Page 18 of Quarterback Sneak
“Just call it a thank you for the coffee you made me.”
“The black coffee?” I ask dryly.
“It was good.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure why you had me go through the favorites when you were going to just order a black coffee.”
“Would you believe me if I told you I just wanted to hear you talk?” I give him a wry look. He smiles, and I turn back to focus on walking. We pass some students and make room for a large group to pass soon after that.
“Are you really the quarterback for the football team?” I ask suddenly, not even sure where the question came from.
“I am. My name’s Zane.” I can feel his gaze on the side of my face. “How did you know?” I can hear the tease in his voice.
“Would you believe me if I told you it was the muscles?” I ask in a totally deadpan voice. He looks shocked for a moment, and then he laughs.
I smile. “This is me,” I tell him, nodding at the dorm in front of us. I don’t give it a chance to get weird. “Night, Zane.”
“Good night, Evie,” his low voice follows me inside. I don’t think I stop smiling the rest of the way up to my room.
Chapter 10
Evie
The smile stays on my face until I open the door to my room and find Jace inside, sitting in the chair at my desk. I falter a moment but continue inside. “Hey.”
He stands up and walks over to me. I stay frozen in place when he leans down. Panic makes me turn my head at the last second. He pauses just a moment before he kisses my cheek. “How was work?”
I step around him, needing some distance. “Crazy busy. Apparently, everybody needed coffee after the game.” I dig one of my notebooks out of my bag. Since I got off a little early, I’m going to make the most of the time. I need to go to the bathroom but feel weird doing it with Jace in the room, so I just wait. My stomach growls, reminding me I didn’t eat supper. But I ignore it; I’ll grab a granola bar from my stash in a little bit. I climb onto my bed and open my notebook and take the cap off my hi-liter.
“When are you going to let me take you out on a date?” The question surprises me, and I look over at him. I was hoping we’d moved past this after our awkward conversation yesterday at lunch.
“I will...sometime soon.” He gives me a skeptical look, and I change the subject quickly. “What’s your favorite food?”
His eyebrows scrunch up. “Why?”
I laugh. “I’m curious. I just want to know.”
He thinks about it a minute before shrugging. “I guess steak.”
I frown. “That’s every guy’s favorite.”
“Then why did you ask?”
I dive into studying, hoping maybe he’ll take the clue and leave. I really do need to study. After a little bit, he does. “All right. I’ll get out of your hair.” He leans down, and I quicky turn my head, not sure what his intentions are. He kisses my cheek and steps back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He steps out into the hall and closes the door after him.
When Sam comes in a little while later, I’m deep in study. I don’t take out my headphones but rather, keep studying. But when she stops right next to my bed, I can’t ignore the inevitable. “How was your night?”
I’m not sure what kind of game she’s playing, but I’m too tired to play it. “Good.”
“I know you’re upset with me about sending you home early.” It’s not really that she sent me home early; it was the how. But I stay quiet. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately, and tonight was no different. I’m sorry I took it out on you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She ducks so she meets my eyes. “So, we’re good?”
“Yeah, we’re good. Now go away; I need to study.” I playfully push her away, and she backs off with a smile.
“I’m taking a shower.”
