Page 22 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)
Five minutes! That’s how long I have stared at my computer, then paced back and forth in my room waiting for him to message back.
Crap, he’s not really on his way, is he ?
I walk to the dresser mirror, quickly running a brush through my hair and cleaning our room just as someone knocks on the door.
Taking a deep breath as I approach the door, I open it slowly, like there could possibly be a rogue tiger—or velociraptor—on the other side.
He stands there in my doorway, all six foot something of him, and I’ve never seen a doorway look so small.
Yep, not a tiger, just an actual Raptor—geez.
He’s wearing blue shorts and a black shirt.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” I say, taking in the sight in front of me.
He uses his thumb and points down the hall. “Just so you know, you don’t live in that room next door, I checked.”
I laugh and shake my head at him, and it eases some of the shock of him being at my door. “No. That’s not my room.”
“Dani said four doors down.” He grumbles. “I think the two girls in that room were a little surprised to have me knock on their door.”
“I bet.” My eyebrows nearly meet my hairline, thinking of the surprise they would have got at the most popular guy on campus knocking on their freshman door. I’m having similar feelings right now. “What did you say to them?”
“Well, I was a little thrown off, but I can handle pressure, so I said ‘Hi’, welcomed them to the university, and told them I have a few more doors to knock on and people to welcome.”
I laugh at that. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. I think they bought it.”
“A Raptors football player randomly knocking on their door and welcoming them to the university. I bet they were surprised.”
“I had to think on my feet.” He looks back down the hallway. “They’re both kind of still staring at me...”
I stick my head out of the doorway and sure enough, two heads are sticking out, looking at Christian in disbelief.
“Can I come in?”
“Oh, sure,” I say, making room for him to enter.
“So, have I missed any good parts? I love this movie.” Kicking his shoes off, he throws himself down on the bed, stretches his legs out, and crosses his ankles.
He rests his back against the headboard and pats the spot beside him.
“Small bed, but I’m sure we will fit. Takes me back to those freshman days. ”
“Umm, so yeah, make yourself at home,” I say, a bemused expression on my face.
Looking at Christian sprawled out on my bed is a sight to behold.
It takes a lot of restraint not to ogle how perfect he looks.
His shirt has risen slightly from when he fell against the headboard, and I can see a glimpse of a razor-sharp V sticking out from above his loose shorts.
I make a conscious effort to make eye contact and not let my eyes drift back down his hard body.
“Yum, gummy bears?”
I laugh. “Are you always this forward?”
“What? You invited me!” he counters.
I pop my hip. “No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. I asked what we were watching, and you said Jurassic Park ,” he says, throwing a green gummy bear in his mouth.
“That wasn’t an invite,” I say, trying not to get distracted by how cut his jaw is when he chews. I’m also trying to act annoyed, but not one part of me is upset at the sight of him on my bed. My brain is snapshotting mental images like it’s in shutter mode, ten frames per second.
“Well, I totally don’t speak Australian because I thought it was. There must be some sort of breakdown from the cultural diversity here,” he explains.
I roll my eyes as I take the spot beside him.
Sitting down next to him in such a small bed, our bodies flush from hip to shoulder, I can feel the heat in his body.
By the end of this movie, I think my phone will be fully charged from the power he conducts, and I’ll be a puddle on the floor.
He puts the laptop on his thighs as we both shuffle around to fit on the single bed.
Thirty minutes into the movie, I catch him quietly studying my room. His gaze drifting over the walls, the shelves, the pieces of me I hadn’t realized were on display. “Nice calendar,” he says, gesturing with his head.
Looking at the calendar hanging on the wall over my desk, I smirk at the shirtless Australian firefighter leaning against a fire engine and cuddling a puppy. “Thanks, it’s the Australian Firefighters calendar. They make them every year to raise money for various charities.”
“Which charities?” he asks.
With a blank look I stare off into space. Slowly I shake my head and frown. “I have no idea…but I know it’s definitely for a good cause. I feel like I’m really taking one for the team by having that on my wall.”
He laughs. “Good to see you supporting a good unknown cause.”
Somehow, I manage to watch most of the movie with the occasional awkward glance at him. The way his jaw moves as he eats, the way his muscles in his arm bulge when he stretches and moves, mixed with the smell of his cologne, I have never had to pretend to watch a movie so hard in my life.
Just as the movie nears the end, my laptop starts ringing with a FaceTime call from my parents.
“Shit. Sorry,” I say in a panic as I quickly reach over him and remove my computer from his lap.
I move onto the floor and put the laptop on the bed so that Christian is positioned behind the screen.
Clicking on the green button, I answer it while giving Christian a sympathetic smile.
My dad’s face appears on the screen. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, my gorgeous girl. How are you going over there?” His voice is thick with the Australian accent, and after living in America for a little while, I notice it more every time.
“I’m good, just relaxing in my room watching a movie. I was going to ring you once it finished, but it looks like you beat me,” I rush out to say, realizing I need to calm the fudge down.
“Well, I missed my girl. House feels a little too quiet without you here fighting with your sister.”
“I’m sure you don’t miss that.”
“I’m actually surprised to say that I do. How are your classes going?”
“Classes are going well, there is so much reading, and I feel like I always have an assignment due.”
“And Letti and Travis?”
“They are both good. Letti is with Travis now; they were heading to the shops.”
My eyes flick up to Christian’s as he stares back at me with a cute smirk on his face, but I feel shaken and put on the spot.
“We can only say a quick hello, unfortunately; we are on our way out to meet your mom at the markets. She just left for church, but said she will ring you as soon as we get home. I miss you, my darling girl.”
“I miss you too.” And I feel my voice break. “Thanks for letting me know because I would have rung you soon. Love you, Dad.”
“Love you too.”
I regain my composure as my dad’s face steps away from the screen and my sister appears. Please, Kacey, don’t say anything embarrassing.
My face splits with a huge smile as soon as my sister appears onscreen. “Sister dearest, there you are. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, Kacey.”
“So how is it all going over there, meet any hot guys yet?”
I look toward Christian. “Not yet,” I say back.
I watch Christian grab at his heart from behind the screen, his mouth hanging open in horror at my words.
I try to hide my laugh and concentrate back on my sister, but when I see her face drop, I don’t have to try too hard.
“What?”
She sighs, then looks around the room to see if our dad is still in the room. “Jus... Justin sent you a bunch of flowers yesterday.”
Yep, that instantly has the happy demeanor falling from my face. I feel like I just got punched in the stomach, and it makes my eyes water almost instantly.
My sister’s face is distressed. “I’m so sorry, Shelby. So, so sorry, I hate telling you this, but I promised you that I would!”
“How is this still happening?” I whisper, my hands rubbing at my forehead in an attempt to shield my glassy eyes from Christian.
“Dad didn’t want me to tell you.”
“I need you to, Kacey. You can’t keep secrets from me! ”
“I know, I promised. Knowledge is power, remember, and you hold all the power now!” She hesitates, clearly frustrated. “Dad’s getting the police to talk to the florists in the area. They are going to get the florist to decline all orders and report it immediately to the authorities.”
I have more questions, but I don’t want Christian hearing this. “Okay.” I sigh. “Look, I better go,” I reply.
“I’m sorry I upset you, Shelby, but I thought you should know.”
“It’s okay, I’m okay. I love you, Kacey.”
“Love you, too, baby sis.” She blows me a kiss and I return it, then the screen goes black. Closing the laptop screen down, I lean back with the palms of my hands supporting me. I push what my sister said out of my mind because I refuse to let Justin bring me down.
I try to regain my composure, but it’s not convincing. “Yeah… so… that was my family.”
He nods but looks worried. “Are you okay?”
I nod but feel a tear slip loose and lean forward to quickly brush it away with my fingers as concern shoots across his brow.
He slides off my bed and down onto the floor in front of me. “Talk to me,” he tenderly says, reaching for my hand. I’m half in shock, half embarrassed, I can’t believe this is happening. My heart rate is rocketing, and I feel like I’m about to have a panic attack right here in front of Christian.
He gently rubs at my hand, and I take a couple of deep breaths. “I’m fine,” I nod.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He stares intensely at me, a slight frown of concern on his brow.
“You don’t want to know,” I sigh, holding back anymore tears that dare pass my lashes.
He raises his eyebrow, encouraging me to talk. “Try me.”
I’m not sure why, but I do want to tell him. I swallow and brush the hair that has fallen across my eyes away from my face. I look up into Christian’s understanding eyes and they encourage me to talk.