On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,106
player.
“Not quite. But he does play for the Scorpions.”
“Is he good? Do I know him? What’s his name?”
“Whoa, Elsa,” Zach chuckled. “Take a breath. Calli’s brother is Callum James, the guy I was here with Tuesday.”
“Callum James is your brother?” She eyed me with suspicion.
“He is.”
“Is that why he left the other day? Because you were here?”
Crap. She was intuitive.
“It’s complicated.”
“I heard some of the kids whispering.” Her gaze slid to Zach. “They said you’re Declan Messiah’s brother. Is it true?”
Zach grimaced. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“They said he won’t ever walk again…. That he might not wake up.”
“They were right.” Zach tipped his face to the sky and inhaled a ragged breath.
“Listen, Jasmine. Why don’t we go help clean up?” I suggested.
“Yeah, okay.” She fell into step beside me without argument. “I didn’t mean to upset him.”
“You didn’t.” I offered her a reassuring smile.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Is it true? Can we really go to the exhibition game Saturday if our parents agree?”
Zach had let it slip earlier. Something told me he was almost as excited as the kids about them getting the chance to go.
“Zach said it was all your idea.”
“I thought you might like it.”
“No one’s ever bothered to do anything like that for me before.” Her eyes found mine. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Will your brother be playing?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe I’ll get to meet him too?”
“Maybe.” I forced a smile. “It’s almost time to go. Why don’t you grab your jacket and I’ll check on Zach?”
“But I’ll see you Saturday, right, for the game?”
“Assuming your parents give permission then yes, I’ll see you Saturday.” A faint smile traced my lips.
“Cool. I’ve heard it’s really loud and big and gets kind of crazy.”
“I’ve never been to a college game either,” I admitted.
“For real?”
“For real. So it will be my first time too.”
“That makes me feel better. I’ll see you Saturday.” Jasmine began walking toward the door when she stopped and glanced back. “And Calli?”
“Yes?”
“I guess you’re all right.” She gave me a half-shrug and skipped off toward the reception area.
It was the best compliment she could have given me.
“All right?” Zach whispered against my hair. “She clearly doesn’t know you the way I do.” His warm breath tickled my neck, sending bolts of desire shooting through me.
“Zach!” I scolded.
“Relax, all the kids have gone.”
“Yes, but the other volunteers haven’t.” Maureen was watching us with mild amusement. “Besides,” I hissed. “We need to talk.”
“Why do I not like the sound of that?”
“I’ll just grab my things.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
But he had.
He’d fled my dorm room this morning in such a panic I hadn’t expected such a one-eighty already.
After collecting my things and saying goodbye to Freya, I found Zach talking to some of the other volunteers.
“All set?” he asked me, and I nodded.
“Night everyone.”
“Night.”
The second we hit the sidewalk, Zach pulled me into the shadows and pushed me up against the wall. He stared at me for a second, the air crackling around us, before his mouth crashed down on mine, and he kissed me with total unrestraint.
“Zach,” his name was a whispered sigh on my lips. “Stop.”
“Stop?” He dropped his lips to my shoulder, letting out an exasperated breath. “Now she wants to stop.”
“We should talk.”
“You’re right.” His eyes lifted to mine. “I just really hoped we could skip the talking part and go straight to the kissing part. I missed you today.”
“You did?”
“Of course I did.” Zach slid his fingers into my hair. “Didn’t you miss me?”
“I did... but I was a little confused too.”
“I’m sorry.” He exhaled a long breath. “I didn’t handle it very well.”
“Did you have breakfast with Victoria?”
“What?” He reared back, his brows knitted together. “Why would you ask that?”
“She said some things.”
“What things?” He went rigid.
“Zach?” My stomach sank at his expression. “It’s not true, is it? You didn’t meet her after we...”
His silence was deafening, and blood roared between my ears as I tried to understand.
“You went to her for advice about us... about me?”
“What? No? Fuck, no. I swear, Calli, it wasn’t like that. When I left you, I called Maverick. He wanted to go for breakfast, and she was there.”
“So the three of you had breakfast?”
“Four,” he admitted. “Kira was there too.”
“So it was like a double breakfast date?”
“What the fuck? No! Maverick is engaged. He would never do that to Lo.”
“But you’d do that to me?” Disbelief coated my words. “Is that it?”
“Calli, listen to yourself.” He cupped my face, staring at me intently. “Where is all this coming from?”