when they go away to college.
He holds the door for us, his eyes lingering on mine as I step into the dorm. Damn, his look makes my stomach do flips. I hope his feelings for me are sincere because I’m not sure I can make mine go away.
“I wish he’d look at me like that,” Julia whispers in my ear as we all crowd around the mailboxes in the lobby.
“The elevators are right there to your left,” Andy says, pointing the way. We follow like a herd of sheep. Dean Decker made a comment about how freshmen tend to travel in packs. I guess this is good practice. “Now, we won’t all fit inside, so we’ll make a few trips. First group, take the elevator up to the third floor. If anyone wants to take the stairs with me, they’re this way. You’ll find walking the stairs is a good way to get in some exercise between classes.”
“Stairs it is!” Julia yanks my arm, not that it’s necessary. I’ll follow Andy just about anywhere.
Andy smiles at me. “Glad to see you aren’t afraid of a little exercise.” He wags an eyebrow, and I wonder if he’s talking about the stairs or…
“Yum, and have I mentioned yum?” Julia is about to turn into a puddle of drool, so I drag her toward the stairs, my eyes glued to Andy’s ass, which looks amazing in those jeans. Yum is right.
Every time we turn the corner and head up another flight, Andy looks back at me. And every time, he catches me staring at his ass. By the way he’s smiling, he doesn’t seem to mind. I’m sure he’s used to it. No guy that hot is oblivious to his appearance or the effect it has on girls.
“So, is this a co-ed dorm?” Julia asks.
Andy pauses at the door on the third-floor stairwell. “Yes. All the dorms are co-ed, either by floor or by wing.”
“What does that mean?” I’m already picturing myself living in the same dorm as Andy. Running into him in the hallway, in the bathroom, in his room…
“Some dorms have girls on even floors and guys on odd. Others, like this one, have girls on the left wing of each floor and guys on the right.”
“Is this your dorm?” I can’t help asking. I need to know if I’m about to walk into his room.
He nods. “I guess you could say I’m bearing all on this tour.” He winks at me before he holds the door open and motions for us to go through.
Julia swoons. “I wish he’d bear all.”
I do too, but I shoot her a look and hope Andy didn’t hear her. “Would you control yourself?”
“Why? He’s not into me. What do I have to lose?”
How about your best friend? I don’t want her comments screwing this up for me. “Do I need to remind you that he’s the dean’s son?”
“What, you think he’s going to tell his daddy that a freshman girl was making comments about him?”
She’s right. It was a lame argument. Really I want her to shut up and stop drooling over Andy.
Andy leads us down the hall to a room across from the elevator, where the rest of our group is waiting. “Good, we’re all here.” He turns to unlock the door—I make a mental note that he’s in room 303—and pushes it open.
His room. The place where he sleeps, where he changes…I swallow hard at the mental image.
“If you want to step inside a few at a time, you can check out my room. All the R.As’ rooms, one per floor, are located directly across from the elevators so they’re easy for you to find if you need anything.”
Oh, I need something all right. Julia elbows me as if she knows what I’m thinking.
“If you have any questions about dorm policy or if you experience any dorm-related problems, you should see your R.A. He or she will come around to make introductions on the first day of the semester.”
Again, Andy sounds scripted. I shouldn’t worry about it. This is his job. It’s different than when he and I talk.
“After you check out the room, you are free to walk around the campus on your own. I believe your schedule is open until dinner. Oh, and don’t forget the social this evening.”
“Social?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s a dance. Well, there’ll be music. Whether you dance or just mingle is completely up to you.” Andy smiles again. What is it about his smile that can make