“It’s just who I am.”
“Wow, Sir Talks A Lot. I mean, don’t go into depth or anything like that.”
“I don’t talk. I don’t like people, and I keep my distance.”
“Got it.” I stuff the rest of the Twinkie in my mouth and mumble the word, “Asshole.”
“I’m not deaf.”
My face heats with embarrassment as I turn to look at him.
“I like you, is all,” I mutter around a mouthful of food.
Tuck tries to tell me something, but we are interrupted by a group of men entering the house, and Ethan is among them. He sits on the table in front of me and tries to weasel his way in between my legs.
“Back off, alley cat.” I grab the bowl of food and cradle it to my chest.
“C’mon, I’m hungry.”
“No, I was talking to Tuck before you rudely interrupted us.” I crane my neck to make eye contact with Tuck, but he’s gone. I scan the room quickly and see no sign of him.
Ethan snorts. “That’s funny.”
“What’s funny?” I ask, still searching for any sign of Tuck.
“You talking to Tuck. The man doesn’t talk at all.” Ethan successfully nabs a chocolate wrapped cupcake from the bowl. “Him scooping you up and racing back here is more action toward mankind than any of us has seen out of him.”
“Whatever.” I shrug and unwrap another goodie.
But on the inside my heart races with excitement hearing Ethan talk about Tuck and what he did. Dammit, if only I were conscious to feel his arms around me. If only.
“Your turn.” Sophie bounds down the hall with a wet braid bouncing around.
All the noise in the small living room reminds me how delicate of a state my head is in right now. “Okay.”
I set the bowl to the side and stand up, pleased to find my legs sturdy underneath me.
“Need help?” Ethan asks, with a mischievous smirk on his face.
“You haven’t even been out of a relationship for twenty-four hours.” Shaking my head, I step away from him, and he grabs the back of my thigh. “Don’t touch me, Ethan, don’t touch me ever again. I’m not an easy piece of ass and don’t want anything to do with you.”
His hands fly up in a surrendering motion. “No harm, no foul.”
I don’t respond and feel a tiny bit bad about being so harsh with him, but I want no gray areas with this guy. It’s clear he’s not the smartest one in the bunch. He might be the horniest, but not smartest. Lane comes jogging down the hall in a pair of loose sweats, chasing after Sophie. Scratch that, Lane is the horniest one.
I see Tuck watching me from the end of the hall, and then I look over my shoulder and realize he saw the whole scene play out with Ethan. He’s standing between two doors. The one on his right is lit up, and the door to his left is open, but dark. I don’t take my gaze off him as I walk straight toward him, blocking out all the noise in the background.
I stop inches from him, and Tuck doesn’t move, keeping his hands firmly planted on those sexy hips and his seductive stare on me.
“I’d let you touch me, Tuck, and get to know every single part of me, but you don’t do people or talking. Just know I think you’re gorgeous.”
His jaw clenches and he squeezes his eyes shut for a second before I turn from him and walk into the lit up bathroom. As I shut the door, I sink down the back of it until I’m on the floor, sitting Indian style and staring up at the water stained ceiling and wondering what in the hell this man has done to me. Must be the sugar high. It has to be the sugar high screwing with my thought process and the path from my brain to the words that flow out of my mouth.
One minute I’m telling Ethan off, and then seconds later I’m basically telling Tuck I’m hot for him. The most confusing part of all of this is that it’s the truth. I know it, my brain knows it, and my heart keeps shouting it. Damn, sexy fucker.
Chapter 5
“You know Lane is a dick. Did he really think this was an outfit?”
Sophie giggles as the sunlight shines off her glossy black hair. “Hey, you’d just passed out and he was helping us.”
“Whatever, he was rushing to get back to the house to bone you in the shower.”
“We didn’t have sex in the shower.”
“Oh, really?”
“Fine, we did, and it was even better than the first time.”
I try not to gag and send her a look warning her that I don’t need any details, not even one. I keep my arms crossed over my abdomen, feeling naked as we walk back to the dorms.
“Slow down, Blue. I think I have shin splints from this morning.”
“Too bad. I’m wearing a pink polka-dot sports bra with lime green spandex shorts. I’m really not in the mood to walk leisurely.”
There’s zero doubt in my mind that Lane knew what he was doing when he grabbed our clothes. Sophie wears hers proudly, strutting back to the dorms, and I just don’t understand the girl sometimes.
“What do you know about Tuck?” I finally ask her.
“Who is Tuck?”
“Never mind.”
“Tell me. You can’t play the never mind card with me.” She uses her fingers, air quoting her words.
“He’s a guy.”
“No shit. Spill.”
“He’s on the football team and intrigues me.”
I pray like hell something shiny distracts Sophie from further questioning.
“And?” she pushes.
I’m tempted to scream bear or fire to see if that gets her off topic, but instead her cellphone rings and distracts her.
“My mom,” she says, rolling her eyes.
I let her take the call and walk several steps ahead of her to get to my dorm room. I need a long nap before tonight’s barbecue.
“Blue.”
Shading my eyes from the sun, I notice Stephie walking my way. What did I do to piss off Satan now?
“I just want to say sorry for giving you the short end of the stick these past couple days.”
I want to correct her and say day and a half, but decide to use my better judgment.
“Thanks.”
“No, I really mean it, Blue. I know you’re not a slut and didn’t do anything with Ethan, and I was just being mean.”
“Okay, thanks.” I turn to walk off and bite my tongue to keep from congratulating her on using the word slut once again in my presence.
“I really mean it,” she hollers.
What the hell does this chick want? Does she want me to hug her, hold hands, and sing? Or probably, knowing control freaks like her, she wants me to lick the bottom of her shoes and praise her for her almighty awesomeness.
I look back and send her a quick smile, not wanting her to think I’m ignoring her. Just like my dad always told me growing up, a snake is a snake no matter what skin they’re wearing.
I replay today’s events in my mind as I sink into my bed and burrow deep under my comforter. From the towel folding, to running, passing out, Tuck, Stephie, that Twinkie, and right back to Tuck, my mind refuses to stop analyzing every little thing, but it comes back to Tuck. My eyes close as the sweetest dreamy sensation floats through me just thinking of Tuck carrying me to his house, his posture on the couch, and then his stance at the end of the hallway. The more the man refuses to talk or let me get to know him more, the more I want him.
I guess a girl can always dream about you, Tuck.
Chapter 6
The barbeque is a hit, and I almost blush when Coach Lindsey catches me going in for thirds. Key word—almost. The food is delicious, with a gorgeous array of fish, chicken, and steak all grilled to perfection, adorned with veggies with similar grill marks. There is something about the tangy taste of the onions and green peppers that leaves my stomach wanting more. I manage to escape the looks of Trainer Jay, who is the chef for the evening, but not Coach.