The Junior (College Years 3)

“That’s great,” I say, a little weakly, shocked by how similar their story is to mine and Gracie’s.

I feel like I’ve broken down her walls bit by bit, all while she acted like she hated me at first. I never hated her. I was entranced by her from the very beginning.

Some might say…a little obsessed even. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Every time I saw her, I bugged the shit out of her just to get a rise out of her. And it always worked. It’s like when you’re in kindergarten and you chase after a girl to let her know you like her. I chased lots of them back then, and they never wanted to get caught by me.

Then I start catching them, and I immediately threw them aside like a heartless idiot.

Now I want one. I want her bad. But I don’t think she sees me like that. Sometimes I wonder if she can barely tolerate me.

“Have fun on your camping trip.” He grips my shoulder and gives it a little shake. “Show her what you’ve got, son.”

“Thanks,” I tell him.

Yeah. No pressure.

No pressure at all.

Eighteen

Gracie

“You feeling good enough to go camping with him?” Hayden asks me, concern in her gaze.

It’s Sunday evening and I’m at her new apartment. Caleb and I came here after work to hang out with her and Tony for a little bit before we head home to finish packing for our beach trip in the morning. The guys are currently outside barbecuing chicken. Well, Tony is barbecuing it while Caleb watches him.

“I don’t have any more pain, if that’s what you’re asking,” I tell her. “I was fine at work today.”

“You probably shouldn’t have gone,” she says with a frown.

“I was okay. My job isn’t very strenuous. I sat around most of the time.” Ca

leb didn’t want me to go either, but I insisted. The pain is mostly gone. Only the occasional twinge happens. And I need to work because I need the money.

“Still. The emergency room doc said you should stay home for a few days,” Hayden reminds me.

I should’ve never told her what the doctor said. Now here she is hovering over me. “I’ll be fine. Really. I’ll make an appointment with my gyno tomorrow on the drive.”

“Don’t forget.” She wags her finger at me like a mom. “Try to get in as soon as you can, too.”

“Yes, Mother.” I roll my eyes and her expression becomes stern. “Come on, Hay. Lighten up.”

“Honestly, I think you’re treating what happened to you too lightly.” She lowers her voice. “Something could be seriously wrong. You need to make sure you’re okay.”

“I doubt it’s anything serious,” I say, but deep down, that’s what scares me. What if I’m all messed up down there and I can’t have kids? That would be…awful. Because I want them. Eventually. And I don’t want the choice taken away from me.

“Doesn’t hurt to check,” she reminds me, just as Caleb opens the sliding glass door and enters the living room.

“Doesn’t hurt to check what?” he asks.

I study him, hating how attractive he looks right now in this moment. His dark hair just keeps growing, getting longer and longer, and he pushes it away from his face as if it’s an annoyance. Doesn’t help that his biceps bulge every time he does it, all those muscles flexing. Reminding me of how strong he is.

He’s got those muscles on display too, wearing a black Nike tank top and black shorts, and the gold chain around his neck has become this weird temptation for me. I’m oddly fixated on it. Like I want to trace it with my fingertips. My lips.

My tongue.

Whoops, yep. Nope. Scratch that. No tongue involved. Not with me and Caleb.

“Her health,” Hayden says, answering Caleb’s question and not holding back whatsoever. “It’s important she makes that appointment with her gynecologist tomorrow morning when you guys are traveling, okay?”