“Right now, my focus is baseball and school. But I like to go out and occasionally party when I have no other responsibilities. I guess you could say that I’m pretty boring too,” he shrugs.
Maybe we have more in common than I thought.
Chapter Eleven
Jaxon
There’s one more stop to make after we finish decorating our cookies. Candi, of course, made the best-looking cookies out of the entire group while mine were globs of frosting. I don’t care though. Candi has my full attention, and I still feel like I know nothing about her.
I get the feeling that I’m going to have to put in work to get to know her and that when she finally lets me in, it will have all been worth it. She’s not the type of girl you date a few times and then leave. No, Candi is the girl that you never stop dating because she’s the most special person you’ve ever met. Even though I barely know her,thatmuch I understand.
Across the square under the soft glowing lights strung up for the holiday are booths from local restaurants and businesses selling items. We get food at Eatin’ Good, the new deli that recently opened up in town. After paying for our meal, we spot an open picnic table and take a seat.
Candi sits on the bench, already unwrapping her turkey sandwich and drinking her water. Taking the seat across from her, I doctor my ham sandwich with mayo and mustard before taking a bite. Pretty sure I’m going to have to hit up Eatin’ Good on a regular basis with how good this sandwich is.
“You’re a mustard person, huh?” she asks, after taking a sip of her water.
Shrugging my shoulders at her, I finish chewing before answering. “Who doesn’t like mustard?”
“Guilty.” She raises her hand, a teasing smile crossing her face, that lone dimple pops up making me want to reach out and stroke her cheek. “I never could eat it. There is one exception and that is with a hot dog as long as it’s smothered in ketchup.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” And I would. So badly I wanted there to be a next time with Candi and like I thought, a blush sneaks across her face. She’s been doing it all night, so I must be doing something right.
She takes a deep breath seeming to steady herself before placing her elbows on the top of the table and leaning forward. “So what’s your major? I know that you play baseball and that school is important to you, but I don’t know your major.”
“Business,” I say, before taking another bite of my sandwich and swallowing before I continue. “I’m hoping to eventually work for a non-profit. You know, if the whole baseball thing doesn’t work out. It’d be nice to go pro, but I’ve also got to be realistic.” I’ve wanted to go into the Major Leagues for as long as I can remember and getting a full ride to Rosewood College was a bump to my ego. Although it’s a small college in a small town, they have one of the most competitive sports programs with a good track record of students playing ball beyond college. “You?”
“English major. But you might have already figured that out, what with the book throwing and paper writing.”
“I would have pegged you as a music major with the performance you put on in the library.” Candi’s mouth pops open in shock that I’d bring it up. It’s honestly my favorite thing about her, aside from her ass in those jeans. God was it hard—nearly impossible—to focus on the cookie decorating demonstration with her bending over right in front of me.
“It was one time! I forget where I amone timeand now you’re holding it over my head.” She’s pretending to be mad, but her tone is teasing and playful.
Finishing my sandwich, I wipe away any remnants of mustard from my mouth. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. I’m absolutely up for an encore performance, just name the day and time and I’m there.”
She smirks at me, trying but failing to hide her laughter. “We’ll have to see about that. I don’t just perform for anyone, you know.” Those big brown eyes sparkle with mischief in the low lighting of the town square.
“I’m making it my life’s mission to see you like that again and I don’t make new life missions lightly.” We’re both grinning at each other from across the table and I’m struck by how attractive she is.
Those big brown eyes, those luscious-looking lips, the sweet-smelling long hair, that charming dimple… How this girl is single is beyond me.
Grabbing our trash and tossing it in the nearby trash can, I hold my hand out once again for her. She doesn’t hesitate this time, placing her hand in mine. It’s thrilling to know that I’m slowly wearing her walls down and that she’s opening up to me in her own time.
“Let’s get some hot chocolate.”
We hit up Tall, Dark, and Coffee’s booth for some steaming cups of hot chocolate. Apparently, Candi isn’t much of a coffee drinker, preferring the sweet stuff instead of the bitter coffee. Cups in hand, we wander around the square where I slowly pry more information about herself out of her. She’s an only child, her parents are divorced but still good friends, and she listens to a wide variety of music.
I really like this girl.
Unfortunately, the night is coming to an end and the booths are starting to pack up around us, so we head back to campus. She’s gone all quiet again and I find myself wondering, not for the first time, what is going on in that pretty head of hers. What’s going through my mind is how much I don’t want this date to end.
Before I know it, we’re parked in the lot of Stone Hall. Candi makes a small huffing sound before she unbuckles her seatbelt and steps out of the car. Quickly following after her, I jog to catch up, leading her up the steps with my hand on the small of her back.
“Mind if I walk you to your door?” I’ll do anything to make this night longer.
Candi looks at her feet and nods. “Sure.”
She leads us through the entryway and towards the stairwell and I’m getting a strange sense of déjà vu as we climb up the stairs to the second floor. She stops at a door halfway down the hall and slowly turns to face me.
