Page 45 of From Drummer to Gamer

It was equal parts warm and electrifying.

“Here you go.” I handed him his drink, suppressing the shake in my hands when his fingers closed around it, brushing so close to mine.

Even his presence was electrifying.

“Thank you.” His eyes lit up as he slurped the coffee down.

He no longer brought it from the café. Instead, he waited till I woke up because he knew I was going to make him one anyway. I even stashed up homemade caramel sauce and chocolate syrup so I could make it in minutes.

It didn’t take me long to learn that Matty Evans had a sweet tooth.

I loved watching the subtle glow in his eyes when the sugar hit his mouth. It made me want to bake every recipe I’d ever known and learn more just so I could catch that look in his eyes.

“When do your classes start?” Matty finally set his drink aside, which was already half done.

Fuck, the classes. I hadn’t even thought of it. Did he pick up on the fact that I was too untamed for pre-med?

“Today,” I blurted. I was going to the gaming café, so I could probably write it off as my classes.

“Okay.”

Thankfully, he didn’t question me after that. He gave me one of his signature nods and left the kitchen.

I forced air back into my lungs. If he found out the truth, Matty, being the responsible adult, would let my parents know, which would be the grave I dug for myself.

Placing the rest of his coffee in the fridge, I made him a plate of French toast with lots of caramel sauce. I left a note on the lid, knowing he was in the shower and it would take a while.

Hmm, shower.

Matty Evans in the shower would probably be a vision to behold, way better than the posters in my room. I wondered how the water would roll down the hard ridges of his pecs. Would they be smooth rivulets gliding along the curves of his muscles, or would they collect together in a steady, streaming flow caressing his skin?

A shiver wracked through me at my wicked thoughts.

Tone it down, Sierra, you’re not here for that.

“Thank you for the breakfast. It was incredible,” Matty said with a polite nod just as I entered the kitchen, freshly showered, donning my usual hoodie but paired it with my soft-washed blue jeans instead of my shorts.

“You’re welcome.” I smiled, grabbing a bottle of water, a can of Coke, and the last of my Cheetos and chucked them in my small backpack. I needed all the energy I could get for the hours I would spend grinding today.

“Did you not eat breakfast?”

“I grabbed a few bites while I made yours.”

“You should eat some real food. That…” He pointed a wary finger at my bag. “Is probably not all that healthy for you,” he said, tugging the sleeves of his light gray pullover.

“I know,” I mumbled, heat blooming my cheeks. My mother would probably strangle me with her eyes for self-inducing a stomach ulcer. But I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t game or survive without Cheetos. I should probably cut down the intake after the tournament and get on a diet.

“I’m not saying you should quit. We all have our vices. It would be good if you took some vegetables with it,” he explained like he was talking to a child, and I hated it.

I wanted him to see me as an equal, a fully grown woman rather than a silly teenager. But then, could I blame him with the way I’d been acting around him? He was never going to see me like that, was he? I didn’t know why, but that thought suddenly made me sad.

“When will you be back?”

“Around five probably.”

“I’ll get you something healthy for dinner, so you can still have your Cheetos.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later then,” I mumbled as I left.