Out in the Field (Out in College 4)

“Yeah,” I replied. “But this isn’t a big deal. I just need a couple of minutes.”

“Done. Follow my lead.”

* * *

As Sunny predicted, Javi and Sarah turned down her offer to attend the cast party. We lingered near the exit chatting and killing time until the bustling backstage area cleared out and Sunny announced it was time to go. Javi and Sarah said goodbye with matching goofy grins that made me seriously uncomfortable. I bit back the urge to explain myself and hoped I wasn’t about to make a big mistake.

While we waited, I asked Sunny more “parental-style” questions about her major and her classes in an effort to seem unfazed and relaxed. She chirped happily beside me about the cute TA in her anthropology class and a paper due the following week.

“…I’m just not interested in the subject and the professor is so dry. I wish—oh,” she paused then inclined her head meaningfully. “There he is.”

And there it was again…the same feeling that caught me off guard the night I met Phoenix in the line outside of Vibes three months ago. The instant sense of connection made me as though I was supposed to know him. Like fate or something. I didn’t get it, but I was superstitious enough to know I’d better pay attention.

I studied him as he chatted with a tall, athletic-looking dude. He hefted a bag over his shoulder then leaned against the door jamb, sipping something from a red plastic cup and nodding to whatever the other guy was saying, with a vaguely bored expression.

“Who’s he talking to?”

“Braden. He’s a volleyball player, but he had a small part in the play too. They were seeing each other. It’s over though, so don’t give up or—”

“Whoa. I’m just here to say hi.”

Sunny narrowed her eyes and scoffed. “Bullshit. You like him.”

I fixed her with an incredulous look. “I barely know him.”

“But you want to,” she stated.

“Yeah, well—”

“Now’s your chance. I’m off. You can take it from here, Max. See ya.”

She headed toward her brother and his ex purposefully. I overheard her ask for a hand with something before tugging at the tall guy’s wrist. He nodded then followed her to the exit. Damn. She was good. I stared at the space she’d vacated, then cleared my throat and stepped forward.

“Hi.”

Phoenix cocked his head curiously. His expression was friendly but cautious. I couldn’t blame him.

“Hi. You’re still here.”

“Yeah, um…”

“I had a feeling Sunny would do something like this. You must have told her you were the club hunk.”

I snorted. “Those were definitely not my exact words. But yeah, I told her we met in LA.”

“That’s all she needed,” he huffed in amusement.

“Hey, it’s not a big deal. I just wanted to talk to you for a second. If that’s okay,” I added quickly.

“Sure. What about?”

Of course, I couldn’t think of anything to say that didn’t sound totally ridiculous. I was tongue-tied. I swallowed hard then gestured at the ivy wreath around his head.

“Nice crown.”

Phoenix chuckled. “Thanks. They let me keep it as a memento. I never could resist a tiara. Such as it is.”

“You look good,” I replied anxiously.

Fuck. This wasn’t going well. If I didn’t up my conversation game, he’d think I was a dumb jock on a mad quest to join the dork patrol. But he did look amazing. He’d changed into a floral button-down shirt and designer jeans with a pair of short black boots kind of like the ones his sister had on, but with a shorter heel. He’d scrubbed the heavy stage makeup from his face and lightly reapplied eyeliner and pink-tinted lip gloss.

“Thank you. So…how’d you like the show?” Phoenix asked politely.

“Um, I liked it.”

“But?” He arched his eyebrows. “I hear hesitation.”

“I thought you were great. I just didn’t get the play.”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a classic. What didn’t you get?”

“A lot,” I admitted with a half laugh. “No offense, but I had no idea what the fuck was happening onstage tonight. A bunch of fairies, a duke, a queen. It was confusing. Don’t get me wrong. I thought you were amazing. The best one by far, but I’m not a theater freak.”

“Freak?” he glared, knitting his brow.

I winced. “No, I didn’t mean that. I just…I didn’t come for the play. I came to see you. I should have come on my own, but I chickened out ’cause I didn’t want to have any embarrassing conversations…like this one.”

Phoenix twisted a piece of plastic ivy on his crown as he regarded me thoughtfully. “I think it’s more puzzling than embarrassing.”

“Maybe it’s both. I’ve been acting weird lately. I’ve been lurking around the food court and walking by the theater, even though my classes are on the other end of campus, because I wanted to see you again.”

Phoenix regarded me skeptically. “Why didn’t you just call me?”