Laney
FUCKING. KAM.
He would stroll into the only, one-credit BS class I have ever taken. If it wasn’t for a four-credit independent study I took last semester, my credits wouldn’t be all messed up, and I wouldn’t have had to sign up forsports broadcastingonFriday freaking morning. Now, I get to spend the next three months with Kam and his inflated ego—and his gorgeous eyes and sexy mouth and arsenal of southern charm.
“Laney?” Steve says my name flatly.
“Huh?” I look up from my coffee cup.
“Daydreaming about your ex?”
“What?” I respond defensively. “Of course not.”Liar!
“Did you know he was in that class?”
“I had no idea. Although, now that I think about it, Kamisa communications major.”
“Appropriate, seeing how he didn’t have a problem communicating with you.”
“Yeah, well, that’s Kam. He’s never had a problem communicating with women.”
“Just as long as he doesn’t try to communicate too closely, we won’t have any issues.”
I actually laugh. Steve’s green-eyed monster doesn’t rear its ugly head often. But don’t let the glasses and bookworm exterior fool you. He definitely has a hothead side. It’s sort of what I like about him. He’s intelligent, good-looking, and just alpha enough without going overboard. He’s also from New York, which is part of the reason why we work so well. We understand each other. Speak the same language. Being with him feels like a little piece of home in the middle of Alabama.
After Kam and I split, we didn’t speak for almost a year. But it’s sort of difficult to avoid the son of your father’s very serious girlfriend, especially when he’s sitting across the dining room table from you during the holidays. Breaking up with Kam was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but nearly four years later, I know it was the right decision. He’s in such high demand. Everyone wants a piece of him. He’s constantly traveling with the team, or doing interviews, or charity appearances, or being invited to elite parties . . . the list goes on and on. There’s no time, in my opinion, for a serious relationship or commitment of any kind. Kam needed his freedom, and I loved him enough to give it to him. I needed someone I could have a solid foundation with, and Steve gives me that.
“Stop. You sound jealous and insecure.” I roll my eyes. Kam and I are older news than Jennifer and Brad.
“I call it intuitive.” He corrects me, as he takes a sip of his latte. “You know his reputation.”
“I know Kam’s reputation all too well. But I think I’m immune from his prowling. Been there, done that. If you know what I mean.”
Steve grimaces. “Did you have to provide a visual?”
“I think you were just looking for an excuse to picture me naked.”
“Naked withme,maybe.”
“I can make that happen, you know,” I purr, slumped casually in my chair.
Steve smiles wickedly. “Well, what the hell are we waiting for?”
“To finish our coffee?” I respond coquettishly.
