“No, thankyou, Gunner. As much as that was just a quiz, it was tough. I’m not the best in English. You should see me in Psychology though. I get straight As there, no problem.”
“I’ll bet.” I smile, as she pulls back, and while we’re still holding each other close, I look into her eyes. I get a funny feeling in my chest as I look at her. I’m guessing that she’s got the same look in her eyes as I do in mine.
“Thanks. Do you want to study for the next test together?”
I nod, swallowing, trying like hell not to kiss her. “Absolutely.”
Where I come from, I would have had my way with her by now, and been on to the next, just like my brothers. The ones that aren’t married or engaged, that is. But us single men, we’re like that, but for some reason, I feel like Ava’s more than that. We’re friends. Never had a good friend before, really. I’ve got a buddy back at home in Clarkstown, but he’d a bagged her by now, too.
And it just comes out of my mouth before I can stop it. “Let me treat you to dinner. School’s out for the weekend, right?”
She’s still in my arms when she answers. “My folks are coming to get me later. They don’t want me sticking around over the weekends anymore.”
My voice is flat. “You’re serious.”
She nods. The disappointment on her face is heartbreaking.
“So, they’re driving three hours to come get you?”
“Yeah.”
“So, you don’t have a car?”
She snorts. “I’m lucky to have food, Gunner. Why, do you have a car?”
A ‘v’ forms between my brows. “Yeah. I’ve got a truck, actually, but yeah.”
She hesitates, looking in my eyes. “So, I guess growing up on a ranch is loftier than you’d think.”
“I’m surprised y’all didn’t know, frankly. Everyone in town knows we come from money. That’s half the reason we get so much trouble.” I decide to change the subject. “What time are they coming?”
“My folks have to work until five, so they’ll be here around eight or nine, I think.”
“Then we’ve got plenty of time for dinner.”
“But my folks…” she trails off, a forlorn look crosses her face.
“Your folks don’t need to know anything, darlin’. It’s just dinner. Y’all know by now that I’m not here to grope you or nothin’.” I say with a playful smirk.
She sees it and a smile creeps on her face. “I suppose you’re right. You’ve been a complete gentleman.”
“That’s how I was raised.” I nod.
She hesitates for a moment, still in my arms. It feels so good I could burst. Ava is petite, like a Barbie doll. So tiny she’s got to be a foot shorter than me. But she’s so goddamn sweet I almost can’t stand it. It’s taking everything in me not to lift her so our eyes are level. She can’t weigh more than a hundred pounds. I could probably pick her up with one hand, like a toddler. “Okay. We can go to dinner. But I’ll have to keep my phone on the table, in case my folks check up on me.”
“I can live with that.”
Her eyes search mine, and I feel like she wants to kiss me, too, but I’m not making the first move. Also, I doubt that she’s the type to kiss when we’re not in private. But that being said, neither of us are letting the other go. “Where do you want to go for dinner? There’s a nice pizza place in the cafeteria if you want to do that?”
“Darlin’, I’ve been eating pizza more times than I care to think about, personally. How about we go somewhere off campus?”
Recognition comes to her eyes. “Oh, yeah…you have a truck.”
I smile. “That’s right.”
A twinkle comes to her eyes. “Can I drive?”
***
