Trey is by the bar and waves me over. “What’s up, bro?” He claps me on the back and hands me a beer.
“Thanks.” I tip it back and take a healthy swallow. We carry our beers over to the rest of our team and frat brothers that are here tonight. Sluggers has been our go-to bar since my buddies and me all turned twenty-one over the course of the last six months. “Nothing, just fucking stoked about our win today.”
Today we played USC and won 3-2. I scored two of those goals and one with a minute left on the clock. We’re playing better than ever and just gelling as a team.
“Hell yeah. It’s been a good season so far. It’s too bad our dads couldn’t stay longer.”
My dad and Trent, Trey’s dad, came down together to watch us play today. They’ve always been on the sideline or coaching us through the years. My mom is sick, so she stayed home with Bree and Pixy watching over her.
“Yeah, but you know my dad. He rushed back to take care of Mom.”
Growing up I had a front row seat to all that was Chance and Aubrey Bateman. They had their little pet names for each other and were always affectionate in front of me and my sister. They’d whisper to each other, and then my mom would giggle like a schoolgirl.
Even after twenty-two years together they still look at each other with googily eyes. I’ll never complain, though, because most of my friends’ parents are divorced.
With our beers in hand, we make our way over to the rest of our group. I’m ready to cut loose and get laid.
The music is pumping through the bar, there are women everywhere, and I’m feeling good. The two girls from earlier came to hang out with me for a bit then disappeared with their friends.
I glance around the bar, looking at some of the beautiful women who are here tonight. I stop at a table by the door. It’s her, the girl from the bookstore. I hand Trey my beer. “I’ll be right back.” I walk around the bar and take her in as I approach.
At first glance she looks young, but I think that’s just her petite stature. Her eyes are so fucking mesmerizing; the blue is so light. Those lips look fucking kissable, and I want to drag my finger down the little split she has in her lower lip.
She looks up as I approach. At first she’s smiling, but she quickly realizes it’s me because it disappears.
“Hey, bookstore girl.” I give her a smile.
She turns toward me and crosses her arms over her chest. “Hello, parking spot thief.”
“What’s your name?” I don’t want to refer to her as bookstore girl. “I’m Chance.”
I surprise her by holding out my hand. I cock my brow as she rolls her eyes and blows out an annoyed breath, dismissing my offered hand. Taking the hint and a blow to the ego, I relax my hand as she finally slips her delicate fingers around mine; it takes all of my power to ignore the warmth that spreads up my arm.
“I’m L-laken Morris.” She tries to pull her hand from mine, but I hold tight.
Is she feeling what I am right now? This is fucking strange. “Let me buy you a drink. It can be my apology for taking your parking spot.”
Laken—fuck, that’s a pretty name—shakes her head. “You don’t need to buy me a drink. You’re forgiven.”
I’m a little disappointed, but I don’t want to come off as some pushy asshole. “Okay, fine, but I’m right over there”—I signal to where Trey and some of the other guys are standing—“if you change your mind.”
On my way back to the bar, I look over my shoulder and find her watching me. It gives me a little thrill to know there’s some interest.
“Who was that?” Trey asks as he hands me my beer bottle.
I look toward her table and see she’s gone now. “She was no one. Just a girl I met right before classes started.”
***
I decide to eat lunch at Chipotle instead of trying to make it back to my apartment and then back to campus in time for my next class. The food isn’t terrible; the cafeteria is noisy, and honestly, I’m loving the peace and quiet of my own place.
The restaurant is right on campus, so I step inside and get in line. I know what I want, so while I wait to order I glance around the restaurant. It’s been two weeks since the night at Sluggers, and I’ve been seeing Laken everywhere.
I’ve seen her at the library, running around the track in little booty shorts and a sports bra that my dick has certainly appreciated. She’s got soft curves that my hands ache to touch.
Twice I’ve woken up hard as a rock and have had to jerk off—all while conjuring up some amazing fantasies about Laken. She looks to be reading on a Kindle; my mom and sister both have one glued to their hands.
When it’s my turn to order, I order my usual chicken burrito and grab a bottle of water out of the little cooler. Once I pay, I grab my food and weave my way through the tables until I sit right across from Laken.
“This seat’s… Oh, it’s you.”
I place my hand over my heart. “I’m gonna try to not take any offence to that.”
Her cheeks turn an adorable shade of deep pink. “Ugh … sorry, that wasn’t very nice. How are you, Chance?”
I love the way my name sounds coming from her lips. “I’m good, Laken.” We both eat in silence for a few minutes, but then I want to know more about her. “So what’s your major?”
“Nutritional science.” She shrugs. “Not super exciting, I
