Page 64 of Racking Up Penalties
Swinging the door open, I’m met with her gorgeous grin, which could probably light up the entire Eastwood University campus. “Hey!” she sings out past me, to an audience of textbooks and empty coffee mugs.
“Hey, Tessa,” I say, my voice more casual than I feel. She takes my damn breath away. I take in her hair tumbling over her shoulders, her eyes sparkling with affection for me.
“Thanks for the invite, Liam.” She steps inside, balancing a stack of folders and notebooks against her hip with one arm, the other hooked around a bulging bag of snacks.
“Of course,” I answer as if I haven’t been thinking about her all day. My hand reaches out, relieving her of the snack bag. “Thanks for bringing food, you didn’t have to.”
“I cannot study without snacks,” she teases, nudging me aside with a playful shoulder bump as she enters. Her warmth lingers and I can’t help but smile back.
Her gaze flits across the room before settling back on me. There’s a spark there, the kind that makes my heart forget its rhythm, and for a second, I wonder what she sees when she looks at me.
Does she want me as bad as I want her?
“Hey, Tess,” Ethan says, his eyes softening around the edges as they lift from his textbook. He leans forward and pulls Tessa into a deep kiss that has her smiling when they pull back.
I grab the door for Tristan who looks the lightest I’ve seen him in a while.
“Made it,” he announces, a lopsided grin spreading across his face as he spots Tessa. His deep blue eyes light up with an intensity that only she manages to draw out.
He sets down his books, the thud echoing slightly, and crosses the room in two long strides. With a casual ease, he wraps Tessa in a warm hug, the kind that you can tell comes from years of being there for each other. And just as swiftly, he plants a peck on her cheek. She blushes before pulling him into a real kiss.
She skips back over to me and pulls me in for a kiss of my own that makes me so fucking happy.
Tessa sighs. “This is exactly what I wanted things to be like between us!”
This is much better than all the tension. This is closer to what JD, Alec, Luka, and Emma have.
We sit down to study and Tessa immediately breaks out some candy.
I keep sneaking a peek at Tessa’s sketches. They’re incredible, she is really talented.
Across the table, I notice Ethan’s far-off gaze, his textbook lying open and forgotten. His hands now drum an uncertain rhythm against the wooden surface.
“Everything okay, Ethan?” Tessa asks, her brows knitting together in concern.
He pauses, his eyes flickering up to meet hers. He only hesitates for a second. “Actually, I’ve been looking for a new place. Something less expensive,” he admits, his voice dropping just enough to convey the weight of the situation. “My Dad already covered this semester, but I need to save up for the next.”
Tessa’s face softens, the ever-present empathy shining through her hazel eyes. I know she’s already rifling through her mental catalog of advice, ready to offer support or a solution.
I think I might be the one who can help, though.
The click of the front door announces another arrival and Miles strides in with an easy grin.
“Hey, guys,” he calls out, voice infused with warmth as he glances our way. He doesn’t come over, though, just heads straight to the fridge.
Tristan and I give him a nod while Tessa waves.
“Hey!” Ethan calls out, hiding the vulnerability he was showing seconds ago.
“Tristan, you must be pumped for the game this weekend, huh?” She leans forward, clasping her hands together on the table, the picture of earnest support. “You’re going to crush it. I can feel it.”
I think she’s trying to change the subject for Ethan’s sake now that Miles is here. It’s sweet of her.
“Thanks, Tess,” Tristan replies, flashing a winsome smile. “Just gotta keep my head in the game, y’know?”
“Always,” she affirms, nodding emphatically.
My mind wanders, drifting back to last night when I talked to Miles about Ethan.
