“Guys like me?”
“You know, hot. Popular.”
A grin overcomes me. “You think I’m hot?”
She huffs, rolling her eyes. “You know you’re hot.”
“Oh, I know it, but me knowing it and you saying you think I am are two completely different things.”
She rolls her eyes again. “You’re the kind of guy who kisses his reflection, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely. Gotta show myself I care, you know? But don’t worry, you give me the chance and I’ll show you how well I can worship you instead.” She chokes on a sip of water, spraying it across the table so I get pelted in the face. I dry myself with a napkin. “I can make you do that other places too.”
“Oh my God!” she shrieks, throwing the lemon from her glass at my head.
It lands in my hair. Pointing to it, I say, “Look, I have a tiara.”
“Nothing fazes you, I swear,” she grumbles, glaring at her burger.
“Not really, but to answer your question, I chose baseball because of my grandpa. He played in his youth and when I was little it was something we bonded over. I happened to be really good at it, and now here we are.”
“What was his name?”
“Next question.”
“What?” She pales. “Why is that off limits?”
“Because it’s my father’s name and my name too.”
“So, Theodore then?”
I grin, chuckling. “Teddy’s not short for Theodore in my case.”
Her nose scrunches as she thinks. “Then what is it short for?”
I pick up my water glass. “I’m not telling, sweetheart. I’ll never live it down.”
“Is it really that bad?”
I think for a second. “Yeah.”
“Hmm … if it’s not Theodore, Edward then?”
“Nah, babe. I don’t sparkle in the sunlight. I’m a real man.”
“Thomas, maybe?”
“Big fat no.”
“Fine,” she blows out a breath, “I give up for now, but I’m going to figure this out.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Your cockiness will be your downfall, McCallister.”
“Ooh,” I lean closer to her across the table so there’s little space separating us, “keep talking dirty to me.”
She shakes her head. “You’re … I don’t know what you are exactly, but it’s something.”
I chuckle, leaning back into the booth. “Got any other questions for me?”
She bites her lip, thinking. Her lips are a soft pink color without the use of any sort of lip product. I find myself thinking about her lips. How they felt against mine, what it was like, and especially what she’d look like with them wrapped around my cock.
“Are you even listening to me?”
I jerk back into myself. “Uh … w-what did you say?”
She heaves a sigh, her breasts straining against that tight yellow uniform. “Men,” she mutters. “I asked you what your biggest fear is?”
“Failure,” I blurt without a thought. “Honestly, that’s what I’ve been most of my life, but I don’t want to be that guy anymore. I want to do more. Be more. Make a difference.”
“Hmm,” she hums quietly, taking another bite of her burger.
“What?”
“That’s just not the answer I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know, striking out with a girl?” She smiles, joking.
Shaking my head, I push the shaggy strands of hair out of my eyes. “Babe, I never strike out. When I have my sights set on something I never, ever lose.”
“That so?”
“Yes,” I say with absolute certainty.
But as she gathers up her plate and walks off so she can get back to work, I think I might’ve met the one girl who has the capability of ending me.
6
Vanessa
“Is it true you’re dating Teddy McCallister?”
I look up at the girl sliding out a chair across from me in the library. It screeches on the hardwood floor before she plops her butt on it. I don’t recognize her at all, but she clearly knows who I am. This is what I get for ‘dating’ a campus heartthrob. The worst part is girls have been trying to cage him for years and now they think I’ve done the impossible.
Dark glossy hair spills over her shoulders and her lips are painted in a bright red lipstick I’d love to wear but would be too afraid I couldn’t pull it off to ever try.
“Uh…” I look back and forth from my textbook to my new table guest, a little peeved about having my study time interrupted. “Yeah?”
Shit, it’s not supposed to sound like a question.
“You sound like you’re not sure, does that mean it’s a rumor?”
“No, we’re together. Like a couple. He comes over and we make out and have sex and stuff. Totally couple things. He sends flowers too.”
Oh my God kill me now!
“Oh.” She frowns. “Okay. Is it like … serious?”
My lips part. “Are you really asking me if my boyfriend and I are committed?”
“Well, I mean, yeah. Teddy doesn’t date. It’s a little surprising is all.”
“Why exactly is it surprising?” I close my textbook, crossing my arms on the table ready to challenge her.
She gives a tiny shrug. “Like I said, he doesn’t date and lots of girls have tried, believe me.” Obviously, she’s one of them. “Everyone knows he’s worth a lot and wants to secure the position.”
“What position is that exactly?”
She doesn’t answer with words, instead she lifts her left hand, rubbing her ring finger.
I roll my eyes. “Teddy is a person. He’s just a guy. He’s not cattle for sale.”
“Oh, honey.” She shakes her head like I’m so pitiful and stupid. “It’s sweet that you think so.” She gives a tiny shrug. “While you might’ve been able to secure the girlfriend position first, it doesn’t mean you’re here to stay.” She stands up from the table, tugging down her itty-bitty miniskirt. It’s way too cold to be wearing something like that this time of year, but to each their own.
I watch her walk away, disappearing between the tall ancient stacks of books.
My study vibes are ruined now, so I pack up my computer—a secondhand monstrosity that I swear weighs twenty pounds—and textbooks, to head back to my dorm.
Stepping outside into the chilly air, I zip up my coat and pull out my wooly pink mittens from my pockets, slipping them onto my hands.
I know for most it isn’t even that cold, but growing up in the south, this is practically Antarctica to me.
Before I go back to the dorm, I decide to grab a coffee. At least it’ll help warm me up. I reach out for the door, but a hand beats me to it.
“There you are, babe.” Lips connect with my chilled cheek, and I jolt at the unexpected touch.
My eyes dart up to Teddy’s bright green ones. “You have got to stop sneaking up on me like that. It freaks me out,” I hiss under my breath as he follows me into the line.