Page 38 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Shelby

Friday morning Travis pulls his Jeep into the driveway.

Christian’s and Randy’s trucks are neatly parked on the freshly mowed grass, already full of camping gear.

Seth kneels on the driveway, polishing a sleek-looking motorcycle.

The bike is large, all black, immaculate, and screams badass, just like him .

He stands as we get out of the car, wearing black torn jeans and a black sleeveless shirt.

The shirt has massive arm holes, and it shows off his heavily tattooed side obliques.

Throwing a cloth toward a bucket, I smile in greeting as I walk over to him, he really is something.

Randy has been so easy to talk to, Seth on the other hand is a hard egg to crack, and I’m hoping this camping trip will give me a chance to get to know him a little better.

Christian’s friends are important to him, so I want to have a good relationship with them.

“Is that yours?” I ask, taking in the piece of machinery in front of him.

“I wouldn’t be washing it if it wasn’t.”

I internally cringe. Way to break the ice with Christian’s friends…ask stupid questions . “True. Hot bike, what is she?”

“It’s a Harley Davidson Breakout.”

“Very sexy,” I reply as I admire the sleek form of machinery. His bike is wickedly dangerous, just like him. I smile, heading back to the cars as I pass Dani on the way. She jogs over to Seth, wrapping him in a bear hug as they exchange words with each other.

He’s so much more relaxed with her, probably because she is like a little sister and doesn’t ask him stupid questions. Why the fuck would he be washing someone else’s bike!

The screen door slams shut as Walsh walks out, a duffle bag slung over one shoulder.

“Dani, if you can just drape yourself over him until we leave, that would be great.” Walsh points at a group of giggling girls walking past. “That is the seventh group of girls to walk past our house since he came out here to wash that bike.”

He shrugs, looking down at Dani. “They didn’t all just walk past. I got a number from one of them.” He winks at her.

Walsh slings his bag into the back of Randy’s truck as a mischievous grin crosses Dani’s face. “You lady slayer,” she says, reaching to grasp his rugged jaw. “Look at this face, you just can’t help it, can you?”

He lifts his head and gives her a smile as her fingers drop from his chin, an unshaven shadow across his chiseled jaw.

He shrugs off the attention. “Do you guys need help?” he asks as he packs away his cleaning products into a bucket.

Dani nods, slapping him on the chest. “So, you’re setting her loose this weekend?” she asks as they cross the lawn to Travis’s car.

Seth grabs a tent out of the back of Travis’s car, carrying it over to Randy’s truck. “Yeah, I’m taking her.” He looks back at his bike. “Feels like I haven’t taken her for a long ride in ages,” he says. It sits there looking pristine, sparkling in the sun, his irrefutable pride and joy.

“Do you think I could ride with you?” Dani asks.

It surprises me that she would ask. I wouldn’t think Christian would approve of that.

“If your brother doesn’t mind, I don’t,” he replies.

My head turns when I hear Letti and Travis laughing as yet another group of girls walk past the house.

The front door opens and out strolls Christian and Randy, each carrying a cooler.

Christian holds his body rigid, still slightly pained when he walks, but he doesn’t show it.

A grin spreads across his face when his eyes fall on me.

“Hi,” I say to them both as I walk between the trucks.

“Hey, you’re here,” Christian says.

I walk toward Christian, who places the cooler on the ground in front of him, wrapping me in a slow hug and kissing me in the most tender of ways. His chest isn’t wrapped, but he’s far from healed.

“How are you feeling?” I ask him. We haven’t seen each other since I left mid-morning yesterday. I had an afternoon class and a late-night study group.

“Sore but looking forward to getting away with you.”

“I feel like shit, Shelby. Thanks for asking,” Randy replies. He reaches down to Christian’s cooler and places it in the back, sliding it into place. “I still can’t believe we lost, that’s not ever going to happen again.”

“I put your alcohol in the coolers,” Christian says. Oh, the joys of coming to America before you are twenty-one and not being able to buy alcohol for myself like I used to.

“Thank you, and just so you know, we call them Eskies in Australia. Also, we call these,” I say, pointing to Christian and Randy’s trucks. “Utes. So, if I refer to them as that, you will know what I’m talking about,” I say, looking at Christian.

“And did you bring your thongs,” Letti shouts from the other side of the car.

Christian and Randy just stare back at me in question.

I point to my feet. “Thongs.”

“Damn,” Randy mutters, shaking his head in obvious disappointment of what he knows a thong to be.

“I’m going to ride with Seth,” Dani tells Christian as she places her Victoria’s Secret pink and white striped duffle bag in the back of his truck. Christian releases me and looks toward Seth. Wasn’t really a question, more of a demand, and I wait for Christian’s reaction to that .

“As long as Seth is cool with that.”

“Yep,” she replies. “He’s fine with it. I already asked him.”

“Okay,” he says back to his sister, then looks at Seth to make sure he is actually fine with those arrangements.

He nods.

Wow! No argument…he must really trust Seth with her.

“We ready?” Randy yells as he claps his hands. “Ladies,” he says, signaling to a group of girls walking past the house.

They smile, wave, and keep walking and whispering among themselves.

“Yep, where should I sit,” I ask, directing my question toward Christian. He pulls me in for a kiss. “You can sit up front with me. Travis and Letti can go in the back?”

“Suits us,” Letti says, making her way over to the back door of Christian’s truck.

I look over at Dani who is sitting on Seth’s bike, her chin raised as Seth helps her fasten her helmet.

Those two are going to get some looks. The hot bad boy covered in tattoos, and the supermodel on the back of his Harley Davidson.

With a roar, Seth’s bike comes to life, so smooth and loud it has everyone’s head turning.

Randy and Walsh lead the way out of the driveway, followed by Christian’s truck, and Seth and Dani bringing up the rear.

After an hour of driving, we approach the sign for the national park, and with Christian sitting next to me, the drive went way too fast. Never have any of my hour-long classes gone by that quickly.

The park is so peaceful, lush, and green. The air seems cleaner, and I feel instantly calmer. Mountain peaks surround us in the distance, and I already know I’m coming back here. “Oh, squirrel,” I yell, pointing out my window.

I feel everyone’s eyes on me and hear Letti giggle behind me. Christian is nice enough not to laugh but gives me a closed-lip smile and a I’m happy it makes you happy head nod.

“Screw you guys,” I laugh. “I’ve never seen one before.

” Turning back to gaze out the window, not the least bit embarrassed by my outburst, I grab my phone and take some photos.

Let’s see their reaction to the first time they see a kangaroo or koala, I’m certain they would point it out and want a photo.

Seth overtook us on the highway and leads the way down the dirt road, directing his bike to the right and into a small campsite.

“You really trust Seth with Dani, don’t you?” I ask, watching as he steers the bike with confidence. Dani sits slightly higher on the second seat, her long legs level with Seth’s waist, while her hands rest around his sides.

“With my life,” he says without hesitation. “Randy and Walsh too,” he adds as Seth comes to a stop at the campsite and we pull up near them.

“I need to pee so bad,” Letti says, jumping out of the car with a burst of energy. Seth allows Dani to hop off first, holding out his hand so she can use it for balance. She adjusts her jeans and stretches her legs as Seth starts undoing her helmet strap.

“Is there anything between them?” I ask, taking in how natural they look together.

Christian looks at me. “Nah, they’re just friends,” he says, putting on his Raptors blue and silver cap.

“I’m pretty sure Seth gave his heart away years ago.

” He looks over at his sister who stands twisting her shoulders from side to side while laughing at something Seth says.

“They all think of her as a little sister. Randy has known her since she was a kid, and Seth met her when she was sixteen. It wasn’t long after his kid sister, who was also sixteen, had died.

I think there is a part of Heather that he sees in Dani, so sometimes I think he is more protective of her then me. ”

I hold my hand over my heart. “Oh my God, that’s terrible. What happened?” The thought of losing my sister is one that I can’t even grasp. Devastated wouldn’t even begin to describe the pain and loss.

“Car accident. It happened around Thanksgiving,” he adds.

I shake my head in disbelief as I watch him place his helmet on the bike’s seat. Poor Seth.

“It’s why I know he will never let anything happen to her,” he says with a confident look to lighten the mood.

“I trust my friends with my sister, I know that’s a line they wouldn’t cross.

Plus, I think she likes that dipshit, Lucas,” he says, opening the car door in disgust at uttering Lucas’s name.

“From what Dani has told me, he actually seems to be really lovely,” I say as I close my door. We both walk to the back of the truck, and I watch Christian from over the tray.

“He is trying to get with my sister so that makes him public enemy number one,” he says as I watch him open the tailgate.

Reaching in, I pull out some bags. “Newsflash, your sister is gorgeous, half the guys on campus are trying to get with her. Might as well be a nice guy she chooses; plus, they’ve probably already had sex.

” In fact, I know they have, and I know Dani wouldn’t care if I told Christian this.

She believes that the more they know the better, and the less uptight they will be.

No more innocent girl needing protection, just a woman making her own choices in life.

Boys have sex. Girls have sex. No difference.

No judgment. No discrimination. All equal.

He shoots me with a pointed look, and I can’t help but laugh at his reaction. “Okay, next subject.”

I take the bags over to where the guys are standing as they look over the site.

There are a few other campsites nearby, but we are far enough away so that we won’t disturb others with our music.

The boys point out the best place for me and Dani to set up our tent, the price tag still hanging off it.

We start to pull out parts from the bag, finding the instructions.

Dani and I do surprisingly well, and have the bright red tent assembled rather quickly.

Throwing my bag and sleeping bag into the tent, I realize that I’m proud of our little home for the night .

“Wow, I was going to help you, but it looks like you didn’t need it,” Christian says, coming over to stand beside me. He pokes his head inside the tent and has a quick look around.

“Yep, let’s just hope it doesn’t collapse in the middle of the night,” I say, putting my hands on my hips and stretching my back.

I squint my eyes to shield them from the midday sun, then look around at the clear blue sky and shady green trees.

It’s gorgeous out here as I watch our friends work together to set up our little camping area.

“Well, if it does, I’ll let you crawl into my tent,” he whispers in my ear, and goosebumps bloom across my skin at the thought. God, he’s so ridiculously cute, sharing a tent would suit me just fine. Maybe I’ll have to fake a collapse, just to sneak into his.

“Gee, thanks…how chivalrous of you,” I say, staring up at him.

His arms wrap around me. “You’re welcome!” He smirks. “This is going to be torture for me! You know that, right? Having you sleeping so close to me…who planned this anyway?” he questions.

“Dani had to share with someone, and I was the only one here she wanted to share with.”

He pulls me closer and proceeds to devour me in an all-consuming kiss, his tongue and mine toying with each other. When we pull apart, we are all smiles. “You want to come for a walk with me to get some firewood?”

I nod. “Sure.”

I take a deep breath as I step away from him. This place is relaxing and everything I wanted when I embraced coming to a new country, a fresh start. “It’s so stunning out here, I love it.”

“I’ll have to bring you back another time then. Where you and I can share one tent.”

“Always thinking ahead, Christian…I would love that!”

Reaching the firewood cage, I hold out my arms as Christian piles a few logs into them.

Then stacks his own pile in his arms with double the amount.

Walking back to the camp, I see our new little group mingling around our campsite like they have known each other for years.

Travis and Walsh have the lights and music set up, the girls are handing out sandwiches and fruit to the guys.

Seth has placed chairs, tables, and the cooking gear around in a circle, the four tents look stable, and Randy is already talking to a girl from a neighboring campsite. Everything seems to be in order.

Christian nods his head toward Randy. “If he picks someone up, I’m bunking with you.”

“I doubt he’s going to bring a girl back to your tent.”

“Ha,” he laughs.

“What?” I slowly question, knowing I’m about to be told otherwise.

“He’s done it before.”

“Oh my God, he didn’t?”

He nods. “I was asleep, they woke me up and I had to lie there and pretend to be asleep, so I didn’t make the situation even more awkward.

” He laughs. “ Luckily, this was in high school, and it didn’t last long.

I don’t know why they thought having sex in a single sleeping bag on top of an air mattress could possibly ever be quiet. ”

The story makes me shake my head in laughter as we walk back into the campsite placing the logs around the firepit.

I absolutely love my newfound friend group.