Spitfire in Love (Chasing Red 3)

I quickly replied to them. I’d been texting and hanging out with Tala and Thomas more ever since Cameron disappeared. They had even met last weekend, and I was glad they liked each other. It helped to be distracted by them.

If I felt disappointment because Cameron didn’t text me, I ignored it.

You didn’t reply to him in the first place. Why would you expect he’ll text you again?

Because I wanted to see if he meant what he said yesterday.

And a text will do that?

To start.

You wouldn’t have replied to him anyway.

I wanted him to do more than text.

Well, heads up!

I raised my head. My heart, feeling droopy earlier, jumped against my ribs. There on the same bench where I’d seen him before was Cameron. In the same loose-limbed, sprawling position.

His massive body looked relaxed. Muscular legs spread, elbows bent and resting on the back of the bench. He looked calm, but when my eyes met his, there was a storm in them.

We looked at each other. Just looked. Taking in all the details.

My gaze shifted behind him. He was surrounded by the basketball team, but he ignored everyone. Caleb caught my eye. He pointed at Cameron, grinning at me. He’s back, he mouthed, motioning for me to hang out with them.

I glared at him and shook my head, wanting to stuff his mouth with a dirty sock. Be quiet! I wanted to yell. He was like a little kid. It would have been adorable if only I didn’t want Cameron to find out I had been looking for him. When I saw Cameron look behind him, Caleb stopped moving and pressed his lips together, looking guilty. I rushed out of there.

“Damndamndamn,” I groaned as I walked to the cafeteria and chose a table.

I wondered if Caleb already told him I had been looking for him while he was away for more than two weeks. He probably had.

I groaned, feeling sorry for how stupid I was. I shouldn’t have asked Caleb.

Funny how when I was ready to talk about my feelings, Tala wasn’t here. She texted me back and said she was going to miss her classes today because she had to take care of family matters. She sounded busy, so I told her we’d catch up sometime this week.

It was frustrating how life threw these plot twists at me.

Apart from the three students in the far corner and the culinary arts students prepping the buffet table for lunch, the cafeteria was empty.

I wasn’t sure if part of the culinary arts students’ practicum was to serve meals at the cafeteria, but I knew when they were present, the meals were always good. But today I couldn’t even summon the enthusiasm to eat.

I dumped my phone and my backpack on the table and laid my head on top of it.

“Where were you this morning?”

“Shit!” I jumped as Cameron occupied the seat across from me.

He leaned back, watching me with anger in his eyes.

I straightened up in my seat, glaring at him.

“I told you I wasn’t going to pick you up anymore,” I told him wearily.

“That’s going to be a problem.”

“The only problem is that you’re still here and—”

There is no other woman in this world that could drive me to my fucking knees but you.