There were voices in the hallway now. The guys were filtering out of my dad’s office. I pressed a hand to my cheek, trying to cool it the hell down.
Did Dakota just explain to me his current fantasy? Holy shit.
“I think your dad’s free to talk now,” he said in a casual voice. A voice that didn’t sound half as dirty and longing as before.
“Yeah, you should go before he gets dragged into a movie night argument.”
“See you during our shift tomorrow?” His eyes found mine and he cocked up an eyebrow like everything was normal.
I wanted to scream,What the hell was that? Why did you stop?
Instead, I told him, “Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
Chapter 16
Thenightskywascloudy, and the campus was busy on our shift. Dakota put me in charge of communicating with the dispatcher again. Unlike the first time we worked together, we didn’t have extra moments to chit-chat. The lines stayed busy with calls from students desperate for transportation not only for safety but to avoid the impending rain.
“Do we stay out here even if it starts raining?” I asked after we dropped off our eleventh passenger for the night. The girl was drunk and could barely swipe her card through the building’s card reader without my help. I’d walked her all the way to her front door for good measure. She thanked me with a sloppy cheek kiss and declaration of love. I hoped she didn’t feel too embarrassed over it in the morning. Personally, I found it hilarious and was glad she would be safe in her own bed tonight.
“Yup.” Dakota pointed toward the pouch under the dash. “There’s rain ponchos in there and a couple of flashlights.
“Yeesh,” I mumbled, thinking about how much cold the rain would bring in the fall season. “I know this is important and all, but y’all do not get a break.”
Dakota laughed. “No, that we don’t.”
The dispatcher called out our golf cart number again on the walkie. This time they told us we’d probably need backup because the caller sounded in distress. My bottom lip poked out after hearing the wording.
“I’m both intrigued and worried.” I held on tight as Dakota turned us into the direction of the parking garage where the dispatcher told us to go.
“It’ll be fine,” Dakota assured. He took another sharp turn that almost made me drop the walkie and granola bar I’d been snacking on. His hand reached out to grab onto my torso. Out of sheer reflex, I clutched onto his lower arm like I was holding on for dear life. A fat girl falling from a golf cart sounded like a bad start to a shitty comedy sketch. I wanted no part of it, which was why I clung to a running back’s well-defined muscles. The only reason, really.
“You okay?”
Though Dakota didn’t move his arm, his grip did relax a bit. His skin against mine inevitably brought back the image of him giving my hand a kiss last night. Neither of us addressed the exchange. Dakota was still acting normal, and I tried to mirror him.
“I’m going to guess we don’t get health insurance with this gig?” I joked. “Worker’s comp?”
“Correct. But you don’t need to worry about that. You’re not falling on my watch.” On the next turn, he took his time but still managed to make me slide on the seat a bit. This time, I moved in his direction. Our hips collided, and the noise I made was something between a gasp and high squeak. The sound made Dakota chuckle. He didn’t seem concerned about being smashed against me. Regardless, I pulled myself off of him almost instantly. Dakota’s firm body sent a pulsing heat through my belly.
“Here we are,” he announced, too busy navigating through the levels of the parking garage to notice the red in my cheeks.
We pulled up to two girls, one in tears and one red with fury, yelling at a guy. A campus police car was nearby. The red and blue lights were on and the officer separated the arguing students.
The girl with red in her cheeks spat at the guy’s feet, which made his already angry expression darken. And her crying friend wore a ballet wrap top with a pair of pointe shoes hanging from her hands. When she saw us, her eyes widened like we were the last life raft on the Titanic.
“They’re here,” she told her friend.
“Ma’am, I’m going to need to get your statement before you leave,” the officer warned.
The crying girl’s brow wrinkled with dread. I felt for her. I would also be upset to have to stay in the garage amidst all the chaos and shouting. Her friend suggested the officer move the guy away from them before asking for a statement.
“Would you stay the fuck out of this, Taylor?” the angry guy snapped.
“Do not talk to me!” the girl named Taylor yelled back. “Don’t talk to either of us, or I swear to god, I’ll make you regret every breath you’ve ever taken, asshole.”
Dakota pushed out of the golf cart when the guy tried to lunge at Taylor. He went to help the officer hold him back from the girls. I moved too, starting over to the ballet girl to encourage her into the cart.
“My statement,” she said with a heavy sigh.
