Romancing the R.A. (Campus Crush series) (9 page)

“Good morning. Did I wake you?”

“No. Just woke up a few minutes ago.”

“I don’t mean to rush you out, but you might want to head back to your dorm. Breakfast starts in twenty minutes.” He walks to the closet and grabs jeans and another Timberland polo. “Give me two minutes, and I’ll walk you.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s daytime. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“You sure?” He throws his clothes on the bed and walks over to me.

“Yeah.” I stand up and pat down my hair. I have no idea what it looks like. “I should go.” I want to kiss him, but I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. I sidestep him with a smile and head for the door.

“See you at breakfast,” he says as I shut the door behind me.

I run to my dorm. No walk of shame here. I didn’t do anything shame-worthy. For the first time in a long time, I followed my heart, and Julia was right; romance is good for the soul. Julia is ready to go and waiting for me when I walk in.

“No time!” I grab my towel and run for the bathroom. I take the world’s fastest shower and partially dry my hair. Throwing on shorts and a tank top, I check my reflection quickly and pull Julia toward the door.

“I better get details on the way.”

“We watched a movie, made out, and...” She eyes me, waiting for me to confirm her suspicions. “I’m so not telling you about the rest.”

She shrieks. “But it happened! I knew it! College agrees with you.”

Well, Andy agrees with me at least. “So, what about you and Mike?”

“Yummy, right?” Her eyes widen. “Not the greatest kisser, though. Still, he was fun to hang out with for a few hours.”

“So you slept in our room?”

“Unlike
you
.” She elbows me as we walk into the cafeteria.

I look all around for Andy, spotting him at a table with the other R.As, including Mike, who waves to Julia, and Melinda, who appears to have moved on judging by how she’s groping the arm of the guy sitting next to her. At least I don’t have to worry about her anymore.

“Sucks that they have to sit together at meals,” Julia says.

Then it hits me. I don’t know if I’ll get to spend time with Andy again before we leave. After breakfast, we have exams, one after the other, and then they send us home. I have to say goodbye. I can’t leave without at least giving him my number. It’ll be months before the semester starts and I’ll get to see him again.

“Julia, I—”

“Need to find a way to see him before we go. I know.”

That’s why I love her. She understands me. “But how? I don’t think he’ll be at the exams, and he doesn’t even have my cell number.”

“Relax. Write your number on a napkin and tell him to text you after the exams. They should be over by eleven. You can meet up before we drive home.”

I nod. That will work. As long as he doesn’t have swim practice. “What if he—”

“Just go give the guy your number.” She hands me a napkin and her lipstick and pushes me toward Andy’s table. “I’ll get you some cereal.”

I write my number down, hating that all I have to write with is lipstick. It seems so—well, like something Melinda would do. But what choice do I have? I take a breath and walk over to Andy. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He still has the same look in his eyes as he did yesterday—the same desire.

I relax a little. “I wanted to give you this. I don’t know if you’ll be around later.”

He pockets my number while getting up from the table and walks me over to the egg station. He leans close, and his lips brush against my cheek as he says, “You can’t leave until I make an omelet for you.”

He’s going to cook for me? I smile at the sweetness of the gesture.

“I’m guessing you’re a mushroom, green pepper, and American cheese kind of girl.” He narrows his eyes, waiting for my response.

“You’re good.”

He wags his brow and starts making my omelet. I try to think of something to say, something to let him know how glad I am that we met, that I don’t regret anything that happened between us. But nothing is coming to me. At least nothing that doesn’t make me sound like an obsessed little incoming freshman.

He puts the omelet on the plate and breaks off a piece with a fork. He holds it out to me. This time I don’t hesitate to let him feed me. The omelet is heavenly. “Oh my God, that’s good. Your omelet restaurant is going to be a huge success.”

“Thanks.” He looks up at the clock by the entrance. “I wish I could stay, but I have swim practice.”

“Oh, right.” I don’t want to be one of those girls he mentioned earlier who can’t handle his commitment to the team, but I have so little time left with him. “Is it okay if I text you before I go. I’d like to say goodbye. Unless…” I hope I don’t sound too pathetic. “Unless you’d rather just say goodbye now.”

He pulls a pen out of his pocket and rips the napkin with my number in half, writing his on the other side and handing it to me. “I’ll be offended if you don’t at least text me to say goodbye.”

I take the napkin and force a smile. It’s stupid. I just met him, but no part of me wants to leave him right now.

“Go finish eating, and good luck on your exams.” He squeezes my hand and kisses me softly on the lips before walking away.

I watch him go, already feeling an emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Julia comes up next to me and puts her arm around my shoulders. “Wow. He couldn’t be more perfect for you.” She grabs my omelet from the counter and walks me to a table. I can’t even taste the delicious food. I just want Andy to come back.

After a semi-brief send off speech from Dean Decker, I do my best to focus on my exams. I struggle a little with the math, but that’s nothing new for me. Math has never been my subject. But the English essay is easy. I can write essays in my sleep. I finish early and motion to Julia that I’ll wait for her outside. After turning in my blue book, I pull Andy’s number from my pocket and text him.

Finished. Can you meet me by the Newman building?

I wait and wait, but no response. My eyes sting with the threat of tears. Julia comes out and looks around. “Where is he?”

“Swim practice. He must be in the water and isn’t getting my text.”

Julia sits on the stairs, patting the spot next to her. “Then we’ll wait.”

I sit, but I’m not that hopeful. We can’t sit here all day. I’d look pathetic. I watch the minutes tick by on my cell, each one making my heart sink a little lower into my stomach. Why did I have to fall for Andy so quickly? I shouldn’t be in this situation, praying he’ll show up so I don’t have to feel like the slutty freshman who hooked up on her first night at college. No wait, I’m not even technically in college yet.

“Holy shit!” Julia stands up, pulling me with her. “Look!”

Andy is running across the quad wearing nothing but a Speedo.

“Oh my God!” My heart races as Andy runs to me—my knight in shining Speedo—to erase my fears.

“I told you he’s perfect for you. Any guy willing to run practically naked across campus for you is a keeper.” Julia smiles at me. “I’ll meet you at the car.”

I give her a quick thank you and turn to Andy running up the steps. He’s out of breath when he reaches me.

“You ran across campus…” my eyes lower, “in nothing but a Speedo.”

“I had to say goodbye to you in person.”

To hell with looking pathetic. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, not caring that he’s dripping wet.

When we finally pull apart, he looks into my eyes. “Just so you know, I plan to use your number.”

“That’s why I gave it to you.”

“Good because I can’t go the entire summer without at least talking to you.”

Summer. How am I supposed to accept not seeing Andy for months? “Summer’s a long time.” I swallow hard, trying not to let my true feelings come erupting to the surface.

“Summer’s not that long, and if you want to get a head start on your general education requirements, you could take a few classes. They’ll set you up in your dorm, which gives you first pick of your bed, and…” He pauses. “I’ll be here.”

Taking classes over summer break sounds dreadful, but getting to see Andy would be worth it. “There’s one problem.”

“What?”

“Julia will never let me choose my bed before her.”

“Then get her to take some classes, too. Then you’ll have two friendly faces around here.”

He couldn’t have given me a better answer. “You’re kind of perfect, you know that?”

“Could you tell that to Coach? I’m going to have to swim extra laps for running out of practice like that. But when I saw I missed your text, I just took off. I had to see you.”

That settles it. “So, will you tell me about these summer classes while you walk me to my car?”

“Sure. Maybe we can even plan to take one together.”

“Think we can pull that off? I mean, isn’t it getting late to register for summer courses? They’re probably filling up by now.”

“My dad’s the dean, remember?” His devilish smile is back.

“I thought you didn’t get special treatment,” I tease.

“I’m willing to call in a favor for this. We can work it all out tonight when I call you.”

I smile, my pulse racing, and press my lips to his. Yes, college is going to be so much better than high school.

Author Acknowledgements

First I have to thank my agent, Lauren Hammond, for always believing in me and pushing me to be better with every book I write. Thank you to S.B. Addison Books for taking a chance on the Campus Romance series. And thank you to Heather DeRobertis for designing a cover I absolutely love and that fits the story so well.

A huge thank you to my daughter and husband for understanding that my laptop is just as important to me as one of my limbs. To my family, your encouragement and support means so much. To my CPs, you ladies are incredible. I couldn’t write without you.

I also have to thank the book bloggers who helped with cover reveal and early reviews. The way you all jumped in to promote this book means so much to me. And finally, but maybe most importantly, thank you to everyone who reads Romancing the R.A. I hope you fall in love with Noelle and Andy the way I did.

Ashelyn Drake

Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult romance author represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group. While it’s rare for her not to have either a book in hand or her fingers flying across a laptop, she also enjoys spending time with her family. She believes you are never too old to enjoy a good swing set and there’s never a bad time for some dark chocolate. Visit her website/blog at
http://ashelyndrake.wordpress.com
.