I climb down the few stairs instead of up. She doesn’t move from her spot.
When I approach, she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Good morning,” I greet her.
Her eyes peek up at me. “Hey, Crosby.”
I forgot how great my name sounds coming from her lips. It’s better when she’s breathless and panting, but I’ll take it however she gives it.
“Do you have class?”
“No, I have a break.”
I glance up at the building. Shit, I should be up those stairs and in my seat. I have to keep up my grades if I want to keep my spot on the team. Between baseball and Ella, there is no comparison.
“Coffee?” I step a little closer, and she doesn’t back away.
“Um…”
“Come on. It’s a caffeine run. Friends.” I shrug.
Her eyes question my intentions. “Do you have class right now?”
I glance back up at the building, seeing only a few students milling around on the front steps.
“Supposed to.” I shrug and smile.
Her hand pushes on my stomach. “Then, go.”
I grip her hand with mine, linking our fingers, and she tries to pull, but I tighten my hold.
“Crosby.” Her voice semi pleading.
“You’re more important.”
“I shouldn’t be. Baseball is your future, and you need the grades for it. Ditching your first class would not be a good decision.” She tries to escape my hold, and this time, I grant her.
I wish I had the balls to tell her that she’s my future, but if I move too fast, she’ll be sure to hightail it away from me.
“Rain check?” I ask.
I know Ella will not let me ditch class. She did only once in high school, and it was senior ditch day. Both our parents knew we wouldn’t be there. They didn’t know that we left Great America and our friends early that day. Instead, we spent the rest of the day in the barn on the far edge of her parents’ property. Good times.
A small smile cracks her lips but she catches herself, transforming her face to a nun-like expression. “I said, time.”
“I’ve given you three days.” I cross my arms over my chest, proud of myself. Three days is a long time to wait for something I’m growing impatient for.
We share a smile with one another, and my stomach flips at the sight of her lips spreading wide toward me.
“Are you free tomorrow morning?” she asks.
I nod.
“No, Crosby, you can’t ditch class to have coffee with me. What time is your first class?”
“I have a break between eight and nine. We have early classes because of practice.”
“Eight o’clock at Java Go.” She turns on her heels and starts down the path.
I watch her ass teasing me in her shorts.
“Still love passion tea?”
She twists on her heels, following the path backward. “Yeah, I do.”
Flipping back around on her heels, she turns right at the corner of the building.
I turn my attention to the stairs of White Hall to find them vacant. No one is there.
“Shit,” I mumble.
Jogging up the stairs to the second floor, I sneak into the back row of the classroom. I pull out my laptop and quickly catch up with the professor’s lecture. The guy a couple seats down passes a syllabus over, and when I turn to thank him, I’m reminded that nothing comes easy in my life.
“Is there a reason you were holding my girlfriend’s hand?” Ella’s boyfriend whispers, sliding into the open seat between us.
Well…shit.
“She won’t be your girlfriend for long,” my cockiness answers for me. My arrogance is a great intimidator that’s always worked in getting me what I want.
“Who are you?”
As his beady eyes try to daunt me, I get an up close look at him. I can see why El might have fallen for him. He’s a safe bet. Probably riding the coattails of his family’s money, paving his way with his arrogant little bitch frat brothers. It only assures me of one thing. I don’t have to fight him for El. This guy wouldn’t start a fight if I fucked her right in the middle of his bed. El is just a trophy to him. He doesn’t love her like I do.
“I’m just an old friend. We have a long history together.” I glance at him from the corner of my eye, offering him a quick wink.
His knuckles whiten as he clenches his pen. It couldn’t be more satisfying, knowing I’m getting under his skin.
His annoyed expression tells me that Ella hasn’t been so open about her life and her past. This guy