My heartbeat pulsed at the base of my neck. My stomach churned as I watched her face Sam and hook her arms around his neck, swaying her hips.
I was going to be sick.
I took a step forward. Ready to put an end to whatever was happening, but a large hand landing on my back stopped me.
“Trey, how are you doing, man?” asked Austin Lunt, starting point guard for the SDU basketball team.
My eyes danced back and forth. I took a strong swig of my beer and turned fully to Austin. I tried concentrating on the man in front of me and not on the love of my life dancing with Sam Cameron, of all people.
“Hey—man—I’m good. How are things with you?” I accepted his outstretched hand.
“All is well. Never thought I’d see you at one of these, though. What finally got you out tonight?”
Austin and I met in a study group last year. We hit it off with our same interest in sports, Call of Duty and pizza. We’d hung out a few nights for studying. But those always turned into nights of video games and delivered pizza.
He invited me to a load of parties, but I turned him down each time with no real excuse. He probably thought I was some social wreck and left me alone about it after a while.
“My roommates dragged me here,” I said over the music. I peered back over to the dance floor; my blood going cold when I didn’t find Maybelle there.
I put a hand on Austin’s shoulder. “Sorry, I gotta go.”
I moved past him, scanning the crowd, searching for gold curls. I didn’t find blonde, but I did find red hair, a tall man in leather beside her. I strode through the mess, pushing people aside until I was in front of Penny and Daniel.
“Where is she?”
32 Why Him?
Maybelle
Sam Cameron.
Maybe it was the way he blushed when I teased him. The way he tried to make small talk about politics. Or the way he was one of the biggest dorks I’d ever met but was well-equipped with lean muscle and a handsome face.
Whatever it was, I’d taken a liking to him.
Sam and I met the first day of classes. He approached me after a lecture. He introduced himself, then launched into a ramble about the current foreign conflicts of the world.
I didn’t understand what he was saying, but I said something sarcastic like, “Wow. You really know your stuff.”
He lit up, not recognizing the mockery in my compliment.
Since then, we’d had two coffee dates.
After the first date, I came home to Penny and our other two roommates, Abigail, Madelyn, loitering in the living room. All awaiting to hear how my first college date went.
When I told them my date was with Sam, Penny and Madelyn grimaced.
Abigail had never met him. So, she had no opinions to share, but Madelyn and Penny were adamant that Sam Cameron was the most painfully awkward boy they’d ever encountered.
I understood. Sam was uncomfortable, but I learned that when I slid him an actual compliment, a flirtatious touch or glance here and there, he became a whole new person. His ramblings weren’t as long or random and his darling, bashful smile teetered toward a confident smirk.
The party tonight was for Penny and me to have a girls’ night out but shifted when we ran into Sam. Penny instantly and happily called Daniel, asking him to come keep her company while I followed Sam out onto the dance floor.
Tonight, there was no sign of his shy awkwardness. His grin was adorable. His shaggy, dirty blonde hair was combed back, showing off his brilliant hazel eyes, and an olive-toned face. His sculpted body was dressed tightly in a light teal tee and jeans, hugging his legs.
Sam was almost proud as he pulled me through the crowd. As we danced, his large hands latched onto my hips, swaying in sync with me even though I was far from in beat with the music. I tied my arms around his neck, pulling myself against him.
I had to look up to meet his eyes because,wow. He was tall.
