Dream Date (16 page)

“You should write a book about how you guys met. I think it’d be great.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. Our story’s private.”

Nathan smiled at Kayla, and she kissed him.

“I do appreciate your not making me famous.”

“I know you enough. You’re not exactly a hermit, but you keep to yourself. I wouldn’t be mean enough to write about your life without telling you.”

Nathan and his friends continued to eat breakfast while talking about school and the upcoming holidays. At one point, Kayla had her hand on the table. Nathan put his hand on top of it and squeezed it.

Before they left, Nathan felt someone walk past their table. He looked up and saw a woman hastily leaving the restaurant. She looked so much like Amanda, so it made Nathan curious.

Then the woman looked back over her shoulder. When her gaze settled on Nathan, his eyes widened.

That definitely was Amanda. And she had seen him with Kayla.

Oh, dear
.

Amanda stopped by a vending machine on her way from her second class. She only had one more class to go before lunch. Amanda couldn’t wait to just call it a day and go back to her apartment. What she had seen in the morning hadn’t let her mind rest so far.

Why do I even care that Nathan has a girlfriend? I don’t even know him much!

Amanda pressed a couple of buttons, and seconds later the machine dispensed an oatmeal crème pie. She grabbed it and then bought a dark chocolate Milky Way.

Just as she turned to walk away, Amanda almost ran into someone. She halted herself just in time, falling into the arms of a tall, muscular guy. When she looked up at his face, Amanda blanched.

“Be careful,” Nathan said, still holding Amanda’s forearms. He then bent down to pick up something. “Here, this is yours.”

Amanda looked at his hand and realized she had dropped her Milky Way. She grabbed it, preparing herself for the jolt of electricity that would run to her when she touched his skin.

It’s still there
, Amanda thought when she felt it. Judging by Nathan’s expression, he felt it too.

“I have to go,” Amanda said, avoiding Nathan’s gaze. She put her snacks in her purse.

“Do you have a minute? I want to talk to you.”

“About what? There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Yes, there is. I wanted you to know that I’m not sending you mixed signals, even if it looks like it.”

Amanda’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Who said anything about mixed signals? You so don’t get it.”

“Then enlighten me.”

“I believe I’m the one who needs to be enlightened. What do you want from me?”

Nathan sighed, thinking his words through. Amanda waited for him with crossed arms. He tried hard not to get distracted by the unintentional display of cleavage.

“Look, I know I avoided telling you I have a girlfriend. I was, um, hoping that—”

“Hoping what? That I would fall for your charms? That you would conveniently forget you’ve got a girlfriend?”

“No! I’m not that kind of guy.”

“Then why do you look at me like I’m the last woman on Earth? It’s your girlfriend whom you should look at that way, not me.”

“You know you can’t blame me. You’ve seen yourself on a mirror.”

You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I’m having a hard time keeping myself from kissing you.

Amanda couldn’t keep from rolling her eyes. She uncrossed her arms.

“I’m not dumb, Nathan, of course I know what I look like. That’s no excuse to cheat on your girlfriend.”

“I wasn’t planning on that.”

“You know, it’s best if we didn’t continue seeing each other. You’re better off without me.”

Nathan froze, wondering if he’d heard right.

“What?”

“I must go to class now, Nathan. Thanks for keeping me company. You should refrain from doing it again.”

With that, Amanda walked around Nathan and out of sight. Hughes appeared out of nowhere and followed after her. He shot Nathan a sorry look before disappearing.

What in the world was that?
Nathan thought, puzzled. He felt as though he’d just bungee-jumped and plowed straight into the water.

Did she just ask me outright to stay away?

Nathan walked away without heading anywhere in particular, losing track of time. Everything had turned into an utter mess. He didn’t know what to make of it.

Simple, dude. Amanda isn’t interested in you.

Nathan walked to his next class in a daze.

Although he wanted to pretend getting rejected by Amanda didn’t hurt (in spite of his already having a girlfriend), it did feel as though someone had punched him in the gut. Nathan was terrified to realize he’d held too much hope.

I’ll be damned. I should have been more realistic.

As he entered the building where his next class was, Nathan vowed to pull Amanda from his heart once and for all. He had to learn not to like those alluring green eyes so much. Or that friggin-kissable mouth. Or those waves of shiny golden hair.

As he walked, Nathan recalled what the weather was like outside. The weather wouldn’t remain warm for long, which was necessary for what he had in mind to forget Amanda. He would make Kayla a happy girl.

Nathan found her waiting outside the classroom. She looked up when he approached.

“
Love,” Kayla said, smiling. Nathan walked right into her and kissed her lips.

“
How are you, baby?”

Kayla waited until he broke the kiss to answer.

“
Fantastic. I made real good progress last night. The book…are you all right?” she asked, only just noticing his slightly let-down expression.

“
What do you mean? I’m fine,” Nathan said. “Listen. You up for some fun this afternoon?”

“
Duh. It’s Friday. Where are we going?”

“
You’ll see. We’ll have a great time. Just meet me in front of your dorm building, and I’ll pick you up.”

“
Are we going to a restaurant?”

“
Something like that,” Nathan told her, smiling. “But better. You’ll love it.”

“
What time do I wait for you?”

“
Let’s say…five o’clock. I’ll bring my car.”

“
Deal,” said Kayla, looking excited.

Just as he was heading to class, Ashton saw Judith walking through the hallway. He waved at her.

“Hi, Ashton,” Judith greeted when she approached him. “How’s your morning?”

“Great. Yours?”

“Same,” she replied. “Are you heading to class?”

“Yeah, but I have ten minutes.”

“I don’t. My class starts in five.”

Ashton smiled.

“That’s still plenty of time to talk.”

Judith smiled too, showing off her white teeth. Ashton tried not to let that kissable mouth distract him too much.

“Are you going to be too busy tonight?”

“No,” Judith said. “You have any plans?”

“If you agree to be in them, the answer’s yes.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know,” Ashton told Judith, closing the distance between them. He stood inches above her, so close that he could smell her perfume. “I was thinking we could get to know each other better.”

Judith exhaled, looking down at Ashton’s lips. She was starting to forget how to breathe. He looked into her green eyes, wondering what she was thinking.

“That sounds…good,” Judith said in a breathy voice. “Uh…when do we meet?”

“Um…how about six o’clock?”

“O-kay?”

Ashton laughed at Judith’s hesitation.

“You’re so darned adorable.”

Judith giggled, shaking her head.

“Did I also mention you’re hot?”

“Damn, you’re bold.”

Ashton laughed again.

“Hand me your phone.”

Judith frowned. She did what Ashton asked. He typed something into it, and then returned the phone.

“There. Now you have my number.”

“Great. I’ll let you know when I’m coming.”

“Okay. I look forward to it,” Ashton said with a sly smile. “See you.”

“See you tonight,” Judith told him, unconsciously checking him out. That made Ashton feel proud. He gave her his most seductive smile. That was the one that women couldn’t resist.

Judith melted when she saw that smile, too. Ashton walked away, leaving her wanting.

Neither of them noticed that Grecia was watching them from afar.

Kayla sat in front of her dresser, combing her hair. She was preparing for her date with Nathan.

The sound of a door opening and closing alerted her to Grecia’s arrival. Kayla looked towards her doorway. When no other sound came, she stood up and walked towards the living room. When Kayla got there, she saw Grecia sitting across the length of the couch, holding a paperback in her hands.

“Friend, are you okay?” Kayla asked after walking to the front and seeing the expression on Grecia’s face.

“I’m fine.”

“Grecia, you know you can tell me anything. And I know you. It’s Ashton, right?”

Grecia dropped her book on her lap, closing her eyes.

“What happened?” Kayla asked, sitting on the sofa next to Grecia’s feet. The girl was barely short enough to leave enough space for Kayla to sit.

“I don’t know what I should do anymore. I thought Ashton knew that I wanted more, and now he’s after his next lay. I saw him with a girl a few hours ago.”

“Why don’t you talk to him? Tell him how you feel about him?”

“That’s the problem, he won’t listen! Ashton’s too afraid of commitment.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You don’t know him.”

Kayla frowned, thinking about what to say.

“You’re in love with him, right?”

Grecia scowled.

“Yes. And I can’t fathom how I was such a fool. I fell in love with someone who can’t love me back.”

Kayla put her hand on Grecia’s shoulder, trying to comfort her.

“Honestly, friend, you and Ashton spent so little time together. You shouldn’t waste any time. Find excuses to be with him. Let him see what he would lose if you were to go away for good.”

Grecia pursed her lips.