Her face pulled together like she was in pain. “I’ll be devastated.”
“Are you hungry?” I asked because the commissary had all the food and I’d only downed one protein bar so far. I needed more protein before I worked out and hit the field.
“A little, yeah.”
“Let’s go feed you, Little Spitfire. My treat.”
“I’m not even going to argue with you, Hotshot. I mean, the independent girl in me wants to tell you I don’t need you to pay for my food, but I don’t feel like fighting with you today.”
“Good. You won’t win.”
It was still pretty early in the morning, so the commissary wasn’t as busy as it was during lunch, but there were enough people that I noticed them paying attention. You’d think that I’d be used to being watched on campus, but there were times when it was a little unnerving. Like now.
“People are watching us,” Danika whispered as we got in line.
“I noticed.”
She scanned the area before she turned her back to the tables and faced me in line. “Are they taking pictures? Of us?”
I glanced over her shoulder to a table where a few girls sat, their phones aimed in our direction while they pretended like they weren’t. “It’s possible.”
“I don’t want random people to take pictures of me, Chance.”
She looked so uncomfortable, and I didn’t know what to do.
How could I fix this or stop people from doing what they wanted to without creating a scene?
“I’m sorry,” I said as I focused on the girls and shook my head.
They all put their phones down and looked away, embarrassed. That had worked—for now.
“It’s just so weird. Don’t you think it’s weird that they act like that?”
I nodded in agreement as hard as I could. “Hell yes, I think it’s weird. I’m supposed to be used to it, but how do you get used to that?” I started to say before overexplaining, “I mean, it would be one thing if I were playing in the majors. I’d understand it then. But this is college. We’re all just a bunch of kids. I’m no different than anyone else.”
Danika giggled as she moved forward in line. “Well, that’s a lie.”
I scoffed, “Come again?”
“You heard me. You’re not like everyone else.”
Smiling, I asked, “So, you think I’m special?”
“Stop trying to flirt with me in public,” she said, completely calling me out.
Of course, it only made me want to do it that much more.
She took two steps forward and reached the counter, where she ordered before stepping to the side and letting me finish. And pay. I loved it—that alpha feeling of taking care of your woman. Only problem was that she wasn’t mine, and she most likely never would be.
“Are you okay?” Danika asked, her hand resting on my shoulder.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You just had an odd look on your face for a second.”
“Stop trying to flirt with me in public,” I teased, hoping she’d drop the subject.
A tray of food popped on top of the glass counter, and I looked at the guy with a questioning expression. He gave me a nod, indicating that it was ours, and I grabbed it.
“I can get it,” Danika said from behind me, and I looked down at her with a half-grin.
“No. You can find us a table,” I said, and she agreed, no doubt searching for one that was the farthest away from prying eyes.
It might have been a difficult task, but it wasn’t impossible. The commissary had some tables that were more private, hidden behind tall islands that were meant for studying.
“I see one,” she said with a smile, and I happily trailed behind her, fully aware of the phones going off around us.
She pointed at the lone four-person table, where almost no one else was sitting nearby.
“Looks good,” I said, and she tossed her bag into one of the empty chairs and sat down.
I placed the tray of food on top and watched as Danika removed the small plates and sorted them in front of each one of us.
“So, tell me about the test,” she said, seemingly more relaxed as she sipped on her fresh juice smoothie.
“It wasn’t easy, but I understood most of it.” I grabbed for the bacon on my plate, breaking it into little pieces and sprinkling it over my eggs before taking a giant bite and practically moaning. I needed to eat every two hours, and I was starved.
“That’s so good. How long until he posts grades?” she asked, her hands clasping together before she started picking at her muffin. I watched her cut the top of it off and eat it first. “What? It’s the best part.”
I laughed before answering, “I don’t know. He didn’t say, but I’ll log in later tonight and check.”
“Promise you’ll text me as soon as you know?”
“I promise,” I agreed.
“Text you as soon as you know what?” the unfamiliar male voice rang out.
I almost snarled in response until I saw Danika’s face. She looked … conflicted and shocked. She pushed back from the table and stood up before launching herself into this guy’s arms and giving him a peck on the mouth.
“Jared. Hi. What are you doing here?”
Jared shifted on his feet, his weight moving from one leg to the other as he removed her arms from around his neck. I watched as his hands balled in and out and as Danika deflated with the motion.
You really thinking about coming at me?
Danika looked crazy uncomfortable, and while I fucking hated it and wanted to make it stop, Jared seemed to almost enjoy it. He kept staring at her, his expression hard and unforgiving.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” he sneered, and she swallowed hard.
What kind of guy got off on making his girlfriend feel weak? An insecure one, I assumed.
“Sorry. Jared, this is Chance. Chance, this is my boyfriend, Jared,” she said before sitting back down.
He extended his hand, and when I took it, he tried to squeeze me too hard, a silent show of strength that took everything in me to not start laughing in his face.
“You look familiar.”
“I’m in a fraternity. I’m sure you’ve been to our parties,” he responded before adding, “And I’ve been to a few of yours over the years.” I nodded.
“Ahhh, that’s probably it. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. You have a really great girlfriend,” I said genuinely, not realizing that it would push his buttons even though I should have been more than aware.
“Yeah, I do.” He grabbed her bag and threw it out of the chair before sitting down and wrapping a possessive arm around her. “She’s been spending a little too much time away from me lately though. Wouldn’t you agree?”
His words were like sour grapes in my mouth. He was a bit of an asshole, who seemed nothing like the kind of guy I thought he’d be after mine and Danika’s conversation last night. He had been there for her after her mom died. He was in California with her now instead of staying back in New York. I assumed that she was a priority to him, not property.
“I wouldn’t really know,” I offered, and he scoffed.
“Jared, stop. We already talked about this. We were studying,” Danika argued, but it was weak at best. Her eyes cut to me for only a second before looking away.