Forcing myself to focus on classwork and get my assigned reading done is almost impossible, but I’m not about to let my grades slip after how hard I’ve worked to get them so high. I want to see where this goes with Niki, and I need to be able to balance school and dating a guy. I’m not sure if this is considered a date or not, but I’m going to say it is because I really, really like the idea of dating Niki.
I end up having to reread a few passages, but I finally get the reading done with only thirty minutes to spare. I spend every second of that time trying to make myself look as good as possible. I decide on skinny jeans, a red off-the-shoulder top, and a really cute pair of sandals since I just painted my toes pink the other day. I keep my hair down and loose because I’ve caught Niki staring at it before, and I think this is how he prefers it.
Five minutes before seven, I debate what bag I should bring. After several seconds, I take my wallet out of my purse and shove it into the leather messenger bag next to the slim laptop and head downstairs. Before I’ve even hit the large living room, I hear Niki’s deep voice and then Miss Francis’s laughter.
Right as I turn the corner, I hear her say, “You mean I can do everything with just this one remote?”
Niki hasn’t noticed me yet, so I take the opportunity to secretly watch him. He grins down at her and says, “Yes, ma’am. You just need this one.”
Miss Francis beams up at him. It’s no secret around here that our house mom is addicted to any reality TV show she can find, the more scandalous, the better. She’s usually juggling three different remotes while she switches between cable and all the streaming subscriptions we have. Niki has obviously just blown her mind.
My eyes take in the sight of him. He’s in his usual wardrobe of jeans, black boots, and hoodie, with his own messenger bag’s wide strap slung across his chest, and I love that about him. He never looks sloppy because everything fits him well, and he has the kind of muscular body that ensures he’ll never look hunched over. He may spend all his time on his computer, but he doesn’t look it. His dark hair looks like he’s recently run his hand through it, and I’m dying to know if it’s as soft as I think it is. He’s shaved, so his face is smooth, and when he darts his eyes over to me and I see the corner of his mouth quirk up, I realize I was wrong. He’s known I was here the whole time, probably clocked me as soon as I stepped into the room. I’m guessing not much gets by a guy like him.
I walk over, smiling at the way our Kappa house mom is so clearly smitten with Niki. I’m glad she’s not judging him by his tattoos and nose ring. Miss Francis doesn’t care for the Alpha boys across the street, and I was afraid she’d assume Niki was just like them. I’d underestimated her, though.
“Savanna,” she says, when she notices me standing next to her, “your boyfriend is an angel.”
My eyes dart to Niki’s, wondering how he’s going to react to being called that, but all I see is amusement in his eyes as he lifts a dark brow and says, “Did you hear that, sweetheart? I’m an angel.”
I laugh and then smile at Miss Francis. “He certainly is. He’s a lifesaver. He’s helping me to get better with computers.”
Miss Francis surprises me by reaching out and playfully patting Niki’s arm. “Well, I taught her how to load a dishwasher, so you’d better hang on to this one. She’s sweet and smart and knows how to clean the dishes.”
“The full package,” Niki agrees while I shake my head and laugh. “She’s definitely a keeper, and I don’t plan on letting her go.”
My eyes widen in surprise while my face heats up, and I try really hard to not do something stupid like squeal and text my bestie about what just happened. Miss Francis huffs out a soft laugh before grabbing her universal remote and looking ridiculously happy at not having to wrestle with multiple clickers.
“You two have fun,” she says while she walks over to the couch. Before she sits down, she adds, “I like you, Niki. Use the front door, okay? Don’t risk your life climbing up that old, rickety ladder.”
My mouth drops open in surprise as Niki laughs and says, “I will, Miss Francis. Thank you.”
She gives me a wink. “You girls think you’re so sneaky. That ladder’s been hiding behind those bushes since I was a student.”
Too stunned to speak, I manage a laugh and a quick goodbye before Niki is guiding me out of the house and down the brick path to the street in front of us.
“I’m relieved I won’t need to scale that ladder again,” he says. “I’m not crazy about heights. I’d do it to see you again, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved that I won’t have to.” When I don’t say anything, he adds in a quieter voice, “That’s assuming you want to see me again.”
“I do,” I quickly say.
He gives me a relieved smile. “Miss Francis will be very happy to hear that. I think she has her heart set on me fixing all future tech issues within the sorority house.”
“She’s a smart lady. She knows how to get free help.”
“Well, I am a sucker for a woman in her sixties who’s baffled by modern technology. Gets me every time.”
“I’ll remember that,” I tell him when we get to the curb. I’m secretly thrilled that he drove his motorcycle tonight. It gives me an excuse to wrap my arms around him.
He grabs the extra helmet and hands it to me, smiling again when he eyes the messenger bag I’m wearing. He doesn’t comment on it, but I know he likes that I brought it.
“I’m used to helping my family with stuff like that,” he says, nodding back at the house. “I don’t mind doing it.”
“You don’t ever get annoyed with it?” I ask.
He grins and shrugs a broad shoulder. “Depends on who’s doing the asking, I guess.”
“I’ll remember that, too,” I tell him.
Before I can put my helmet on, he reaches out and stops me. His fingers are light on my arm, and the soft touch is in complete contrast to the intense way he’s looking at me.
