“He lives on our floor.” Tere gave me the heads-up. Seemed she’d seen him before. I mean, I’d guessed that, but now it was confirmed, and I knew what sport he played and why the drunk guy had alluded to his golden hands.
“So, we’re both going in the same direction. But only if you’re okay staying on your own.”
“She’s not on her own,” Jeremy’s deep voice sounded, letting me know he was either really close to her or I was on speaker. More than likely the latter since Tere’s phone was ancient and should have been replaced about a ten years ago.
“I can answer for myself, you know?” Tere sassed. I pressed my lips together.
“I know, but where would the fun be in that?”
“You’re so?—“
“Endearing?” he cut her off with his guess. “Charming?”
“Annoying,” she mumbled. “Sadie, you still there?”
“Yup.” I glanced up at Jason, who was staring at me like he was trying to figure me out somehow. “I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, positive. You?”
“I have my pepper spray with me.” I knew it was more to warn Jeremy than anything else.
“Me too,” I shared quietly, knowing Jason couldn’t hear me. He seemed like a nice guy, don’t get me wrong, but a girl could never be too careful.
“Okay, then, be safe. Text me when you get home, and I’ll see you in the morning.” Guess her guy had talked her into an overnight date.
“Sounds good. Bye.” I hung up and slipped my phone into the hoodie’s pocket. “She’s staying,” I shared.
“Gathered that.”
“Right,” I mumbled, and before I knew it, his hand found mine and he tangled our fingers together like we knew one another rather than just met, and we were walking back towards the dorms.
“So, you play baseball?” I asked, trying to break the comfortable silence that had fallen between us.
“I do.”
“Are you a pitcher or?—“
“Shortstop.” I nodded. “What do you play?” he asked. His gaze slid to me.
“Umm… other than board games once in a while, nothing.” That earned me a chuckle from him and a smile so big it gave me a clear view of his dimple.
“I just mean, you live in the athletics dorms.”
“Oh! Right. I do, but it was a glitch. In the system. I tried to explain it to housing, but they said it was too complicated to fix or something, so…” I shrugged. “I guess I lucked out. Mostly.”
“Mostly?” His thumb was stroking the side of my hand with a gentle touch that soothed me.
“I mean… it’s just…no offense to your people?—“
“My people?” His lips twitched, and I had to look away because that smile of his could get me in trouble. Like panty-melting or ripping kind of trouble.
“Jocks?”
“Ouch. Stereotype much?”
“You’re right, that’s not fair. How about athletes?”
