She looks to my hand and then back to my face with a mildly amused expression. It’s obvious I’m pissing her off somehow, but she’s still talking to me. She takes my hand and gives it a firm shake.
“Well, Judah, like I said, this is where I’m parking so I guess you better get over yourself and accept it.” She walks away from me, but stops suddenly, turning back around. “One more thing.”
I smile. “What’s that?”
She moves closer and traces my lips with her eyes before connecting her penetrating gaze with mine. I take a shallow breath.
“Don’t call me babe.”
Her lips curl around the words like a warning, but I can’t help but feel like she’s lying. Her body language says one thing—but those eyes? I’m not so sure.
I watch her turn back around without another word, leaving me speechless. I shake my head, laughing to myself. Rule number one—no distractions. This girl most definitely falls into that category and I don’t even know her name. That coupled with the fact she looks dangerously close to Elliot could only spell disaster for me. I take my wounded pride and walk up to my apartment.
There’s a party tonight at my teammate Adam’s frat. He’s been a decent friend to me since I’ve been here, so I promised I’d make an appearance. Keeping myself on the straight and narrow won’t be easy, especially when alcohol is involved. Every time I drink, I drift back into a state of complete hopelessness. Elliot isn’t the only thing I need to get some rehabilitation from.
A small knock lands on my door before it’s pulled open. Holden pokes his head in with a grin. “You ready to go?”
“Almost,” I say back, pulling on my shoes.
He strolls across my living room to my kitchen and opens my refrigerator. I hear a bottle opening and look up to see him tilting back one of the few beers I have on stock.
“Impatient, are we?” I ask, standing up in search of my keys.
He shrugs. “I needed one for the way over.” He walks over and pats me on the shoulder with a wink. “I might get thirsty.”
Ignoring his wolfish grin, I shove my phone in my back pocket. “Okay, now I’m ready.”
Holden gives me a questioning look and my eyebrows rise. He points in mock horror to the photo on my entertainment stand. “What the fuck is that?”
I turn around and spot the picture of Elliot and I at prom last year. “A picture…”
He shakes his head. “No, that’s your problem.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You still have her all around you. That’s not distancing yourself.”
“It’s just a picture. We’re friends.” I attempt to step past him and he places his hand on my chest. My nostrils flare as I glare down.
“Easy, man,” he says with a laugh. “I’d like to have fun this year. You’re not going to do that if you’re still strung up on Elliot Monroe. She’s your kryptonite.”
I can’t argue with him there, but I enjoy having things around that remind me of her. She’s like home to me and nothing will change that. Instead of arguing with him, I walk over, grab the picture, and shove it in a drawer of the end table beside the sofa.
“See.” I walk toward the door again. “Problem solved.”
He laughs. “If you say so, man.”
I follow him out the door without another word about it. One thing I do know, is that when I get home, I’ll move it to my bedroom where no one can see it.
One step at a time.
Chapter 2
Great Expectations
Mackenzie
My cell phone buzzes in my pocket while I’m trying to balance my laundry on my hip and open my apartment door at the same time. Multi-tasking has never been my thing, so I struggle to keep everything from falling into a heap in the hallway. I know who it is so I don’t even bother to reach for it. With a sigh, I push the door open and drop the basket onto my living room floor. I sit cross-legged beside it and begin the grueling task of folding.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
Zander’s voice is laced with irritation when he strolls inside the room moments later. Not a single overly gelled strand of blond hair is out of place as he plants his hands on hips and stares down at me with purpose.
“Because I knew you forgot your key again.” I glance up into his vibrant blue eyes and then back to the pair of jeans I’m folding. “You always do when you stay at Mark’s.”
He gives me a smug smile before taking a seat on the sofa in front of me. His finger comes up to his lips. “Shh, Mack. That’s a secret.”
I laugh. “I don’t see how. You two aren’t exactly discreet all the time.”
“Well, my dear. Not all of us can be as set in ways as you are.” He crosses his legs and shrugs. “Mark is still deciding what team he wants to play on and until then we have agreed to keep it low key.”
I shake my head while trying to pair my socks. Zander Thorn has been my best friend since I transferred here. We met last semester in a coffee shop and after misreading his friendliness, and now obvious attraction to the male sex, we became inseparable. So much in fact, we decided to live together this year.
He picks a piece of lint off the shoulder of his polo shirt and leans down to me. “Anyways, you seem bitchy. What gives?”
“Nothing.” I don’t look up, but I can sense his intrusive eyes judging me.
“Come on. Something happened. Did the barista not put extra soy in your latte again? I know how that sets you off.”
Releasing a huff, I stand up from the floor. “No, they made it correctly today.” I walk toward the kitchen and he follows. “It’s ridiculous to pay five dollars for a cup of coffee and not have it be perfect.”
Zander leans back against the counter, nodding. “I hear you. It gets me all twisted up inside too.”
He gives me a mocking look and I throw a dish towel at him. “No, that’s not why I’m irritated.” I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and mirror his position. “There was this totally arrogant douchebag outside when I was leaving for the laundromat. He was going off on how I parked in his space and how I should know who he is or something.” I take a drink and scoff. “Judah. He even sounds like a total douche.”
Zander’s eyes widen. “Judah Holloway?”
“Um, yeah. Why?”
He smiles, exposing his vibrant white teeth. “How could you not know who he is? He’s the quarterback of the football team.”
I place my hand on my chest in false amazement. “Oh, my God. The quarterback of the football team? Why didn’t you tell me?” Rolling my eyes, I set my bottle down on the counter and attempt to walk past him.
Laughing, he grabs my arm. “Oh, please. Admit it, he’s gorgeous.”
“Not my type.”
“Hot is everyone’s type, honey.” He crosses his arms after releasing his hold on me. “Even you can’t tell me you’re not attracted to him.”
“I never said he wasn’t attractive. He’s a jerk.” I walk back into the living room, still being trailed by Zander. After picking up my laundry, I turn around. “He lives somewhere in this building. Why don’t you comb the halls until you find him?”