Page 13 of Personal Foul
“Sure, sure, I see where I stand,” she teases.
Eric chuckles. “You remember what it’s like to be a college student. Even if she doesn’t have a bunch of homework to get through, she might have a date or parties to go to. Right, Charity?”
“Uh, yeah. Something like that.” If you can count cleaning Dylan’s apartment as a date or a party, suuure. But they don’t need to know about that.
A twinge of unease slithers down my spine. If Dylan and I are supposed to be dating, does that mean we’ll need to go on actual dates?
I mean, it shouldn’t. Why would it? That would be ridiculous.
CHAPTER SIX
Dylan
I scan the student center, trying to figure out the best place to grab a quick bite. Andrew, Liam, and I just finished a workout, so we need some protein. I usually pack a snack, but I forgot today, so I’m stuck with the on-campus dining options.
There’s the main cafeteria, of course, but once I moved off campus, I was all too happy to give up eating there. There’s also the little food court bearing a trio of fast food places. Not the healthiest, but their chicken sandwiches are better than the caf’s.
Liam’s hassling Andrew about the chick he’s been stringing along, but I’m largely ignoring them. I just want food so I can get to my next class on time.
“Hold up, hold up,” Andrew says, grabbing my shoulder and putting out an arm to stop Liam. “Isn’t that the chick who was at your place last night?”
I bite back a groan. All day, I’ve been waiting for Andrew to start blabbing about Charity being at my place yesterday, but so far he hasn’t said anything.
I guess that’s all about to change.
He leans past me as though the extra six inches closer it brings him makes her easier to see. “Oh, man! It is! Dude, get a load of this.” He turns to Liam and fills him in on catching Charity in her costume.
Liam predictably starts snickering. “Seriously? I had no idea you got off on that kind of thing.”
“Well, why would you?” Andrew asks before I can respond. “It’s not like we’ve seen our boy in a long-term relationship. He’s usually more of the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am type. There’s not exactly time to play dress-up with those.” Andrew drapes an arm around Liam’s shoulders. “But I guess all that time hanging with Isabelle and me gave Dylan time to make a move.” He turns his dopey gaze on me. “Though from what I could tell, she kinda hated you. How’d you manage to change that?”
I just shrug. Because what else can I do? She still hates me, after all.
They both let out raucous laughs as though my shrug communicated something—and not just anything, but something filthy. I can’t help grinning at their antics, even as I shake my head at them.
Andrew smacks my arm. “Come on, man. Let’s go say hi to your girl.”
I open my mouth, but I’m not sure what I intend to say. If I stop them, they’ll think something’s wrong. And then they’ll want to know why I don’t want them to talk to “my girl,” and I’ll have to come up with a plausible reason. Which I can’t seem to do right now.
And anyway, they’re halfway to her before I can even get a word out. Resigned, I follow them over.
They stop a few feet away from her table, jostling each other and shooting me looks. “Dude! Go talk to her,” Liam hisses.
I suck in a breath and tighten my abs like I’m preparing for a lift. This is what we agreed to, after all. She said she’d rather pretend to be my girlfriend than risk me spilling her secrets. I still think it’s weird that none of her friends realize she’s the daughter of Jason Lavoy. I get not wanting to air your business to everyone, but why wouldn’t she talk about her parents?
Not like it’s any of my business.
Hitching my backpack higher on my shoulder, I approach Charity. She has her head resting on her hand as she reads, her hair piled on her head in a messy bun, with her oversized pale green sweater baring one shoulder. She looks delicious, like she’d be all snuggly and warm and ready to cuddle on the couch.
Too bad she won’t do that with me. She probably wouldn’t believe that’s something I’d want to do with anyone, much less her. But I’ve gotten tired of hookups, and something about her—that fiery personality under the good girl exterior—makes me want to spend time with her. Find out what makes her tick. Like why she’s going to such lengths to hide her background.
Coming up behind her, I place my hand on the table next to her book, lean over her, and grin. “Hey, babe. Fancy meeting you here.”
She jerks at my voice so close to her ear, looking up at me with wide eyes. Her surprise quickly gives way to irritation, then she follows my pointed look to where my friends stand watching us. Her irritation morphs into resignation. She gives me a forced smile. “Hey… babe? I don’t usually see you in the campus center.”
I pull the chair next to her even closer and drop into it, draping one arm over the back of her chair. “I forgot to pack a post-workout snack today. So we’re here to get some food.”
She looks around at the available choices before facing me and raising one eyebrow. “This doesn’t seem like your usual type of post workout snack.”
