“You see him?” A gravelly voice from behind me asked, making me whirl around and lose my balance.
“Easy babe,” Grey chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into him effortlessly.
My face hit his large chest and his woodsy smell enveloped me. He had a way of making me feel so wanted and secure.
He gave me a hard squeeze, “Thanks for coming, babe, means a lot.”
“Anytime for my guy,” I returned, looking up at him.
He bent his head down and gave me a kiss, earning him a few catcalls from some guys already seated on the bus, freshmen no doubt. I couldn’t help but let out a giggle.
“You coming back to my place?” He asked with raised eyebrows.
“Want me to?”
“You don’t have to ask that babe, you know the answer to that,” he said pointedly.
“I know… I just like hearing you say it.”
“My bed, is your bed, my tiny princess,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
I swatted at him, but smiled. “Well then, I’ll be there,” I said softly, kissing his chest and looking up at him.
“Damn, babe. Now I’ve gotta be thinking about you in my bed for the next hour on this sausage fest bus ride. I wish I could go with you.” He gave my low pony a tug and stuck out his bottom lip, making him look like a little boy mid-tantrum.
“And let the team miss their captain? No way,” I reached up to touch his scruff. “Love this, by the way.” The beard was a new thing he’d been trying out. The last time he’d tried to grow it he only did it because he could- not because it looked good. He had been around 18 and it was very patchy. Now it was sexy. I caught myself staring at him a couple times lately, wondering how the 16-year-old boy I fell in love with had become so manly.
“Love you,” He kissed the top of my head and gave me one last squeeze. “Missed you this week.”
“Love you too, and missed you just like you missed that last shot.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he smirked. “I’ll see ya soon… and I won’t miss,” he gave me a slight spank and I like out an exaggerated gasp.
“So confident there, aren’t ya bud!” I whispered up to him.
He backed away like he’d been shot, “My girl! Calling me bud?”
I reached his hand and pulled him back to me and made him hug me again. I loved when he called me his girl.
“I do gotta go Jules, but I cannot wait to hold you tonight,” he whispered down to me.
I felt myself blush as I looked up at his dark brown eyes. With that, he headed towards the bus.
I started walking towards my car but spun around to him.
“Wait! Put your hat on before you catch a cold!” I quickly called to him, which earned a couple hoots from the bus. I grimaced and felt my cheeks heat up, feeling a little bad that I probably embarrassed him, but it was true! It was freezing out and he just showered.
But Grey showed no signs of embarrassment, he just gave me a wink as he pulled his beanie from his coat pocket and over top his damp hair.
I took that as my que to find my car and head to Brecklin University.
As I started towards the parking lot, I felt a buzz in my down jacket and fumbled to unzip my phone.
Grey texted:I love being loved by you, baby.
A giddy bubble of happiness rose in my chest, the kind of feeling only Grey could give me. The kind of feeling I hoped would never end.
Grey lived alone in a brick townhouse-type of apartment next to train tracks that ran through the edge of campus. The outside reminded me of project housing. Inside it was minimally decorated, but so Grey. He’d hung a couple of Canadian and hockey flags up around the living room, but not much else. I preferred his place over his friends- who had a bunch of posters of sports illustrated models in half dress lining their walls. One of the player’s girlfriends even helped purchase some of the model shots, which to me was absolutely insane. Grey laughed at my horrified face when he told me about that. “You’re not gonna buy me porno pics?” He joked. I shot him a look that said ‘no f’ing way.’ That was not my style, and Grey knew that. “Only got eyes for you, babe,” he’d say, and I knew he meant it.
