Page 9 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)
“Lucky your girl booked a booth,” I say to Travis, pointing at the one vacant booth.
“She is pretty fabulous.”
We are shown to our booth as I slide into the seat across from Travis. The waitress takes our drink orders, then leaves in a rush to serve another table. “So how is studying going?” I ask.
He twists his green cap backward and leans forward, resting his arms on the table.
“It’s going well. I was worried making the decision to become a nurse would have me feeling differently about my career choice, but it has only cemented that it’s what I want to do.
I was worried I had seen one too many episodes of Scrubs , but now I know that I truly want to be in healthcare. ”
“That’s so good to hear. To have your future mapped out and to love and enjoy it must be such a relief. So, no talk of going into the NHL or anything?”
“Nah, I’m good; but I’m not that good. Merrick is the one to watch when it comes to the professional career.”
“He’s one of your best friends, isn’t he? I’m surprised I haven’t met him yet.”
“Yeah, he had some personal things going on, so he’s been busy with that. It’s rare for him to be off the ice, but don’t worry, you will meet him soon.”
We both stop our conversation as someone approaches our table.
My heart stalls in my chest and I remind myself to breathe as I look up and see Christian.
It’s the first time I have seen him up close in a short-sleeve shirt, giving me a look at his detailed, full-sleeve tattoo running down his right arm.
It looks amazing against his white Raptors shirt that’s pulled tight against his broad chest.
“Stone, man, how you are doing?” Travis says, standing up and extending his hand to Christian.
“Travis, I’m good, man. Thought I would come say hi, it’s been a while. Practice must be keeping you busy?” Christian says, shaking Travis’s hand. Travis and Christian are the same height standing next to each other.
“It’s brutal; Coach is killing us, making sure we are ready for our upcoming game.”
Letti mentioned how hard school athlete’s work; their training routines are intense. I have no idea how they manage it with their classes .
“Well, if you ever want to lose those lame skates and come and play a real man’s sport, just let me know,” Christian says with a smirk, placing his hand on Travis’ shoulder.
Travis just laughs. “Don’t be hating because we get all the hot women, Stone,” he says, taking a seat back in the booth and gesturing toward me. “Speaking of, have you met Shelby?”
He smiles down at me and I almost blush with how hot that smile is, and the way his vibrant gray eyes study me. “Yeah, we have met a time or two. How are you doing?”
I smile. “I’m good, thanks,” is all I can manage to get out over my nerves.
He links his fingers together as he begins to talk to me, as if Travis isn’t sitting right here with me. “I wanted to let you know that I came to look for you after I saw you at the party; clearly, I didn’t find you.”
I swallow a lump in my throat at the thought of him coming to look for me. “Oh.” I feel my cheeks heat.
He shifts one shoulder. “Yeah, I wanted to say hi.”
“Hey, I’m back,” Letti says, sliding to a stop beside Christian and smiling broadly at me.
Geez, Letti, play it subtle why don’t you .
“Hi, Christian,” she says in greeting, looking up to him.
“I take it this is the famous Letti?” he smiles back.
“Yes, Stone, you finally get to meet my girl. ”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, I’ve heard a lot about you. Good to put a face with a name.”
“Thank you, and it’s nice to finally meet you,” she beams, her eyes flicking toward me. I shoot her a pointed look back, my eyes begging her not to say anything embarrassing.
“Anyway, it looks like our food just arrived, so I better get back to my booth. I can’t trust any of them not to eat my dinner.” Gesturing to not only a full booth, but also a table that has been pushed beside the booth to accommodate the ten or so people chatting and eating.
Christian points toward Travis. “I’ll see you at your first game, but if you have time, we should catch up before then.”
“Yeah, man, sounds good,” Travis agrees.
“Keep an eye on that brother of mine.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
We say our goodbyes and I watch Christian slide back into his booth beside a girl who starts talking to him.
Seeing that shouldn’t bother me, but it does.
Dragging my eyes away from his table, I turn back to Letti and Travis who are in a deep conversation about which NHL teams will make the playoffs this year.
I have no idea what they are talking about, so I glance back over to his table and, like a deer in headlights, I freeze when I notice him staring right back at me.
His chin rests on his fist, and the right side of his lip creases up in a smile.
Busted . I shoot him a quick smile, then turn my gaze back to Letti and Travis, but like the sun beating down on me, I can feel Christian’s gaze.
It causes my cheeks to flush and my body to warm.
I can’t even concentrate on the conversation in front of me, so I keep looking at Letti; although, what I tell myself and what I do are two different things.
When I flick my eyes back toward his table, his attention is back on his friends, his chin still resting on his fist, and talking among the group.
He laughs at something one of his teammates says, flashing that perfect smile, and in that moment, I realize he might be harder to forget than I first thought.