couple of days,” he remarks as we turn a corner and continue walking.
“It’s been busy.” Which isn’t a lie. School might have recently started, but the academics at Western are rigorous. And being a Division I athlete is more like a job. If you’re not ready to put in the work, don’t bother showing up. There’s no half-assing it around this place.
“When’s your next game?” he asks.
“Tomorrow at six.” My gaze flickers in his direction. Not that I expect him to come, but...
Fine, so maybe I do. If he wants to be my boyfriend, then he needs to show a little support.
His dark brows draw together. “That sucks. I’ve got a mandatory study hour I have to attend.”
I shrug off the disappointment. It’s another nail in the coffin of this relationship as far as I’m concerned. “That’s cool. It’s not a big deal.”
“But I’ll see you tonight?”
Oh. Right.
Tonight.
Well, damn. In a moment of weakness, I threw out an invitation to join our Wednesday evening dinner. It’s one I now regret. If only there were a gracious way to rescind the offer.
“If you’re busy, I totally understand—”
“Are you kidding? No way.” With a grin, he shakes his head. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m looking forward to meeting Coach Richards.”
Great. So this is more about my father than me? Exactly what every girl wants to hear.
I force a brittle smile. “Awesome. He’s excited, too.”
That might be something of an overstatement.
Justin nods toward the end of the corridor. “I better get moving. Professor Andrews is a real stickler for punctuality.”
“Yup. See you later.”
This time, when he leans in, our lips align perfectly. The kiss is nothing more than a fleeting caress. There and gone before I can sink into it.
And I’m left feeling...absolutely nothing.
I bury the disappointment where I can’t inspect it too closely before giving him a wave as he takes off. For a moment, I stand rooted in the hallway and watch as he disappears through the crowd. There’s nothing to distinguish Justin from the thousands of guys who look exactly like him on campus. He’s of average height and build with dark hair and espresso-colored eyes. He’s nice enough. Although, if I’m completely honest, he’s a little self-absorbed. He talks about baseball all the time. If Ethan hadn’t introduced us, he’s not someone I would have looked twice at. We don’t have a ton in common.
As much as I hate to admit it, this relationship has probably reached its expiration date.
Now it’s a matter of pulling the plug.
Ugh. I hate breakups. Although, it’s doubtful this will end up destroying him. I’ll have to make it through tonight and figure out the rest.
With a sigh of resignation, I head to the classroom and find a seat tucked away in the far corner of the small lecture hall. A lanky guy I recognize from a few of my other classes settles beside me. He flashes a dimpled smile as we empty our backpacks.
The tiny hair at the nape of my neck rises seconds before Rowan enters the room. It’s like my body knows when he’s within a thirty-foot radius. I glance at him from beneath the thick fringe of my lashes before shifting away. Air becomes wedged in my lungs as I wait for him to take a seat. And it won’t be next to me because I’m—
“Hey man, would you mind moving?”
Surrounded on both sides.
Damnit. I’m hoping the cutie next to me will tell Rowan to go take a flying leap.
What? It could happen. Not everyone at this university is enamored of the football-playing god. Although I realize the odds aren’t stacked in my favor. Rowan is the most recognized athlete on campus. People fall all over themselves to accommodate him.
It’s a little sickening.
Okay, maybe more than a little.
“Sure, no problem, Michaels.” The guy next to me hastily packs up his books before vacating the desk. Unable to ignore him any longer, I glare as Rowan slides onto the seat next to me.
“Did you really think you could evade me that easily?” Laughter brims in his deep voice. A voice, I might add, that does funny things to my insides.
“One can always hope, right?”
“Oh, answering a question with a question.” He leans closer, eating up some of the much-needed distance between us. “I like it.”
I roll my eyes as his lips stretch into a satisfied grin. Irritation bubbles up inside me when sexual tension blooms at the bottom of my belly. Or maybe that tension has settled a