I look into her eyes. “I’m focused, babe.”
She points at the textbook. “Focus on stats.”
I nod. “Stats.”
She rolls her eyes. I grin. She inhales, staring at my forearms because she is, I am pretty sure, also not focused.
By five, we have done real work. Two chapters covered. A practice quiz half-graded. I have gotten enough problems right that Lucy says, with her pencil still on the page, “I think you’ll do great on the midterm.”
“I hope so.”
“No. I mean, you’re doing great. You’re a fast learner.”
She caps her pencil, closes the notebook, and starts packing. I watch her zip the tote and try to keep it cool.
“Dinner?” I ask.
She looks up at me and smiles. “Okay.”
When we stand, I reach over, put my arm around her neck, and Camdenthe her in. She keeps her hands on her bag in front of her and smiles sweetly at me. I don’t know how much longer I can go without kissing her.
There’s a small Mediterranean place on Ash Street that has booths in the back. I’ve eaten there once with Blue and Percy after a game last spring, and I remember liking the kebabs, thehummus, and the booths. I tell Lucy I know a place. She lets me drive. The hostess seats us at a corner booth. The lighting is warm. There is a small candle in a glass jar between us. The waitress brings two waters and two menus and tells us about the specials. I order the kebab plate. Lucy orders the grilled chicken thing.
“So, your mom’s?” I ask, wondering what that’s been like for her.
She takes a sip of water, nodding. “Yeah.” Her eyes look around and land on the table.
“How is that going?”
She looks up at me with soft eyes. “It’s a far drive, and I’m sleeping on the couch. But it’s fine.”
I lean back and listen. Before I rush to offer my bed to her, I need to know where her head’s at. She’s at dinner with me now, so that’s a good thing, but I get the feeling that if it wasn’t convenient, she wouldn’t be here with me.
“You haven’t gone back to the apartment yet?”
She nods. “I have, but I know Gianna’s schedule, so I just went quickly to grab a few things when she wasn’t there.”
“I take it that you haven’t talked to her yet?”
She shakes her head.
I lean forward and say, “You’re more than welcome to stay at my place.”
Her cheeks turn pink. “You’re just saying that, Benson. Please, don’t worry about me.”
I stare at her pretty face. “I swear I’m not just saying it. And I’m not worried about you, honestly. I just don’t think I can go days without seeing you again.” I grab my glass of water and add, “Selfishly.” I don’t take a sip of water. I’m grabbing it just to do something with my hands. “You could sleep over for a night and see how you like it.”
“You’re going to get sick of me.”
I whisper, “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“What will the guys think?” she asks, peeking through her lashes.
I hadn’t thought about that. “They’ll love it.”
“Really?” she asks.
I nod.
