“That was just wow,” I told him.
“Now do you see why I wanted to slow things down?”
“Yeah,” I said with a yawn.
“Time to put my girl to bed.”
“I need to clean up first.”
“Okay, a quick shower and then to bed. I know you need to be up early.”
I wasn’t going to argue with that. After a five-minute shower, I crawled into his bed. Anthony was there a few minutes later. He pulled me close to him and I was asleep in minutes.
****
Bodie
Tiffany and I were headed to her place when she turned the radio down.
“Don’t think I forgot you didn’t answer my question,” she said.
I decided to play dumb. “What question?”
“I know you know what I’m talking about, but I’ll ask you again. Do you have a problem with Anthony because you have feelings for Karma? And don’t bullshit me, Bodie.”
“No. I have a problem with Anthony because I don’t trust him. I get the feeling he’s up to something and Karma’s going to get caught in the middle. I just can’t prove it though.”
“I thought you were just jealous,” she said.
“Truthfully, I’m a little of that too.”
“I knew it,” she said with a grin. “Have you said anything to her?”
I snorted. “Are you crazy? There’s no way I’ll ever say anything as long as she’s with him. Guy code and all.”
“But you don’t even like him?”
“I won’t be the guy who makes her choose, I’ll lose. If she changes her mind, I’ll be there but for now, I’ll be there as her friend.”
“Wow,” Tiffany said. “That’s … that’s very mature of you.”
I laughed. “You sound surprised.”
“It’s certainly different from my first impression of you. You’ve changed lately.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You sound disappointed,” she said with a laugh.
“I’ve never pretended to be anything but a player since high school, so it’s a little different actually caring about someone.”
“What if she ends up spending the rest of her life with him?”
“She won’t. Right now, she’s infatuated with him. She’ll eventually see who he really is.”
“How are you so sure he’s not what he appears to be?”
“I’ve known people like him my whole life and I have a pretty good sense of who people are.”
“And what sense do you have about me?”
“Hardworking, loyal, fun, driven.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Well thank you.”
“Are you blushing?” I asked.
“Probably. I’m not used to a lot of compliments.”
“You’re a beautiful woman Tiffany. I’m sure you get compliments all the time at the coffee shop.”
“Occasionally some guy, or old man, will say something, but I don’t think much of it. I guess it means more when someone says something about you that has to do with the type of person you are and not your appearance.”
“I can understand that.” I pulled up in front of her building. “Have fun with your friend.”
“Now that I’ve had time away from her situation, I’ll be better. And Bodie, don’t give up on Karma. If you two are meant to be together it will happen. Love always finds a way.”
“Isn’t that from a song?”
Tiffany smacked my arm. “I’m being serious.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll take it for now. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Once I made sure she was safely in the building, I started driving. Instead of going back to the university, I went to the beach. The sand was cold on my feet, but hearing the waves relaxed me. I admitted out loud that I liked Karma as more than a friend and it didn’t scare me as much as I thought it would.
I thought back to the start of the school year. I’d been positive that I would fuck my way through every college girl I could find, and I was well on my way to doing that until I’d had sex with Karma. One person shouldn’t be able to change you that much, but it seemed to have happened to me. I’d been too much of a chicken shit to do anything about it before, and now she was with Anthony, and might never be mine. The best I could do was be her friend. That sucked but it was all I had for now.
The wind picked up coming off the ocean and I started to get cold. I went to my car and drove back to the university. Once I was in the dorm, I started working on my economics assignment that was due tomorrow.
“Hey,” Major said, when he walked in.
“Hey.”
“That was an interesting dinner huh.”
I shook my head. “I really dislike that guy.”
Major laughed. “I think you mean you fucking hate him.”
“Yeah, that, too.” I was quiet for a minute, then decided to tell him something important to me. “Major, I like Karma, like really like her and I hate the fact that she’s with that douchebag.”
He grinned. “It’s about damn time you admitted it. You know your timing sucks, right?”
“I know.”
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
“What can I do? Nothing but wait, I guess. I’m just hoping he royally fucks up or she sees who he really is.”
“And if that doesn’t happen?” he asked.
“Then I find a way to get over it.”
He shook his head, walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “Good luck with that man.”
Luck was something I was definitely going to need if I even had a chance to be with Karma.
Chapter 30
Karma
The next two weeks were extremely busy. The professors were piling on the work and we also had a meet to get ready for. Now that we were on top of the points standings our coaches were working us even harder. Any free time I had I spent with Anthony. Even though I was at his place a lot, most of my time was devoted to schoolwork. I was really grateful he’d gotten me that laptop to work on. It allowed me to do my work and cuddle up next to him while I was doing it.
It was Saturday morning and Anthony had just dropped me off at the swim complex. I hugged Kayleigh when I saw her in the locker room.
“We’re going to be great today,” I told her.
She smiled. “I hope so. I really want to win this year. Wouldn’t that be a great way to end our first year on the team?”
“We’re going to kill it.”
“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked me.
“I don’t know. Probably hanging out with Anthony.”
“Oh,” she said, looking disappointed.
“Why?”
“I thought we could spend some time together since you aren’t coming home with me for Spring Break.”
I felt guilty as hell when I realized I’d become one of those women who got a boyfriend and never saw their friends anymore.
“I’m sorry, Kayleigh. I’ve been a shitty friend lately. I promise we’ll do something tomorrow. Maybe we can grab Gabbi and Tiffany and go get a pedicure or something.”