“In any case, keep my number. I feel more comfortable knowing you can call me if you need help. Actually, call me if you need anything. Call me if you just feel like talking to someone who was there today. I’m a good listener.”
During this entire conversation, Alex has his hand on my arm, making small movements up and down. It feels reassuring, but it also makes the little hairs on my arm stand on end. In a good way. Dang, he has magic hands.
I reach into my back pocket and retrieve my phone. Handing it to him, I say, “Thanks, Alex, I really appreciate it.” I pause, watching him type on my phone. I feel like I need to say one more thing, so he knows I’m not going to bother him about any of this. It’s over. Done. “I’m sure things will be fine.”
“Good. Okay. Well, you have my number, call me if you need me. Have a good night. Sleep tight, Pixie.”
There’s no way I’m calling that guy. He's just being nice. And what the hell does he mean by ‘Pixie’? I need to know. “Um, Alex?”
He turns. “Yeah?”
“Why do you keep calling me Pixie?”
“Because you’re tiny, like a beautiful little fairy pixie,” he says sweetly.
“I’m not tiny!” This guy is delusional.
“Yes, you are. And you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.” He winks as he says that last part and then strides off toward the stairwell.
When he’s gone, I walk back into the suite where Brooke is waiting.
“How in the hell did you meet Alex Emerson?” she snaps as soon as I cross the threshold.
“I ran into him downstairs. He helped me get rid of Bradley.”
“Well, aren’t you a lucky girl?” she spits.
“Lucky? Seriously? I just caught my boyfriend, whom I’m supposed to be promised to, cheating with my new roommate. That’s not lucky. That’s terrible.” I jam my hands on my hips for emphasis.
“Oh, come on. You know you’ll take him back. Who else is going to date you?”
That’s it. I can’t stand here for one more second. Iknewthis girl was a mean girl the second I moved my boxes into my room, and I was right. I turn on my heel and storm into my room, shutting my door behind me and locking it. I need to keep the rest of the world out. I launch myself onto my bed as I try to prevent the memories of today from invading my thoughts, but it’s impossible. Brooke is right, who else, besides Bradley, is ever going to date me? The truth is, I’m sad about Bradley, and I’m sad for myself. My one and only boyfriend is now history.
My phone dings to alert me to a text message. It’s Lily. Oh, crap! I was supposed to meet her back in her new dorm room to hang out, but there’s no way I’m going anywhere right now.I write her back to apologize, telling her that something came up and I’m going to have to take a rain check. She doesn’t seem to mind and, thankfully, doesn’t press me for any details. After I finish the text, I lie down on my bed and think about tall, beautiful men. I fall asleep in minutes and dream of knights in purple T-shirts.Alex Emerson….
Chapter Three
ALEX
As the door to Stella’s room closes, I stop to lean against the wall. “What the hell was that?” That girl took my breath away. She also made my dick hard as steel. She was, hands down, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Not to mention the fact that even with all of that crap happening to her, she still gave me the most amazing, dimpled smile. Her blonde hair was so shiny I wanted to touch it. Probably feels like silk. And her skin? Porcelain. She was rosy from crying but still glowed. And that body. My fingers itched wanting to touch her, everywhere. Damn, that little thing had curves—just how a woman should be. Shit, all of this imagining isn’t helping my dick any.Down, boy.“Damn it. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”
Shit. I hope no one is around to see me talking to myself like a lunatic. I’ve never felt like this after meeting a girl. As funny as it sounds, it sort of feels like love. Love at first sight? Is that even possible? Seeing her, feeling her little arms wrapped tightly around me, I knew she needed me. Not for my looks or my future in the NFL and all the potential fame and fortunesurrounding me. She had no idea who I was. No, she just neededme––just a guy named Alex––to protect her.
Most of the women on campus know who I am, and they aren’t shy. I can’t walk across campus without chicks throwing themselves in my path. I’m not interested. My mind is on football and securing a place in next year’s NFL draft. It’s what I’ve always wanted. But meeting Stella has thrown a slight wrench into those plans.
Do I have time to pursue her? I mean, she’s a freshman; plus, she just dumped her idiot boyfriend. Besides, I can tell she’s special, which means getting with her would take time and patience.Do I have that kind of time right now?I don’t know. Well, that’s not true. There’s no need to lie to myself. I want that little pixie. I’ll just need to keep it low-key for now. The truth is, women have come so easily since I’ve been here, I’m a little rusty when it comes to the pursuit. Maybe some advice is in order. I decide to ask my roomie and best friend, Hank, for advice. He’ll know what to do since he has to work to get a girl. I laugh to myself while thinking about teasing my roommate. Entering my suite, I yell, “Tank. You here?”
I spy him sitting on our tiny sofa doing what he does most days, playing a video game of some sort. “Fuck. Stop calling me ‘Tank.’ You know I hate it.” He does hate it––with a passion––which is why I can’t resist. “What’s up? Where you been?” He looks at the clock we have hanging on the wall above our TV. “We left practice at the same time. I’ve been home half an hour.”
“I met someone,” I say, smiling from ear to ear.
At my words, he stops clicking away on his game controller. “What do you mean you met someone?”
“Let me ask you something. Keep in mind that this question may make you think I’m a pussy, but… do you believe in love at first sight?”
“Yep.”
“You do?”
