When I arrived at the Union, about ten minutes ahead of when Chess said she’d meet me, I noticed the short line for coffee and decided to take advantage. Since she’d ordered a café au lait the last time we hung out here, I figured I was safe with that. By the time the barista had finished my order—I’d added a couple of cranberry scones because lunch went down over an hour ago—I glanced up to see Chessly walking through the door.
Carrying two drinks and a bag of treats, I wound my way through the tables in her direction. When she caught sight of me, she kick-started my heart with the smile that lit her face.
“Hey.” I didn’t even try to hold back my answering grin.
“Hey.” For a long beat, we stared into each other’s eyes before she dropped her gaze to my hands. “Whatcha got there?” She nodded toward the treats.
“A coffee for the lady,” I said, handing her the drink. “And something to keep your stomach from grumbling through your lab since it falls right at dinnertime.”
She wrinkled her nose at me. “You’re never letting me live that down, are you?”
“Depends on how often it happens.” I grinned.
Narrowing her gaze over her latte, she sipped and closed her eyes. Her moan of pleasure shot straight to my dick.
I cleared my throat and said, “Let’s find somewhere to park our asses.”
Laughter rang from her. “Oh, Finn, you’re so romantic.”
Heat climbed my neck to my face, and I turned away to scan for an open table. The place was mostly open for a Monday afternoon, so we had our pick, but I was looking for somewhere with a hope of some privacy.
“Not many good tables today. Wanna try the lounge?”
The college had furnished the old-school lounge adjacent to the cafeteria in the Union with deep couches and comfy chairs placed in front of a fireplace I didn’t think had been lit in fifty years. It was a pretty high traffic area seeing as it connected the cafeteria to some offices behind it, but I hoped one of the love seats facing the windows might be open. Even with people passing through, we’d have more privacy than any table in the café.
The secret smile on Chessly’s face told me how transparent I was, but also, she was smiling.
I stepped beside her and casually dropped my hand to the small of her back, ushering her a bit in front of me in the direction of the lounge. “How was your day so far?”
“Same ol’. Yours?”
“Mmm? The usual.”Keep it together, Finn. Do not make this fucking awkward. “Coach Larkin amused himself at Bax’s expense, which was highly entertaining.” I snorted at the memory of Larkin saying, “Here I am,” on every pass he made by our stations until Bax was powering through his sets like a damn bull in an arena. “Kind of started the week off right.” I grinned.
“Let me guess. Bax was wearing one of his interesting T-shirts.”
“Got it in one.” I winked. “Danny warned him before we left the house, but Bax is Bax. He wears those shirts like a dare and a badge of honor all at the same time.” I grinned down at her. “I don’t know how your classy friend can date him.”
The corner of Chess’s mouth tipped up. “Piper’s pretty good at hiding her inner redneck behind that trust-fund-baby façade, but don’t let it fool you. She’s one hundred percent perfect for your roommate.”
As I’d hoped, there was an open couch—one of the deep ones facing the windows. With the absence of leaves on the bushes outside the building, anyone who glanced toward the windows could probably see through the branches, but no one walking by ever looked over. I was counting on that as I set my coffee and the bag of treats on the table in front of the sofa and my backpack on the floor beside it then sank down into the cushions.
Beside me Chessly followed suit, though she didn’t sit as close to me as I’d hoped.Patience, old son. We’re still only in the first half, I reminded myself.
Leaning back, she sipped her coffee, the sapphire pools of her eyes sparkling over the rim of the cup. “So what’s in the bag? Monster cookies?”
The memory of her sitting on my lap yesterday—and how sharing cookies had led to sharing so much more—flashed through my head. I leaned forward with the obvious goal of snagging the bag of scones, but what I needed was a distraction so I could adjust my junk. How the mere mention of those cookies could cause a semi told its own damn story of how easily Chessly could wind me up.
“We have to save monster cookies for private treats.” I let my voice drop as I sat back against the cushions and enjoyed watching her squirm further down into the couch. “Plus, the Union doesn’t have monster cookies on offer. I hope cranberry scones can help you with that stomach problem you have.”
“What stomach problem?” she squeaked, her tone indignant.
“The one where I always seem to catch you when you’re hungry.”
A pretty shade of rose bloomed over her round cheeks as she set her coffee on the table and reached for the bag in my hand.
“Nuh-uh-uh. If you want your share, you’re going to have to come over here.”
Her brow knitted in confusion. “I’m sitting right beside you.”
