“It’s football, Zo, not astrophysics.”
“Girl, when are you going to realize, football is the only thing that matters here.” She waves her hands around the entire area. “Shit. Have you ignored my entire life?”
“Why are you being so over the top?”
“Girl, I—”
“He’s fine. Thank God the “Arm” is all good. That bitch can live to see another day,” one of his football buddies says.
“Grady. Shut the hell up! She did nothing wrong.”
“I am so sorry.” I turn toward Ben and offer an apology.
“Don’t worry about it. No harm. No foul.”
“I really am sorry,” I say as my mouth runs dry and my heart accelerates.
“Doll, do me a favor. Let it go,” he says as he pats some dirt off his clothes. “You’re Suzie, right? Zoey’s roommate?”
“I… I’m… Ha… Umm.” I stumble. Because the full sight of Ben is staggering, and so much more than any photo has to offer.
“God, Bennie. You haven’t met Suzie.” Zoey interjects. “Ben Anderson, meet Susanne Montgomery.” She adds.
“Nice to meet you, Tornado Suzie.”
Staring into the most gorgeous eyes, I lose myself. All the training and finishing school I’ve undertaken fly right out the window as I look into Ben’s whiskey colored eyes.
“Oh, um, yes. I’m Suzie, and I’m so sorry about running you over. I um, kinda…got distracted.” I provide at a loss for words.
Hello, MENSA…you can now revoke my membership. With one sentence, I have been resorted to a fucking schoolgirl without brains or any common sense.
“Christ, you’re beautiful. Can I take you for tacos?”
“What the fuck, man? You do not engage the enemy!” Grady shouts.
“Grady, man, if I have to tell you again, I’m going to lay you flat. Shut the fuck up.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Standing before me, Ben is all physical perfection. With a smile no man who was just run over should have. “It’s Tuesday and I’m in the mood for some tacos. You up for some?”
Looking around me, the pl
ayers who had been surrounding my Rover have dispersed and it’s just Zoey, Derrick, Ben, and me and I want nothing more than to shout out a yes. But I also refuse to put myself back in the limelight. I have spent my entire life as a pawn in my parents’ game. I’m not about to be anyone else’s.
I look over to my best friend, wrapped in the arms of Derrick, and look back to the man who both fascinates and scares the hell out of me. “Um, no, I’m sorry. I don’t eat tacos.”
“What the fuck, Suz. You love—”
Cutting my best friend off, I continue on, “I’m sorry for all of this. For hurting you, but I’ve got to go.”
With this said, I turn and scramble back into my car and drive off.
Driving away from Ben was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m a nerd. Always have been. I’m your Harry Potter and Star Wars loving girl. I write computer code and hack into the FBI and CIA for shits and giggles. But I also know pretty and someone outside my reach. I never dated in high school, too geeky and smart for the boys in our group. However, somewhere between graduation and Oklahoma, I grew into my own. Like a three-year-old colt coming into its legs, I have finally come into my own. But, regardless, Ben Anderson supersedes any man I have ever encountered.
Zoey slamming into our dorm room doesn’t shock me in the least. She does it daily. I mean, really, the girl has no speed below seventy-five.
“What the ever-loving hell, Suz?” Her anger surprises me.