Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“Here goes nothing,” I mutter and get to work.
Starting slowly, I create a lower base using my pointer fingers, pressing the clay in a deep curve on each side, rounding it out toward the top. As soon as that’s done, I smile because I know this is actually going to work.
For the first time, class comes to a close too fast, and I nearly pout, but I take an extra minute or two to put my final touches on.
Stepping back, I beam at my work, looking over at my professor as she comes up.
“Is that…” She looks to me.
I laugh. “Yep.”
“Nice work, Cox. I think you might have found your element. Get it in the kiln and get your station cleared.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I do as I’m told, thinking maybe this class won’t be so bad after all.
With a little extra pep in my step, I head out and over to the cafeteria for some lunch.
Burrito bowl with extra guac in hand, I take a seat. I no sooner take my first bite than a pair of thick thighs appears across the table.
I look up, following the tight stretch of a deep green T-shirt, molded perfectly to a firm chest, and into a pair of green eyes that still spark something inside me, making me swallow my tongue. He knows it too, his lips twitching at whatever he sees staring back at me.
“Hi, Cameron,” Alister all but purrs. “Think your boyfriend would mind if I joined you?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Alister
Her face is so expressive. That was one of the first things I learned about her.
She can’t hide how she feels, but more than that, I don’t think she tries to. She doesn’t shy away from her likes and dislikes, her desires, and the look in her eye tells me she feels a little of all three of those things for me.
The dislike sucks, but it’s outweighed by the others. I can work with that.
“So will he?”
Cameron blinks up at me, going the silent route as she takes a big bite of her food, her teeth scraping her fork to drive the point home—I’m on her nerves already. But that’s fine. At least she’s no longer telling me to fuck off.
I take a seat across from her, and she folds her feet beneath her, sitting up a little higher.
“Glad to know he’s not threatened by me,” I tease.
“Please.” She stabs her chicken, lifting her fork as she smirks at me. “He’s threatened by no one.”
“Because you’re so in love?” I joke. “Or because he wouldn’t know how to take a relationship serious enough to know he should be threatened?”
“You know nothing about him,” she snaps.
A small frown builds, her quickness to defend him rubbing me the wrong way, but I have to remind myself that they’re like family. Of course she’ll stand up for him, probably until she’s blue in the face. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
I lift my hands in surrender. “All right, my bad. I guess I assumed having played on the team with him for a season and a half, I might have some idea—”
“What exactly are you getting at, Alister?” She pops the top of her soda, taking a small sip.
“Oh, nothing, I was just going to offer to keep an eye on him for you at next week’s game.”
“Why not this week, oh savior of mine?” She flutters her lashes mockingly.
“Well, this week, we’re playing at home again. Next week, we’re on the road. No one to report back to you if your man decides to go back to his player ways and shacks up with someone.”
“He won’t.”
I cock my head. “You sure?”
Cameron licks her lips. “You know, if this is your idea of being friendly, you suck at it.”
I laugh, unwrapping my roast beef sandwich, and take a couple bites.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, and it’s nice. I miss just being near her.
Cameron finishes too soon and starts to stand, but I swiftly reach out, gripping her wrist before she can, and her blue eyes pop up to mine.
“Come on, Cam. Hang out with me for a few minutes.”
“I should really—”
“Just until I finish eating,” I interrupt. “Please.”
She stares at me a moment before a fake sigh leaves her, and she lowers back onto the seat. “Fine. I still have a brownie to eat, I guess.”
I let her go, grinning widely, and she hides hers by looking down at her tray.
“So what classes did you have today?” I ask.
“You mean your initial stalking skills from the first few weeks didn’t tell you all my secrets?”
“Only where to find you, but I did refrain from approaching all your professors.”
“Oh, yeah, so only the one in the class I was most looking forward to then, huh?”
“Hey, Thursday afternoon was my only free spot, and it’s hard to find a class that’s only in person once a week. You should feel flattered I want to spend what could be my afternoon off with you instead.”