Page 21 of Off The Rush
“Remember that girl I told you about?” I grin, feeling a surge of excitement. “I’m meeting her at the coffee shop for a study session. But I’m planning on turning it into a date.”
“Smooth,” Alec chuckles, giving me an approving nod.
“Good luck with that,” Luka teases, a playful smirk on his face.
“Thanks,” I reply with a wink. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make myself irresistible.”
As I head to my room, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation bubbling inside me. This might not be a traditional date, but it’s an opportunity to spend time with Emma and get to know her better – something I’m more than eager to do.
Once in my room, I rummage through my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit that strikes a balance between casual and charming. After all, I don’t want to seem like I’m trying too hard, but I also want to make a good impression.
Settling on a pair of dark jeans and a fitted green button-up shirt, I take extra care with my appearance, making sure my hair looks effortlessly perfect and my stubble is just the right length.
“Alright, JD, you’ve got this,” I say to myself in the mirror, psyching myself up for the coffee shop rendezvous. With one last glance, I nod approvingly at my reflection and grab my keys and wallet.
“See you guys later!” I call out to Alec and Luka as I head for the door.
“Good luck!” they shout back in unison.
As I walk into the coffee shop, I spot Emma sitting at a corner table, her books spread out in front of her. The sunlight streaming through the window highlights her hair and her green eyes flicker with concentration. She’s even more beautiful than I remember.
“Hey, Emma,” I say, trying to sound casual as I approach her table.
“JD,” she replies with a slight smile, not looking up from her notes. “You’re right on time.”
I glance at her almost-empty coffee cup and decide it’s the perfect opportunity to score some points. “I’m going to grab a coffee.”
“Okay,” she says, still focused on her work. I make a mental note of how dedicated she is to her studies – something I find incredibly attractive.
At the counter, I order my usual Americano and remember her drink from the other day – a caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso. As I wait for our drinks, I can’t help but feel a little proud of myself for remembering her order. It’s a small detail, but maybe it’ll show her that I’m interested in getting to know her better.
“Here you go,” I say, placing the fresh cup of coffee in front of her. Her eyes widen in surprise.
“Wow, you remembered my order,” she says, genuinely impressed.
“Of course,” I reply with a grin, taking a seat across from her. “It’s the least I could do.”
We dive into our assignments, the conversation flowing easily between us. But every time I try to steer it toward more personal topics, Emma skillfully brings it back to school.
“Do you like The Red?” I ask, attempting to flirt a little.
“Uh-huh, their music is pretty good,” she answers before quickly adding, “What did you think of the professor’s lecture today?”
“Uh, yeah, it was interesting,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment. “But, back to that band – maybe we could catch one of their shows sometime?”
Her eyes shoot up to mine with a slight smile. “Maybe. As friends,” she replies noncommittally.
Despite her evasiveness, I can’t deny how much I’m drawn to Emma. Her backbone and attitude which contrast so well with her kindness are incredibly attractive, and I’m more than willing to put in the effort to break down her walls. But for now, I’ll have to settle for discussing classical books and finishing this assignment.
“Alright, let’s get back to work,” I say, refocusing my attention on our studies. But in the back of my mind, I’m already planning my next move to win Emma over, even if it takes some time.
Chapter 10
The thud of the bass reverberates through my chest as I stand at the entrance of the party with Tessa. I can already feel the nerves bubbling up inside me like a shaken bottle of soda. This whole fake dating proposal with Alec has me on edge, and I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to play out in front of all these people.
I’ve been texting Alec all week but this is the first time I’m going to see him since Luka brought me back to their house.
“Ready?” Tessa asks, her hazel eyes dancing with excitement.
