He shrugs. “Just how we’re created.”
I bite my lip. “Okay. I’m going to need to know everything.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you have to work tonight?”
“No, but I have a training I have to be at from eight to ten.”
“Tomorrow night?”
“I work then too.”
“Thursday night?”
I think about it a moment. “That might work. Let me double check my schedule. I might have to work if I have to switch with someone. I’m trying to switch, so I can come to your game on Saturday.”
He watches me with that unwavering attention. “That would be great.”
“Well, wish me luck. So far, I haven’t been able to trade with anybody. I was going to ask Hayes next, but I’m pretty sure you ruined that for me.”
He smiles smugly. “Good.”
“Slater,” I say dropping my hands to my hips. “I have to work with these people.”
“Come on.” He puts his hand on my lower back. “You’d better sleep while you can.”
After Slater drops me off at my room, I manage to sleep for several hours. The noise-canceling headphones he gave me are seriously worth every penny he spent on them. I didn’t hear my suitemates at all for the two hours I slept. I didn’t allow myself to sleep any longer than that, so I can sleep tonight. Slater doesn't get away from practice before I have to be at my meeting, so I don't get to see him. Now, I’m stuck in this security meeting that should have just been an email. I’m seriously regretting only getting a two-hour nap; I can barely keep my eyes open. When Bill finally wraps up, I’m ready to be done for the night. I’mthe first one out the door. I start making my way back to my dorm when somebody falls into step next to me. It takes me a moment longer than it should to recognize Slater; I blame it on the exhaustion. “Oh, hey.”
“Hey.”
“How’d practice go?”
“Fine.”
“You guys ready for Friday?”
“Getting there.”
He glances down at me. “How’d your meeting go?”
I groan. “It should have totally been an email.” I yawn. “I could barely stay awake.”
“Can you go right to bed tonight, or do you have to stay up and study?”
“I should study, but—” Another massive yawn cuts off my words.
“Do me a favor, Tess,” he says in a low voice. “Get some sleep. Don’t study tonight.”
“But,” I start.
“You’re not going to remember anything tonight when you’re this tired anyway.”
I scowl up at him. “I might.” We walk in silence after that. I have so many questions, but I’m too tired to ask them. When we get back to my dorm, he walks me up the steps and to my room. I’m suddenly nervous, wondering how he’s going to handle this. There are girls everywhere, and I’m not sure if Stephanie is in the room. I don’t want to bother her by bringing a guy in....again. Besides, we haven’t exactly talked about it, and how we want to handle boys. There hasn’t been a need for it up until now.
“Night, Tess. Get some sleep.” He leans forward, and I hold my breath. He gives me a feather-soft kiss on my forehead, and then he’s gone.
