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“What’s your major?”
I swallow my bite, wipe my mouth with my napkin and give her a closed mouth smile. “Civil engineering.”
“What’s that?” She leans forward, her eyes inquisitive.
“Buildings, bridges, roads. My uncle owns a construction company, and I’ve worked for him since I was old enough tohold a tape measure.” She smiles encouragingly. “He forced me to get an education,” I sigh exasperatedly, and she giggles, “then I can come back and work beside him. Design and maintenance of things like road, water or sewage systems. Supervisor role to ensure the projects are compliant, safe, and within budget. Basically, I’ll do whatever Uncle Hal tells me to.”
Her face pinches. “Where…where are your parents? Are they still—”
“Alive. My parents are alive and well and super supportive but totally uninterested in anything construction.” She visibly relaxes, making me smile. “They are both super nerds. The nerdiest people you’ll ever meet. Complete with tape on the bridge of their glasses, allergies, and the finger in the air when they’re making a point.” I lift my hand with my index finger extended and pretend to push up imaginary glasses.
“But you’re so…not nerdy.” She runs her gaze over my body, what she can see since we’re sitting anyway, and licks her bottom lip. She’s fucking killing me. I groan low, willing my cock to stand down while we’re in public. Doesn’t matter that I jerked off last night, twice, or again this morning before practice. I’ve had my hands on most of her body today, except the parts I want to touch more than I want the Browns to win a Superbowl. I was respectful, kept my hands away from her tits and pussy, but it was very, very difficult. Her ass though, Jesus it was perfection in my hands when I hoisted her up.
“Not nerdy? What am I then?” I tease her, hoping she’ll confess she feels the same about me as I do about her. I know she’s too shy, so I’ll have to wait for that.
“You’re…you’re, uh, athletic.”
“I’m sorry, it sounded like you mispronounced hot.” I wiggle my finger in my ear like it’s clogged while she giggles again and rollsher eyes. It’s a soft, girly sound that does crazy things to my heart rate. “My dad and Uncle Hal are polar opposites too, but best friends. My cousin Elyria, Uncle Hal’s daughter, is exactly like my dad. So, they swapped kids and everyone’s happy. Uncle Hal and I bond over dovetail joints, and Elyria and dad wig out about algorithms and processing power.”
“That’s awesome.” Her tone wistful, her gaze unfocused.
“You said your parents are supportive. Are you an only child?”
“No.” She answers quickly with a wry smile. “I have an older brother, Brad. He’s my best friend.”
“That’s awesome. I don’t have any siblings myself, but Elyria and I are 3 months apart, so we’ve been treated like twins most of our lives.”
“Does she look like you?” I bark a laugh, thinking of my cousin.
“Not at all! I mean, if you look closely, you can tell we share some familial traits, but we are nothing alike physically. I’m dark hair, muscular, athletic, devilishly handsome. She’s pretty, as far as cousins go, but she spends so much time inside in front of a computer that she’s pale and skinny and can barely lift a gallon of milk.”
“She can’t be that bad.”
“She went outside once, and the sun had to shield its eyes, she’s so pale.” I lean over the table and whisper, “She’s a vampire.”
“She is not!” Daya smacks my arm and sits back in her chair with a laugh.
I check my watch and notice the time. “We’ve got a workout scheduled at 3. You wanna hang out until then? I could give you a walking tour of the campus, best places to eat, things to avoid…” I let the offer hang between us, watching as she weighsher options. My breath is stuck in my lungs as I wait for her to respond.
“That would be nice. Thank you.” I exhale shakily, covering it under the guise of wiping my mouth with my napkin.
“Come on. First stop is the creamery.”
“I’ve heard it’s good.”
“Good?Good?” I sigh theatrically, dropping my head to shake. “Oh, child, you have so much to learn. Come, my young padawan. Your real training begins now.”
Daya 5.
I’ve been on campus for four weeks and this whole college thing ain’t so bad. Sure, I haven’t started classes yet, but I’ve never had an issue with schoolwork. I study, I take copious notes and record lectures, and I’m good at time management. I’m aware there will be a period of adjustment, but I’m not too worried. I’m capable, but I also have two best friends to help me.
Eva and Elijah have made my time on campus enjoyable. My friendship with Addy is absolutely wonderful and painfully torturous at the same time. He’s beautiful to look at, especially right after practice when his dark mop of hair hangs wet over his eyes, his skin glistening in the midday sun, his muscles flexing from exertion…
Torture. But I’m a glutton for punishment and apparently a masochist since I’m not willing to give him up.
My friendship with Eva is a different kind of torture. She’s great and I am so thankful to have met her and that she decided we’re best friends. She doesn’t believe in downtime. Of any kind. That girl is constantly moving, her body or her mouth. I’m not entirely sure she sleeps. But she’s a riot, warm, kind, and open and unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. And she wants to bemyfriend…
One of my favorite things, though, is when Eva and Addy bicker over who gets to spend time with me, touring campus, andshowing me the ropes. They played rock, paper, scissors and Addy cheated so he could accompany me to the bookstore to get all my supplies for the semester. Eva winked at me as Addy dragged me along, so I don’t think she was too mad about losing.
