Page 46 of Catch
I’m such a liar. I’m never too busy for sex.
“What about this weekend? Are you having a party?”
“The usual Saturday thing,” I explain. “We can hang out. As friends. But that’s all.”
Last semester, I might have chanced it and fucked her again. But now I have zero interest, and it’s got nothing to do with worrying I’ll mislead her. It’s because I don’t feel anything, not even a lick of desire.
She starts to laugh.
“Relax, Ethan. I don’t have any interest in dating you; I just like having sex. But if you’re not interested in a hookup, that’s cool. Friends it is.”
Willow pats my leg and stands up.
“See you Saturday?” she asks.
“See you then.”
She saunters off down the hallway, and I know I’m fucked when I don’t even check out her ass. Instead, I go back to perusing the photos of Jett. His ranch life is fascinating, and if I’m honest, a bit intimidating. Large animals like horses freak me out. Not that I’d ever admit it to anyone, except under duress. I’ve never ridden a horse, never mind taking care of awhole stable of them. Jett makes it look easy, but I’m sure it’s not.
And it’s probably best that I stop obsessing over this guy and get my head back to where it needs to be.
Classes and hockey, remember them?
Whatever I’m feeling, I’m sure it’s temporary. I bet that if I kissed him once, I’d be over it. Done. My curiosity would be sated and so would I. It would be a monumental mistake, and I’d never want to do it again.
I glance at the photo of Jett’s smile.
Yeah, I don’t believe me either.
CHAPTER 12
JETT
TWO WEEKS LATER
Ethan hasn’t texted or called since that day in the library and it’s grating on my nerves. Not that I should complain. I wanted him to get lost, but now that he has, I feel oddly upset about it. I thought that maybe we were actually going to be friends. Even though I don’t think of him in a friendly way. Far from it. In fact, I’d give anything to wipe that cocky grin off his smug face. Only, I can think of several ways to do it and they’re all dirty as hell.
I’ve never cursed a guy and wanted him so much at the same time, and I’m fucking confused.
While he hasn’t reached out, it seems like everywhere I go, there he is. I rationalize it and tell myself it’s a coincidence. Sutton isn’t a big school, and we’re bound to run into each other.
Right?
I saw him a week ago at the committee meeting for the national competition. I expected Ethan to take the seat next to mine so he could talk my ear off, so I was surprised when he stayed on the other side of the room. There was only onemoment near the end of the discussion when he made eye contact with me, and the intensity of it, fuck, I swear I was about to melt right into my chair. For a guy who doesn’t want to talk to me, he sure does like to stare. It’s probably my overactive imagination running wild.
He’s trying to mess with you again. In your face one moment and ignoring you the next.
Whatever, I’m not interested in any game he’s playing.
Thank fuck it’s the weekend. Not that I get time to rest. Our crew has a morning practice today and then a regatta race tomorrow. Then next week, when the visiting college teams descend on campus, we have several races.
I head down to the lake early, determined to clear my mind of all thoughts about a certain hockey player who is occupying way too much of my time. Only, the man in question is standing on the dock.
“What are you doing here?”
Ethan turns around and gives me a long once-over. There’s a toothpick stuck between his lips, and when he pulls it out of his mouth and smiles at me, my cock takes notice. Fucking hell, why him?
“I’d think it’s obvious. I’m waiting on you,” Ethan states.
