Page 14 of Quarterback Sneak
Bisch updates her on how the night has gone. I take a few orders while he catches her up, so she can work on the order for the week. “Hi, what can I get for you?” I ask a group of guys that approach the counter. The first one steps forward.
“Hey, I’m Christian.”
I smile politely. “Hi, Christian. What can I get for you?”
“Besides your number?” he asks with a grin.
I don’t let it faze me. After about two weeks of working here, I’ve started getting used to the brazen college guys; and there are a lot of them. “She’s not going to give you her number,” a new voice says.
I look up in surprise to see Jace standing next to Christian. “Sorry, Man,” Christian says, putting up his hands in surrender. “Didn’t know she was taken.” I open my mouth to tell him that I’m not, but he continues with his order before I can say anything. “Can I get a cold brew?”
“Sure.” I ring him up and try to ignore the awkwardness with Jace still standing right beside him. I turn away to write on the cup and let my cheeks cool down and hopefully my embarrassment. When I get through the rush, I finally turn to Jace. But thankfully, he’s finally found a seat at one of the tables and is studying. Or at least, that’s what I think he’s doing. I don’t make eye contact with him when he looks over at me because I don’t really know what to say or think. We get a few more rushes, and it keeps me busy. I finally get a chance to look up at the clock and sigh in relief when I see it’s almost ten. Only a few more minutes to go. I chance a glance over at Jace, but he’s no longer at the table. I’m not sure when it was that he left, but I feel relieved that he’s no longer here. I’m not really sure what that says about me, but I’m glad I don’t have to deal with him right now. I see Rachel, one of the other baristas, carrying a heavy load. “Hey, let me take that top box.”
“Thanks; they’re a lot heavier than they looked.”
We carry the boxes to the back storage closet and head back out to the front. Before I can get to the front, Sam walks over to me. “Rachel, Evie, good job tonight; you can both clock out.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Rachel’s already on her way to the front to clock out. I start to follow, but Sam shoos me away. “I’ll clock you out. You look dead on your feet. Head back to our room; I’m sure you still have studying to do.”
“I do.”
She waves me off. “I’m sure; go.”
I pass Will, another of my co-workers. “Night, Will.”
“You heading out, Evie?”
“I am.”
“Have a good night,” he calls back as he heads out to the front.
“Thanks, you too.”
I grab my phone and wallet and head out the back door. I make it only a few steps before I realize I’m still wearing my apron. I retrace my steps to the back door, but of course, it’s locked. I walk around to the front of the building, berating myself for forgetting. When I get close, I take in the two guys approaching the shop. I’m not sure what it is about them that grabs my attention, but there’s just something about them. They’re both tall and muscular; it’s obvious they play sports. I wonder absently which ones they play. They’re both crazy good-looking, but the one on the left is...words fail me. I’m not really sure I’ve seen a better looking male. Ever. He’s tall and really muscular with broad shoulders and obvious biceps, making me think maybe he’s a football player. His skin is tan, and his hair is maybe a dark brown. Embarrassment floods my cheeks when I realize I’m staring, and I glance away. When I get closer, the one on the left suddenly lifts his head and locks eyes with me. His gaze seems to burn into me and lock me in place. My senses return to me, and I realize I’ve stopped moving. I drop my gaze and walk the last few steps to the door. When I look up again, I stare in shock as the slightly taller guy pins maybe football guy to the wall. I take a step towards them, wondering if I should do something, but the taller guy nods his head at the door. I meet the eyes of the guy pinned against the wall briefly. Piercing green eyes meet mine, and I nearly stumble at the intensity of his gaze. He shoves the guy pinning him to the wall away from him, with what looks like no effort at all. The sudden violence propels me right into the coffee shop. I nearly fling the door open in my haste.
I hear the door open behind me, and I hurry faster. Sam looks up and meets my eyes. Hers widen in surprise. “I thought you left.” I’m already pulling my apron off and over my head.
“I left wearing this.”
“Oh, go drop it off and get out of here.”
I hear a commotion behind me, but I don’t look back. There’s something about that guy that makes goosebumps break out on my skin. And it’s not just that he’s easily the sexiest male I’ve seen to date. I don’t know what it is exactly. I push thoughts off of all college guys from my mind. I’m not here to focus on guys; I’m here to get my degree. I need to keep my eyes focused on the prize.
Chapter 8
Zane
I throw Reid off me and rip open the door my mate just walked through.My mate. Those words slam through me with the force of a hurricane. Before I make it two steps into the shop, Reid grabs my arm. He’s stronger than he looks; people often misjudge that in him. But he’s not too strong for me, I jerk my arm from his and shove him back. He stumbles back into one of the tables.
Zane, stop a minute and think.
I ignore his voice in my head through our pack link. My mind is solely focused on following the gorgeous girl that walked in here a minute ago with a scent that makes my eyes want to roll back in my head again. My wolf surges forward, and I barely keep him restrained.
She’s human.
Nothing else in this moment could have stopped me, but Reid’s words bring me to a standstill. I force myself to focus past her amazing scent to her essence. The truth hits me like a ton of bricks. I don’t smell any wolf in her. My mind tries to take this in, even while I keep my attention on her as she walks past the counter. After saying a few words to another girl, she disappears into the back. My mind is racing as I process all this. She’s my mate; I’m more sure of it than I have been of anything in my entire life. Every sense in my body is attuned to what’s going on right now, and my vision is narrowed in on every single person in this shop. That’s how I hear the slight sound of a door closing. Somehow, I know it’s my mate leaving. I whirl around and stride towards the front door. If she left through a back door, I’ll findher. I throw the door open and follow her scent to the back of the building. I catch sight of gorgeous long, dark hair; and my pulse speeds up. I stride that way, ready to catch up to her when the reality of what Reid said and what I know to be true hits me.If she’s human, she won’t recognize me as her mate.That thought is like a rock in my stomach and keeps me from approaching her right now. Well, that and the fact that my fangs dropped upon scenting my mate, so I can claim her with a biting mark. I’m also sure my eyes are glowing right now. I stop and rub a hand through my hair, frustrated. Reid’s right; I can’t approach her right now. But that doesn’t mean I can’t follow her to make sure she gets to her dorm safely. I follow at a distance. My goal is not to come across as a stalker; that would not bode well for the start of our relationship.
