I stopped in my tracks and closed my eyes as panic and worry filled me as my mind spun.I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest, not only from the kiss we’d just shared but from the reminder I didn’t have a room.
“No,” I said, my voice cracking.
“What are you going to do?Where are you going to stay?”his deep voice asked.
I turned around and looked at him now standing in the room, a bit of light coming through the window from the streetlight cast him in a bit of light.It took me by surprise how handsome he looked in the dark room, the way the light came in through the large front window and hit his eyes.The stream of light stressed some of his best features, and I realized that the tingling sensation that had washed through me when he’d kissed me had more to do with how attracted I still was to him than anything else.I swallowed hard.
“I guess you are going to have a roommate, if you’ll have me.You told me you had plenty of room.”
He didn’t move; he said nothing; he just sat there staring at me as I stared back.
“Good night, Colton,” I said.
It took everything in me to tear my eyes from him and make my way down the hall where I opened the door to my room when I heard his voice.
“Night, Emma.”
Chapter Eleven
Colton
I walkedinto The Sushi Garden and immediately saw Dylan raise his hand and wave.They were seated toward the back of the restaurant, so I made my way to the back to find Knox, Lucas, Clay, and Levi all sitting around the table as well.
“Hey, guys,” I said, slipping into the booth, noticing we weren’t at our usual table.“Why the change in booths?”I questioned.
“Well, we weren’t sure if you were bringing Emma,” Dylan added.“You two have been inseparable since she returned.”
I’d expected Emma to be awake when I got up this morning, just as she’d been every morning since she’d arrived, only this morning her bedroom door was closed, and when I pressed my ear to it, I heard nothing.I didn’t wake her; instead, I felt a sense of relief that she would not be at my side today.
“Nah, she was still asleep when I left this morning.So, I figured I’d leave her to it.”
“Tire her out, did you, big guy?”Levi said, smacking me on the shoulder.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.The only one of us who was tired out was me.After we’d shared that kiss last night, I’d barely been able to sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about how it had felt.I also couldn’t get the look I’d seen in her eyes out of my head when I’d told her she deserved better.I could tell she didn’t think she deserved someone better.
“Nah, she’s just been exhausted,” I said, feeling a little on edge as the guys all looked at me.
This was the first time I didn’t allow them to expand on the idea they’d suggested.Normally, I’d just run with it, but not today, not about Emma.
During the entire practice, everyone seemed indifferent toward me.It was almost as if they knew something but weren’t sure how to bring it up.
“So, is everyone ready for the away games?”I asked.
“Game on!”Lucas replied, then the table fell silent again.
I looked at each one of them, noticing they each had the same questioning look on their faces.
“What is it?”I asked.
“Alright, fine, if none of you idiots want to bring it up, I will,” Knox said, clearing his throat.
All the guys shifted in their seats and dropped their eyes to the menu in front of them, except for me and Knox.We just sat there and stared at one another.
“What the hell is up with this Emma chick?”
“What do you mean, what the hell is up with her?”I questioned, trying hard to maintain composure and remember what I’d said in the locker room the first day she was here.
“Yeah, man, we just want to know the truth, because something is off,” Dylan added.
