Page 42 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Shelby

“Dani,” I whisper, sitting up as the sound outside sharpens in my ears. Soft footfalls press into the dirt—hesitant, distant, but distinct. My pulse quickens. “Dani,” I whisper again, urgency creeping into my voice.

“Yeah?” she mumbles, still tangled in sleep.

Then I see him. A figure beyond the campsite, just past the trees, standing. Watching.

“There’s someone outside our tent,” I say, panic threading through my words.

She stirs, sitting up. “What?” Sleep lingers in her voice, but her eyes sharpen as they follow my gaze.

“Over there.” I point.

Her eyes narrow as she spots him through the netted window. “What is he doing?” she asks, her voice lower now, more alert.

“I don’t know, but it’s freaking me out. I’m calling Christian.”

“Yeah, definitely.” She shifts to her knees, inching closer to get a better look.

I reach for my phone and call Christian; we both hear his phone ring in the neighboring tent .

“What’s wrong?”

Whispering, I say, “There is someone outside walking around and it’s creeping Dani and me out.”

“I’m on my way,” is all he replies as the line goes dead. We both hear his tent unzip and a muffled exchange between him and Randy. I unzip our doorway and feel relief when Christian crawls into our tent. “I couldn’t see anyone.”

Dani shifts, glancing back out the window. Her brows knit together. “He’s not there anymore, but there was definitely someone out there.”

Christian exits the tent as both him and Randy do a quick walk around the campsite, then return. “Well, there is no one there now,” Christian says, shooting us a sympathetic look. He turns to look back at Randy. “I’ll stay with Shelby. Dani, go sleep in my bed.”

Dani nods in agreement and she crawls to the exit and passes Christian as he moves farther into our tent. He watches Dani and Randy return to the tent, making sure they are safe before zipping up our tent.

“You okay?” he says, crawling over to me.

I nod, still rattled and not trusting my voice to speak.

He slides Dani’s mattress beside mine as I unzip the sleeping bags, laying one on the bottom and one above us. Christian moves to spoon me, wrapping his strong, muscular arms around me, and instantly, I feel safe. “Go back to sleep, baby, I won’t let anyone hurt you. ”

I press a kiss to his hand clenched against my chest and exhale a breath of relief. Christian is my hero, my protector, and that thought brings me so much peace.