“From what Callahan told me the other night, some other donor stepped up and offered to fill the void Buzz Miller left when he pulled out of the alumni association in a huff. The guy runs a trucking outfit or something.” He shifted his clothes higher in his arms.
“Who?” I asked, suspicion coloring my tone.
Danny smirked. “Jamaica’s dad. He’s directing the money specifically for football and Letters and Science scholarships—and his donation is bigger than Miller’s.”
“I hope that means your days at the tire store are numbered.” I chuckled. “’Course, the job does give you an extra workout, which can’t hurt, Fly Boy.”
I had Danny by 80 pounds, but his years as a mechanic in the Air Force had stacked on the muscle. Plus he was wiry as hell, which made him a great receiver—and meant I’d never challenged him to a wrestling match despite my weight advantage. Didn’t mean I wouldn’t razz him though.
He snorted. “From the way you staggered up the hill with your tube the other night, you should probably join me slingin’ tires around in the afternoons.”
“Whatever.” I flipped him the bird. “I made two runs for every one you made since you had to fool around with your girl at the top and bottom of each one. It’s a wonder the two of you managed any tubing at all.”
As he headed up the stairs, he huffed out another laugh. “Better get on that date so you can start having your own fun.”
Thinking about meeting up with Chessly put a goofy grin on my face. I’d told her half an hour, but I wasted no time in stuffing my shit into my backpack, throwing on a hoodie and heading to the Union. I ended up waiting at the back of the coffee line for ten minutes before she arrived, but I didn’t care. Sunshine followed her right into the building when she walked through the door, the sight of her warming me from head to toe.
“Hello, pretty girl. Thanks for agreeing to help me out,” I said as she joined me.
She shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for problem-solving.”
But I noticed the rosy glow tinging her cheeks at my greeting.
I moved a little closer to her and dropped my voice half an octave. “Is that right? Care to help me solve another problem I’m having?”
“What problem?” The words came out breathy.
“Figuring out how to spend more time with a certain hot physics major I know.”
Her luscious lips flattened into a line. “Is that what your plea for help was? A sneaky way to see me? You don’t need to make up excuses, Finn. You can just ask me out.”
Putting up my hands in a slow-down gesture, I said, “My physical chemistry prof is on a tear. He’s assigned a quiz for every day this week and next with the problems increasing in difficulty at a rate I’m struggling to keep up.” I ducked my head. “I truly do need your help.”
The barista signaled it was our turn to order. After Chess ordered her usual café au lait and I asked for an Americano, she shot me a look from beneath her brows while we waited for our drinks.
“So this afternoon isn’t a date.”
“Nothing epic about coffee and studying together.” I winked. “And I promised you epic.” Clearing my suddenly dry throat, I asked, “Are you on call next Saturday?”
“No.” She dragged the word out almost into a question.
For a second I stared down at where I was toeing the linoleum tile, then I glanced up to catch her eyes. Jesus, her eyes were so blue and clear. Staring into them almost made me forget what I wanted to ask. “Got anything else going on?”
“Not yet.” A smile came into those stunning eyes.
Damn, my mouth had gone as dry as the Mojave. I swallowed, and asked, “Would you like to go on an epic date—with me?”
“Order up for Chessly,” the barista interrupted. “Got one here for Finn.”
I grabbed my coffee and scalded the roof of my mouth in my haste to manufacture some spit.
A hint of a twinkle played with Chessly’s warm smile before she hid it behind a sip of her latte. Another customer crowded in front of us to grab his drink, and I let my free hand dip to the small of her back to guide her over toward an open table at the back of the room.
We set our drinks down and pulled up chairs opposite each other, the unanswered question hanging in the air between us. But I couldn’t take the suspense.
“You up for something epic?”
“After all the buildup, anything less will be anticlimactic to the point of implosion. You sure you want to promise that?” she challenged.
