwards for a man. Trying to figure out the identity of her secret kisser was only to sate her curiosity. She wouldn’t beg someone to go out with her.

  “I like the way you think,” she told Krista. “Does your brilliant brain want to join me for lunch? I was too busy playing detective to eat.”

  * * * *

  “Shit.” They should have eaten on campus.

  Krista stopped next to Eliza. “What? Did you forget something? I have money.”

  “Nate.” He sat facing the entrance. Was there a chance he didn’t see them? She’d made her peace with the fact that earth would probably never swallow the jackass whole, but did he have to show up everywhere she went? Did God listen to her prayers—like—ever?

  “Shit,” Krista said. “We can go somewhere else.”

  Eliza considered it, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her flee. “We’re staying.”

  She should have checked the room more carefully before making up her mind. The server led them to the only unoccupied table. The one next to Nate’s.

  “We can still go,” Krista whispered.

  Nate still hadn’t noticed them. He was too absorbed, his focus on a paperback he held in one hand, as he popped fries in his mouth with the other. His face was relaxed, his full lips not hardened by the cruel smirk he reserved for Eliza. It was hard to remember she hated him, when he looked this innocent.

  Eliza pulled back her chair, and winced when its legs screeched against the floor. When he didn’t raise his gaze from whatever he was reading, her determination was steeled. “I feel like a frittata.” She felt like running.

  She barely tasted her lunch. She kept glancing at Nate, her heart skipping a beat with every page he turned. Now he’d look up and see her and say something so horrible she’d have to move to a new town.

  But he kept reading even when the server brought his dessert, and Eliza was mesmerized by how he devoured spoonful after spoonful of chocolate.

  “You were hungry, huh?” Krista said.

  Eliza looked at her plate. The frittata had vanished. “I guess so.” Her fake chuckle turned into a groan when she glimpsed Nate standing.

  Now. Now he’d see her.

  She kept her gaze on Krista, all too aware of Nate rounding his table toward her.

  He brushed her ponytail, and her heart leapt in her mouth.

  “Sorry,” he said, too close to her ear. “By the way”—this was it; now he’d go super-nasty at her—“you should really try the chocolate soufflé. Exquisite.”

  Huh?

  Eliza’s shock was reflected on Krista’s face. “What was that? Was he… polite? Had he seen us all along?” Krista said.

  “I don’t know.” Maybe. His book had to be amazing, to keep him from messing with her. She could drive herself crazy with speculation, or she could enjoy her dessert now Nate was gone. And chocolate soufflé didn’t sound half bad.

  Unless he somehow managed to poison it.

  Chapter Six

  Last year

  She was walking back from The Zoo with Krista. They’d only been roommates for a week, but they clicked so well. Krista was easy going, and she moved to Sweetapple Bay in May, so she knew her way around town.

  Eliza couldn’t have asked for a better roomie. Not only did Krista spend the last couple of days showing her around, she also introduced her to people. Hot people. Of the male variety.

  “So how do you know Troy Langley?” Eliza twirled a curl around her finger. “He’s a junior, no?”

  “Yup. He’s in some classes with Bill.” At Eliza’s vacant look, she said, “Bill Huey? I told you about him. We grew up together but lost touch after—”

  “After grade school. Yes. I remember. And now you’re both here. How cool is that? Now tell me about Troy.”

  “Well, if he’s Bill’s friend, he’s a good guy.”

  “Is he attached?” That didn’t sound as innocent as she hoped.

  Krista laughed and threw Eliza a light punch on the arm. “You dog, you. I saw the looks you exchanged on the dance floor.”

  “You noticed? At first I thought he couldn’t possibly be interested, but then he asked for my number.” And he whispered in her ear that she was the most beautiful girl he ever saw. And his cologne made her swoon. And he had the widest shoulders ever.

  Krista pulled her to a stop. “He did? When?” She bounced on the balls of her feet, her excitement palpable.

  “You were in the ladies’ room.” Eliza fished a napkin from her purse and waved it in front of Krista’s eyes. “He gave me his too.”

  Three months later, Eliza and Krista were chatting about Troy again, but for an entirely different reason. They had a secret—Eliza’s secret.

  Eliza was jittery, but her roommate and swiftly becoming best friend said it would be perfect.

  “You have to tell me everything tomorrow. Well, not everything, but enough. And not tomorrow. Tonight. If I’m asleep, wake me up.” Krista winked. “Unless you’re too lightheaded by then.”

  “Kris.” Eliza did her best to sound scolding, but she couldn’t contain her grin. “It may not be that good.”

  “It will be perfect. Troy is your Mr. Right.”

  Deep down, Eliza believed it would be perfect too. It was the right time for her to lose her virginity, and her Troy was the only guy she’d dream giving it to.

  She’d been thinking about tonight for a week, planning every last little detail of how she wanted it to go. She and Troy would dine at her favorite restaurant, then drive back to his frat house for a nightcap. She’d feel much more comfortable in her own room, and Krista offered to stay with her parents for the night, but the dorm had strict rules against overnight guests, and Eliza didn’t break rules.

  When they’d get to Troy’s, they’d put on some soft music, to soothe her nerves. She’d bring candles with her, and the room would be bathed in their soft glow as Troy made her his. And that was as far as the fantasy went.

  She made sure to drop him hints about a surprise coming his way, but she didn’t share specifics. She wanted it to feel spontaneous.

  The first part of her plan worked out fine.

  Eliza and Troy had a wonderful time at the restaurant, though he didn’t talk much. He went through the four exquisite courses with single-minded determination, as if he’d never eaten before.

  When only crumbs were left of the strawberry cheesecake they shared, Troy looked at her with those soulful eyes of his. “I’m not ready for the night to be over,” he said. “Do you want to go somewhere for a drink?”

  Well, hello, perfect opening. “We could go to your place.” The words slipped out effortlessly, and Eliza congratulated herself for her suaveness.

  Troy’s pace was brisk on the walk back. He dragged her along, one arm wrapped around her shoulders. The closer they got to his place, the more Eliza wanted to stall for time, but she’d made her decision. Tonight was their night.

  “Are the guys home?” She’d rather not have an audience. It was too personal a moment for her to share with his fraternity bros. Especially that horrible Nate.

  “Nah. There’s a p
arty at Kappa Kappa Omega. Everyone’s there but me and Nate.”

  Eliza’s heart skipped a beat.

  Troy gave her arm a squeeze, as if he felt her unease. “He’s spending the night at home. His old man wasn’t feeling well, and Nate’s babysitting.”

  “I didn’t know Nate was a local.”

  “Yeah. We’ve been friends since grade school.”

  She didn’t know Troy was a local either. Part of his mystery was that he never talked about his family or his past.

  They reached the two-story fraternity house, and Troy got the door. “Place is a mess,” he said. It always was.

  She brushed past him. “It’s fine.”

  “Soda?” He was already on his way to the kitchen as she made herself comfortable on the sofa.

  “Diet, please.”

  “Here you go.” Their hands touched when he gave her the glass, and his fingertips lingered on her knuckles.

  Why was she so nervous? Troy was the best boyfriend ever. He didn’t drag her with him when he went out with his friends, he noticed when she changed her hair or wore a new outfit, and he always checked up on her when she went out without him. Plus, he loved her. He said so.

  She took a sip from her drink before handing it back to him. “Not really thirsty.”

  He sat next to her, left the glass on the coffee-table, and smiled. In the next instant, his lips covered hers, and he shoved his tongue into her mouth. Eliza tried to respond to the kiss, but it held no rhythm she could follow, so she let her jaw go slack. He could kiss her any way he wanted. He liked taking the lead, and she liked letting him.

  He wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her onto his lap. Without breaking the kiss, he rubbed her breasts over her top. His touch was hungry, his arms constricting.

  He hardened beneath her, and it gave her the courage to do what she did next. She pulled back, looked him in the eye, and licked her lips. “I want you,” she said, hoping she sounded sultry.

  “Are you sure?” Despite his question, he was busying his fingers with unbuttoning her top. He looked so vulnerable, she couldn’t change her mind.