Campus God (Campus)

Yup, the guy could be the definition of catnip for the female species. Once my heart is no longer racing, I carefully sneak a peek into the other room, only to realize he’s paused the movie.

I release a steady breath and try to clear the mental fog that has descended before grabbing a bag of popcorn from the cabinet, unwrapping the cellophane, and setting it in the microwave.

You know the easiest way to evict Crosby from my brain?

By focusing on the guy I’m actually interested in. The one I wish were here instead.

Inviting him up was a mistake. When he gave me an out, I should have grabbed hold of it with both hands and agreed that I was tired. Instead, here I am, hiding out in the kitchen of my own apartment.

I nip the phone from my back pocket before firing off a text.

Hey. I’ll call in a little bit. Watching a movie with a friend. Would much rather be talking with you.

20

CROSBY

I slide my phone from my pocket when it chimes with an incoming message and glance at the screen.

What the hell?

I’m a little surprised to find a text from Brooke. With a quick glance at the kitchen, I silence the cell. The last thing I want is for her to put two and two together and figure out that I’m Chris. She needs a little more time to get to know me better. Maybe then she won’t feel like I deliberately deceived her.

Even though that’s precisely what I’m doing.

How the hell did my life become so complicated?

It’s beyond ridiculous that I’ve allowed this situation to spiral so far out of control.

And yet…how can I rein it back in again?

We’re way past the point of me ghosting her. I could have walked away from the coffee shop this morning but wasn’t able to do it.

I scan the text for a second time.

So she’s watching a movie with a friend, huh?

I suppose there are worse things she could have referred to me as. With another quick glance toward the kitchen, I tap out a response and hit send before I can stop myself.

Oh, yeah? What kind of friend? Someone I should be concerned about?

My heart kicks up a few notches as I shift on the couch and wait for a reply.

Not at all.

Then she tacks on a few laughing emojis to twist the knife deeper.

My lips sink into a frown as I drag a hand over my face. I can’t believe I’m seriously jealous of a persona I created. How messed up is that?

The faint ding from the microwave knocks me out of my thoughts as I shove the phone back into my pocket. A handful of seconds later, she returns with two bottles of water and a big bowl of popcorn for us to share.

The sexual tension that had been simmering in the atmosphere just minutes ago is now long gone, only to be replaced with the same strain as when I startled her in the parking lot. For a moment or two, I consider bringing up the elephant in the room before quickly discarding the idea. The last thing I want to do is make Brooke more uncomfortable than she already is. If I’m lucky, she’ll loosen up again and I can make a little headway before she sends me home. The text she just sent pops into my brain before I promptly shove it away.

It’s just going to take a little time for me to change her opinion.

Without a word, I pick up the remote to restart the movie as we dig into the popcorn. Even though we aren’t doing anything more than hanging out, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

The movie is almost halfway through when a plot twist happens, and I can’t resist rolling my eyes and telling her how lame it was. She smirks before throwing a piece of popcorn at me. Since it’s the last thing I’m expecting, the kernel hits me square in the chest before dropping to my lap. She laughs as I pick it up and toss it back at her. But she’s way ahead of me and bats it away before dissolving into a fit of giggles. The movie continues to unfold on the screen as her gaze drops to my mouth. Unconsciously, my tongue darts out to play with the small silver hoop.

Her laughter falls away as she tilts her head and studies it. “What does it feel like to kiss someone with that?”

“Are you interested in finding out?” The question shoots out of my mouth before I can think better of it.

When she doesn’t immediately nix the idea, every muscle tightens, going on high alert as my voice turns raspy. “Are you thinking about it?”

“Maybe.”

Her honesty is like an electric shot straight to my dick. I don’t consider the ramifications of my actions as I close the distance between us before wrapping my hand around the back of her neck and slowly pulling her toward me.