Page 90 of Quarterback Sneak

“You really don’t need—”

“I want to,” he says, cutting me off.

I give up trying to convince him otherwise. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you later.”

“I’ll walk you back in.”

He’s quiet as we walk around to the front of the shop. He opens the door and holds it for me. “Thanks.” Just before I head back up to the front, I turn back to Zane. “Thanks for being worried about me.” I leave him and get back to work. I keep him in my vision, even as I start making the drinks we’re backed up on. When he walks to the door a little bit later, his eyes meet mine for a moment. I smile at him, and it seems to throw him a bit. I wonder to myself if Zane isn’t a morning guy. For some reason, that makes me smile.

The time passes quickly, and I realize I need to get going or I’m going to be late. “Bisch, I’ve got to take off, or I’m going to be late.”

He waves me on. “Go. We’re good now. Thank you.”

I grab my bags from the back, not super happy at the prospect of lugging them all over campus. I’ll have to drop off my overnight bag at my dorm room after my first class, because I don’t have time now. I push open the door and nearly run over somebody. “Where’s the fire, Bennett?”

I look up to see Zane smiling down at me. “Sorry. I’m late.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Williams Building.”

He takes my bags from my shoulder and throws them over his own shoulder. “Let’s take my truck, so we can get you there faster.”

“You don’t have a class this hour?” I ask, glancing up at him.

“No. I have this hour free.”

I notice for the first time that he’s wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and he’s sweating. “Did you come from a practice?”

“No. I was just working out.”

He opens my door for me and throws my bags in the back. After starting the truck, he hands me two wrapped sandwiches. “One’s bacon, and one’s sausage. I didn’t know what kind you would like.”

“Bacon. Always bacon.”

His lips twitch. “Got it.” I unwrap the sandwich and take a small bite of the bagel sandwich. I turn to him in surprise. “Good right?”

I nod and swallow. “Really good.”

“They’re the best.”

I take another bite. “Thanks for this and for driving me.”

“It’s not a problem, Evie.”

“Well, thanks.” I take another bite. “So, when do you normally have practice?”

“It differs on the day, but usually a morning practice and an afternoon one.”

I turn to face him. “And you work out on your own, outside of practice?”

“Yeah.”

“No wonder you look like that.” The words are out of my mouth before I think about it.

Zane, of course, doesn’t miss a beat. “Like what?” He gives me that sexy smirk of his.

I roll my eyes. “You know.”