His Forever Love

“I’m starting to think I might be your story,” I tease him, knowing he’s right. We both place our orders and wait off to the side. Zoey texts me about how boring her class is.

“There he is,” Keith says under his breath to me. I look up from my phone to see Theo walking into the coffee shop. This is the first time I’ve gotten to see him again since the night in the elevator. He looks as handsome as ever. He has an air of confidence that pushes all the right buttons for me. It’s even in the way he walks. He’s not arrogant, but he exudes power.

His eyes come right to me and then narrow. For some reason I suddenly feel as if I’m in trouble. We stand there staring at each other until someone tries to get into the door, which his big frame is blocking. He gives the person an apology as he moves forward.

I lift my hand, giving him a small wave like a dork, but what else am I supposed to do? We're staring right at each other. It would be rude of me not to greet him in some way. Thoughts of walking up and kissing him briefly enter my mind, but I push them away. I need to get myself under control. This happens to me every time he’s near. I make a fool of myself.

“Theo!” I jerk my head around at the sound of Tiffany’s voice as she pushes into the coffee shop. She’s clearly excited to see him. I shouldn’t be calling him that. He’s not my friend. I barely know him, but Coach Gray sounds weird. He’s not my coach. He’s not my anything. He already belongs to someone. I need to get that through my thick skull. I mean, how many times do I have to witness them together before I stop with this crazy fascination with him?

“That could be your story.” Keith’s brows lift as he watches Tiffany hug Theo. I turn around, grabbing my hot chocolate. My phone goes off in my hand. I look at it to see Zoey asking about dinner ideas.

“Crap. My friend needs me. Text me later?”

“I don’t have your number.” Crap. Why did I say that? I ramble it off so quickly I’m not sure he catches it before I’m out the door and headed home, knowing that I need to bury this silly crush I have for Theo once and for all.

6

Theodore

What the fuck am I doing now? I ask myself as I follow not far behind Willow as she makes her way toward our building. I’m a damn stalker is what I am. Even though I have that thought, that still doesn’t stop me from continuing to follow her. I mean, technically I’m heading home too, so I’m not really following her.

I spent an hour after practice not watching game tape like normal but watching Willow’s videos on social media. How did I not put it together before now she’s a Harlow? Of course she comes from money, how else would a college student afford to live in our building?

Yet she doesn’t act as though she’s some stuck-up rich kid. Her parents are big contributors to our school, which only puts up another roadblock in my path to her. Still, I pick up my pace as she gets closer to the entrance of our building, wanting to savor the small glimpse I’m getting of her.

If I time it right, she’ll have to ride the elevator with me. Hopefully we’ll be alone. Maybe talking to her will cure this obsession I have with her. It will show me that we have nothing in common and that this is only a physical attraction. Let’s hope, because I don’t think I could stay away from her if that’s not the case. I’m already fighting a losing battle here.

I watch as she enters the lobby. She presses the button for the elevator and steps back. I study her profile for a minute. She’s perfect. So young and full of life. She has her entire future ahead of her. What would she want with an old man like me?

I don’t stand a chance in keeping her, so I should let her go now, before I get a taste of her. I know once I do that, I’ll never be able to set her free. Against my own advice, I head inside and toward her. She has that effect on me, making me do things that I wouldn’t normally do.

She must sense me because she turns to look at me, and those gorgeous green eyes of hers connect with mine. She looks a bit shocked, but I see a flash of relief there that I can’t explain. Her mouth drops open only for a second. I think I groan out loud as I watch her pink little tongue peek out to wet those plump lips of hers.