“Sophie.”
I wave him off, not bothering to stop and turn around. The last thing I need is another lecture about screwing up. At the end of the street I turn left, praying it will bring me another block closer to the dorm. Just as I become more confident about my navigation skills and increase my pace, a loud horn stops me in my tracks. “Jesus.” I clutch my chest from the shock.
“Hop in.”
Hesitantly, I lean on the side of the car, peering into the open window. Damn. Kipton looks delicious with his aviators on. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Well, you wouldn’t stop long enough to get into my car. So here I am.” No shit.
“If I get in, are you going to yell at me?”
“Nope. I’m only taking your pretty little behind back where it belongs.” Every ounce of anger inside of me dissipates from the sight of his smile alone.
“You sure do know how to charm a lady, Kipton.” I open the door to his car and slide inside.
“Where to my lady?” he jokes.
I laugh even though I don’t want to. “Very funny.”
“Well you seem to know the lay of the land around here so well.” I punch him in the arm for mocking me. “Ouch!” He pulls a U-turn and purposely makes a big show about going in the correct direction back to my room. Point made, Kipton.
“Thanks for the lift.” And I am thankful I don’t have to worry about missing class. I’ll even have enough time to take a quick shower before I leave.
“You want to get some lunch?” He glances at me before driving through the next intersection.
“Na. I’m good. I had some granola before my run.”
“That’s it?”
“It was plenty.”
“Chicks,” he says shaking his head. “Well, I could eat a house so I’m going to get something before class. You have any plans tonight?”
“Nothing other than my usual school work.”
“Tonight’s the monthly under the stars on the football field. They play a movie on the big screen in the end zone. You want to go with me?”
“Like on a date?” I blurt out.
“Yeah, a date. Would that be okay with you?” He reaches over and squeezes my thigh.
I push my body into the seat, digging my feet into the floor mat to get a grip on reality. A date with Kipton. Maybe Cara wasn’t talking complete nonsense last night. “I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight then.” He stops the car next to the sidewalk and leaves it running. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I chance a peek at him before I leave. “Okay. Thanks for the ride.” I climb out of the bucket seat and he coughs suddenly but regains his composure when I look at him wearily. Plastering a panty-melting smile on his handsome face, he’s as cool as can be. “Anytime, beautiful.”
I CHOKE ON MY OWN spit as Sophie gets out of the car. Her ass looks so damn hot in her skin tight spandex pants. I think their called yoga pants or some shit. I wait until she’s inside the building before I pull away so I can enjoy each retreating step she takes. It’s going to take every ounce of willpower in my reserves to keep my hands from smothering her body the second I’m with her tonight. She’s agreed to a date and I’m not about to screw it up.
After stopping in to see Momma June at the diner, I return to the house with a take-out bag filled with enough food to feed half the house. Thankfully, a few of my roommates are back from morning classes and grab the bag out of my hands before I’m entirely through the front door. As I sink my teeth into my own burger, my phone rings. “Talk to me,” I say around a mouth full.
“Hey, Kipton?”
“Yeah, who’s this?”
“It’s Drew, from Johnson Hall.”
“I know who you are and I know where to find you.” How could I forget about walking in on his naked ass? I drop my burger onto the paper wrapper, shuttering at the memory. Not much turns my stomach, but naked male ass cracks having sex with my sister are definitely are on the list.
“I didn’t think you’d forget. I got your number from Cara’s paperwork, I hope that’s okay. Anyway, I was hoping you could stop by the next time you come to see your sister. You know, so we could talk. Things got a little awkward the other night.” I give him props. He doesn’t sound the least bit nervous about approaching me even after I found him on top of my sister.
I’m curious about what he wants to discuss, so I take the bait. “Tonight should work. I’m picking up Sophie at eight. Does seven thirty work for you?”
“Yeah, man. It does.”
“See you then.” I’ll hear him out, but I’ll never be comfortable with the idea of him screwing my sister if that’s what he’s looking for. He’s lucky I’m a patient man.
After finishing my lunch I debate texting Sophie, but I don’t want to come on too strong too fast. Instead, I busy myself on the Internet, looking up the hours of The Perfect Petal flower shop. I have no idea if she’s a flower girl, but usually chicks appreciate the sentiment. Somehow I end up on an edible fruit arrangement page, but toss that idea out the window. With my next class looming, I decide to think about my options during class. Considering it has nothing to do with my major, I’m sure I’ll be bored out of my mind. I needed one more second level science requirement to graduate. Since I’m not into dissecting any creatures in biology or worrying about elements on the periodic table in chemistry that left me with the stars. How bad can astronomy be?
Looking around for an empty seat at one of the tables in the back of the room, I spot a blonde in the right corner, texting on her phone. Upon closer inspection, I discover this is by far the best class I’ve ever taken. The seat next to her has my name written all over it.
Sneaking up behind her, I cover her eyes with my hand. “Guess who?” I whisper.
Clawing at my hands, she spins around with fear written all over her face. She softens once she realizes it’s only me. “What are you doing in here?” she questions. Her eyes dart around the room as the other students stare at us. Let’em look.
I toss my book bag onto the table and sit down. “I’m here for class. Same as you.”
“You’re taking astronomy?”
“Yeah, why’s that so hard to believe?” I pull out my notebook and await her answer. This should be good.
“It isn’t, I guess. But I didn’t peg you for a star gazer.”
I lean closer to her. “We do have a date tonight you know. Under the stars.” She blushes and nervously looks down at the table. She leans over and digs into her book bag, for what I’m not sure. Her face is on fire and she doesn’t want me to see.
I wrap my fingers around her arm and pull her into an upright positon while using my foot to scoot her chair closer to mine. “Look at me, Sophie.”
She stares down at my foot controlling her movement. Although cautious, she finally looks at me without shying away.
“Don’t be nervous around me, okay? Be Sophie. Say whatever you want whenever you want. Can you do that?”
“I can try,” she responds while chewing on the end of her pen. I reach up to her nose and tap the end because I love the way she scrunches up her face each time I do it. If she wasn’t already adorable enough, this assures it.
We don’t get to discuss anything else with the professor taking his place in front of the whiteboard to begin class. The first thing he covers are lab partners. Luckily, it’s the person seated next to us. That worked out perfectly if I do say so myself.
The first hour of class passes quickly with little nudges and scribbled notes to Sophie on pieces of paper. A few times she had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing at the ridiculous conversation.