Page 5 of Matched (LSU #5)

F orty minutes left, and then I could leave the library. My shift was dragging today. Maybe because I was waiting for a certain call.

A call that, if it came, would be thanks to Nate.

What a weird evening that had been. Weird…

but it had turned out to be a lot of fun, too.

Despite the initial mix-up, it had been worth it.

I had a potential new friend for the rest of the semester until Nate left LSU, he had a gorgeous sister whom I might be able to swing an intro with, and I had a potential new job in the works.

Speaking of the job…that was the call I was waiting for.

Less than half an hour after I’d filled in the online application for the student union, I’d received a call and had a phone interview there and then.

Now, I was waiting to hear back from them with confirmation that the job was mine—hopefully.

They’d wanted to check references from my previous pub job before officially offering it to me, and I couldn’t envision there being a problem with that.

My phone screen lit up, and I snatched it up, only to find Nate’s name appear. Scanning the message, I bit down on my lip as my brain replayed the highlights from our “date”. Was it worth giving it another go?

Nate:

Passing on a message from Jonas. He said he thinks he’s fixed the algorithm so please can you give it another try

Me:

Hmm what’s it worth?

Nate:

It’s his final grade and he’s been working really hard on this project. I’d tell him to fuck off if I didn’t know how important it was for him

Me:

Oh I see, thought you’d guilt trip me. I’ll do it but I’d better have double the chances of winning that SU credit

Nate:

I’ll sort it

Me:

The least you could do for your date

Nate:

Fingers crossed the next date goes to plan and we get to meet someone we like

Me:

I don’t know whether to feel offended by that comment, mugger

Nate:

I don’t know whether to feel upset about you calling me a mugger AGAIN. You know I didn’t mean it like that

An incoming call from a local number appeared on the screen, and I quickly swiped to answer, ducking into the stacks so I was out of sight of the librarian. I doubted she’d appreciate me taking personal calls when I was supposed to be working.

Five minutes later, I ended the call, a huge grin on my face. Navigating back to my chat with Nate, I tapped out a message.

Me:

Just heard from the student union. I got the job! Pass on my thanks to your housemate

Nate:

Congratulations! Knew you’d do it!

Me:

Does this mean I get to meet the infamous Jonas?

Nate:

If you’re doing the same shifts, yeah. Watch out for him

Joking. He’s a good guy

Me:

Good. Better go, I’m at work at the library. Good luck with your next date

Nate:

You too

I made my way back to the side of the room where I’d left my cart and wheeled it back to the front desk to stack it with books to refill the shelves.

“You seem suspiciously happy,” my boss commented, raising a brow at me.

“I’m always happy, Mrs. H. What could be better? I get to work at the best place on campus and have the pleasure of your company.”

“Hmmm.” She tilted her head down, eyeing me over the top of her hot-pink-framed glasses. “Don’t think your flattery will get you anywhere with me, Mr. Brooks. Now, what is it? A young lady?”

“For fu—I mean, for flip’s sake. I swear you librarians are worse gossips than my sister. If you must know, I got another job. Don’t worry, it won’t interfere with this one. It’s just pulling pints at the student union a couple of times a week.”

“Gossips.” She tutted. “In that case, congratulations are in order. Why don’t you leave early just this once? Go and celebrate.”

I stared at her. “Seriously?”

Her cheeks dimpled as the corners of her mouth lifted. She made a shooing motion with her hands. “Go on. Get out of here. You only have half an hour left, and the library is quiet. I’m sure we can manage without you just this once.”

“Thank you, Mrs. H. You’re the best,” I said, swooping down to kiss her cheek in a move that took us both by surprise. My face heated, and I cursed myself under my breath. “Uh, sorry about that. I got carried away with all the excitement. See you in a few days!”

I legged it out of the library before she could change her mind.

“What’s up?” My housemate Levi threw himself onto the sofa next to me and immediately began scrolling through his phone.

“Nothing much. Just got back from my shift at the library. You? Is Asher coming to stay this weekend?”

He shook his head. “No, he’s got an away match, but I’m gonna go and see him tonight.” Tapping at his screen, he flicked his gaze to mine before returning it to his phone. “You seem happy.”

Why was everyone commenting on my happiness today? “What do you mean? I’m always happy. Aren’t I?”

“Yeah…” He shrugged. “Happier than usual, then.”

I nodded. “Could be because I got a part-time job at the student union.”

“Yeah?” Levi put down his phone and turned to grin at me. “We should celebrate.”

Levi was…rich. Or his parents were, at least, and if I didn’t know him so well, I probably would’ve kept my news to myself.

But although he didn’t have to worry about money, he wasn’t the type to flash his cash around.

I mean, he was living in a shared house with four other students when he could probably quite easily afford a place of his own.

And I knew his boyfriend was in a similar income bracket to me, so…

yeah, Levi understood why getting a job serving lukewarm beer to drunk students was something to be celebrated.

“Okay. If you have time, let’s celebrate. I get a discount at the student union now that I officially work there. Want to go for a quick pint before you have to meet Asher?”

He glanced at his watch. “Yeah. I have a couple of hours before I need to leave, anyway.”

“Okay. Let me see if anyone else is around, then we can go.”

Surprisingly, all of my housemates were home, and all of them wanted to come and celebrate. We ended up commandeering a table in the corner of the student union, and as I raised the pint of beer Ander had bought for me, I smiled.

“Thanks for coming to celebrate with me. I know it’s not a big deal to you?—”

“Fuck that. It’s a big deal. You got the job you wanted, and we get to use your discount.” Ander flashed me a quick grin. “Seriously, though. You wanted another job, and this one’s ideal. Close to our house, good hours, and decent pay. What could be better?”

“To be on the football team.”

Fuck. I clamped my mouth shut immediately, but the words were already out, and based on the looks on my housemates’ faces, everyone had heard them.

I couldn’t remember ever saying aloud that I wanted to be on the team…

except to Nate, and I wasn’t even sure why I’d told him.

Maybe it had been easier to talk to him because he didn’t know me.

But I could turn this around. Clearing my throat, I tried again.

“I mean, uh, for my uni project. I have to compare different training methods in different sports. Mani—a guy on my course—set me up with the rugby team to watch some of their training sessions, and I’ve already watched the hockey team training. I thought…uh…I should add football?”

Ander and Levi exchanged glances, and then Ander nodded. “Let me speak to Travis. No promises yet, so keep it to yourself for now, but I think we can do one better. Instead of just watching the team train, why don’t you train with us?”