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Page 18 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Shelby

Half an hour later after meeting nearly every football player, we sit around an unlit firepit on white plastic chairs that have seen one too many parties.

Christian’s circle of friends seems close; they tease, laugh, and joke, but you can also see they would do anything for each other.

My phone beeps, pulling me from my thoughts and the conversations around me.

Letti: You, okay?

Me: Yes! Just outside with Christian.

Letti: OMG, need deets!! We are ready to go. You ready? I don’t blame you if you’re not.

I lean in toward Christian. “I better go. My friends are ready to leave.”

His eyes swing to mine. “I’ll walk you back,” he says without hesitation.

“It’s okay. You stay with your friends.”

He stands, extending his hand to me. “No, I want to walk you home. If that’s okay with you?”

I let him take my hand. “Sure.”

He nods his head toward Seth. Randy disappeared ten minutes ago with a pretty brunette. “Just walking Shelby home, be back soon.”

Seth doesn’t say anything, just gives a slight nod, and I give a quick wave to the group.

“I’ll just let Letti know,” I say, tapping at my phone.

Me: Christian said he would walk me back.

Letti: Ok, Travis has approved of that! I’ll see you back at the dorm. I’ll track you if you take too long. xx

After a few minutes saying goodbye, we walk down the street toward the dorms.

“Did you have a good night?” he asks, his hands in the pockets of his shorts.

“Yeah, it was fun. I feel like I got a great cardio workout in with all the dancing.” I glance to my side, watching him as he walks. God, he is hot! “So, are the parties usually that big?” I ask.

“Pretty much. The Halloween party will be bigger. They will shut down the whole street on frat row and every house is packed. Are you dressing up?”

“Yes, it’s my first-ever Halloween. Letti told me she would help me choose a costume.”

“Wow, your first? You never dressed up in Australia?”

“No, it wasn’t really a thing when I was a kid, but it’s getting bigger in Australia now.”

“Well, don’t worry, you will look good in anything. ”

I blush and look at him, taking in everything about him. The way he walks, his hair, and the stray pieces that fall across his forehead, those gray piercing eyes, and of course, that toned body.

He looks back at me with that cute grin. “So, what brings you all the way from Australia?”

I shrug, knowing I can’t tell him the real reason. I have a psychotic ex who stalked me, tried to rape me, and put me and my family in danger…you know, the usual.

“I needed a change of scenery, to get away and try something new.”

“And so far,” he wavers, “you like the change?”

“Yeah, I do, it is different.”

“Different how?”

“I guess just college life, the parties, the dorm rooms, living on campus, it’s all just a different experience and lifestyle here,” I shrug. “Lots of little differences as well”

“Like what?” he adds, keeping the conversation going.

“Simple things like fueling up a car for the first time. Letti and I borrowed Travis’s car to go shopping, and while she was on the phone I thought I would get the fuel, no wait—get the gas to pump.

Letti was yelling at me to go inside first. I quickly learned you have to pay first before they switch your pump on. Back home you pump first, then go pay.”

“Ha, I didn’t know that.”

“Well, I know now. Oh, and Vegemite, I miss Vegemite. It was weird going to the shops and not seeing it on the shelf. I looked, and it took me a few moments to realize my staple grocery item wouldn’t be there.”

He screws up his nose in response.

God, he is cute. “Have you tried it?”

“No, and nothing of what I have heard about it makes me want to try it.”

“It’s one of those things you have to grow up with.” I shrug. “My mom is mailing me some.”

We walk in silence for a while and I enjoy this moment, just me and him.

It’s surreal and I feel like I’m dreaming.

The moon is high in the sky as we make our way across the campus.

It’s so quiet and eerie with all the streetlamps lighting the pathways and everything else is set in darkness.

I would be freaking out if I had to walk this path by myself, and back home I wouldn’t have even attempted it.

But here, with Christian beside me, I’m feeling good, comfortable, and safe.

“So how are your classes going?” he asks.

“I’m loving it, it’s a lot of reading. I feel like it’s all I do is read, but I find the subjects really interesting even if the spelling and grammar is a big adjustment to back home.”

He smiles. “So, you should be sticking around for a while then?”

“So far, that’s the plan.” I gaze up at him and he seems happy with my answer. “So, Mr. Stone, what do you study when you’re not on the field or in the gym?”

“Education. The dream is to get drafted in the NFL, but if that doesn’t happen, I want to teach, specifically a physical education teacher and work with kids, and maybe also be a coach one day.”

“Sounds like a good dream.”

“Like most boys in America.”

“But yours is on the right path?”

He shrugs, trying to be modest. “It’s looking good.”

“I don’t really know about it all, but it sounds amazing,” I say as my dorm building comes into view, and I silently curse myself for not living another five miles away. “So, is your brother, okay?”

He lets out a shaky breath, and I question if I should have asked.

“Yes…no…I don’t know,” he says with a frustrated groan as he looks up at the stars.

Removing his hands from his pockets, he takes a deep breath like he’s unsure he should say anymore.

“He’s fine, he’s just a bit off track at the moment.

” He exhales, bringing his eyes back to me.

“He plays hockey with Travis. Got a scholarship and is really talented. He might even get some good game time this year. But lately he seems to be partying and drinking way too hard. So, my mom just wants me to keep an eye on him.”

“That’s no good; so, he is younger?”

“Freshman, like you.”

“Well, sounds like he has a good big brother.”

“Thanks,” he says as he stops at the bottom of the stairs to my dorm. “Well, there you go,” he gestures to my building. “Home safe and sound. ”

I look at my building, then turn back to him as I fiddle with my watch. “Thank you for walking me home. You played really well tonight,” I add—then hesitate. “Or at least, I think you did.” I frown, shifting my weight from foot to foot. “I don’t really know the rules yet.”

He laughs, taking a step toward me, and I crane my head to look into those incredible eyes. Just the two of us, all alone. “It’s not the easiest sport to learn, but you will get there.”

I take him in. “Well, thank you again.”

“It was my pleasure, Shelby.” We share an awkward silence as he stands there, the tension bathing us in warmth.

“So, I guess I’ll see you around?” he says, breaking the silence.

“I guess so.”

He leans down, giving me a kiss on the cheek, “Goodnight.”

“’Night.”

I turn to head inside, and only once I’m safely inside do I let the massive smile spread across my face.

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