SWNOVELS The Forbidden Freshman: Chapter 12
I didn’t even see her until she was right beside me. I thought I was just steadying some random stranger, but then she stopped and waited for me to finish texting.
I figured it was just another chick trying to catch my attention, and I was getting ready to put on my polite smile because Get Some Ethan is on lockdown right now. But then she rolled her eyes, and I realized this girl with the lipstick and the hoop earrings is none other than…
“Hey, lil’ mouse.”
She huffs again, throwing in a noise of disgust. “You’re really not going to drop that, are you?”
“Nope.” I grin.
She tips her head back with a groan and looks seconds away from bailing when something stops her.
Her hands clench into two little fists and she takes a quick breath, like she’s trying to win some internal battle before smiling up at me. “So, I bought you a coffee the other day. Think it’s about time you return the favor.”
Wow. Talk about blunt. I can’t let that shit slide.
“Uh… that was an apology coffee. Shouldn’t it be a plain freebie with no strings attached?”
She flicks her arms up like I’m impossible and ends up snapping, “Do you want to have a drink with me or not?”
“Oh, wait, is this you trying to be friendly? Because if you’re asking me out, I don’t tend to date mice.”
Her right eyebrow arches as she crosses her arms and hits me with a challenging glare. “From what I’ve heard you don’t tend to date women either.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, Mr. Hockey, I know all about you now. You think I’m allergic to sharing information, but I’ve heard that you’re allergic to sharing anything more than your dick.” She points at my pants, and I have to force out a scoff.
It’s forced because okay, maybe she’s right.
That kind of assumption has never bothered me before, but for some reason, hearing her sum it up in that derogatory tone kind of stings.
“So why would I waste my time asking you out on a date? All I’m trying to do is score myself a free coffee.” Her eyes start to sparkle with a grin, and damn if I can’t resist it.
“Okay, mouse, come on, then. I’ll buy you a babyccino.”
She struggles to contain her laughter, biting her lips together and shaking her head. “If you don’t buy me something loaded with caffeine, you’ll be in danger of bringing out my inner bitch, and I really wouldn’t risk that if I were you.”
I hiss. “Your inner bitch. Man, she must be a piece of work, because your outer bitch has got some bite.”
She laughs like she can’t believe I just said that but manages to compose herself enough to play along. “See? Why risk it? I’m doing this for your own health and safety.”
And now I’m laughing too. Turning in the direction of Java Jean’s, I set a slower pace than usual so she can keep up with me. Although, I get the feeling those short legs can probably run pretty fast when they need to. She seems like an athletic kind of chick.
The hoops in her ears bounce around while she’s walking, and she keeps adjusting them, her eyebrows dipping like she’s not used to wearing such big jewelry. Maybe she’s trying something new with the whole T-shirt knot thing and the lip gloss. It’s kinda cute, definitely shows off her figure a little more. Those frayed shorts she’s wearing make her butt and legs—
Don’t look!
My loyal brain starts reminding me why while my cock gives a little stir.
I clamp my lips together, forcing my gaze the other way… out across the green lawn to the smattering of sunbathers who will have to give up soon enough. Temperatures are already dropping, and within a couple months, this place will be covered in snow.
“You ski?” I ask. Yeah, it’s random, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
“I’ve done a little boarding, nothing too spectacular. I’m more of a water baby.”
“Oh yeah? Where’d you grow up?”
“California.”
“Nice. LA?”
“Fontana. It’s about an hour east, but easy enough to get to the beaches.”
“Wow. A Cali beach bunny. Nice.” I grin and she snorts, shaking her head like I’ve said something ridiculous. “So, why are you in Colorado, then? Ain’t no beaches around here.”
She swallows, her lips pursing for a quick second before she murmurs, “I got into Nolan U.”
“You didn’t try for UCLA or USC?”
She looks up with a closed-mouth smile and shakes her head. “I got into Nolan U.”
I frown, wondering what she’s not saying. I’m about to ask, but she rushes ahead, opening the door for us and giving me a pointed look. “Let’s go, big guy. Coffee awaits.”
She ushers me up to the counter, and I don’t even bother checking the board before placing the order. “One Americano and one café au lait in the biggest cup you’ve got. I’m talking bowl size, you feel me?”
The guy nods with a grin while Mikayla laughs, then taps the glass case.
“Throw in one of those apple cinnamon muffins, too, please.”
I look down at her, pretending to be offended. “You didn’t buy me a muffin. Since when was food part of this payback deal?”
She grins. “Think of it as an opportunity to show me what a gentleman you are.” And with that, she spins to go look for a table.
Stopping near the window, I think she’s about to slide up onto one of the high stools, and I’m already thinking of lines I can hassle her with, like “How’s the air up here?” but then she frowns and turns toward the couch in the back corner.
I glance outside to try and figure out what she was looking at. There are a bunch of students milling around. Maybe one of them pissed her off at some point. Or maybe she just doesn’t want to be stared at through the glass, because let’s face it, if she’s hanging with me, we’re gonna get more looks than the average Joe.
I walk over to the couch with her mammoth muffin, then head back to the counter for our coffees.
Her mug is basically a bowl, and I’m feeling pretty triumphant as I place it down in front of her. The look on her face is priceless.
“Yes. Come to Mama, baby.” She wraps her fingers around the mug and takes a big gulp. I’m pretty sure she just burned her tongue by the way her eyes are watering, and I jump up to grab her a glass of water from the cooler near the counter.
She chokes out a thank-you, guzzling the water down before attempting her coffee again. It’s like it’s her drug of choice the way she closes her eyes and sighs after a few more mouthfuls.
“I didn’t get my fix this morning.” She wipes a little foam off her top lip. “That first class was basically impossible to concentrate in. My notes are probably trash thanks to total brain fog.”
“Ah, so that’s why you approached me. It wasn’t about hanging out, it was about getting your caffeine fix.”
“Of course it was.” She blinks like I’m stupid, but then her lips break into a grin.
I sip my Americano and lean back against the couch cushions, studying her as she rips off a mouthful of muffin and pops it between her glossy lips. She licks the crumbs off her polished nails, and I seriously need to stop looking at her mouth.
I shift in my seat, clearing my throat and reminding myself of the damn bet. “So, what are you studying?”
Questions about study and schoolwork should take the edge off, right? There’s nothing sexy about studying and assignments.
“Well, since it’s my first year, I’m doing a bunch of general eds, but I’m planning to major in either business or sports management.”
“Oh yeah?” I raise my eyebrows. “Where’s that gonna take you?”
She hesitates for a minute, like she’s not sure if she wants to tell me. There’s this excited gleam in her eye as she fights a grin, then blurts, “I want to be a sports agent. But for female athletes. I want to get them the best deals I can. I want to give them the chance to shine just as brightly as the men. To get paid fairly. To get the best sponsorship deals. There are so many talented women out there, and they deserve all the same shots men get.”
“Nice.” I bob my head, impressed by her fervor. She probably has no idea how fast she’s talking or how excited she sounds. “Well, you’re in the perfect place. Nolan has an excellent business school, and we’re not short on top-quality athletes.”
“True fact.” She nods, stuffing another mouthful of muffin between her lips. Her cheeks bulge out like a chipmunk as she chews. For a girl who’s so petite, she knows how to devour food like an offensive lineman.
“UCLA would have been a good school too.” I subtly dangle the statement out there, hoping she’ll elaborate a little more than she did earlier.
What? I’m curious.
She gives me a dry glare and delays by gulping down some more coffee. She’s gonna finish that whole cup. It’s kind of impressive.
After a thick beat of awkward silence, she finally gives in with a huff. “Fine. It was my first choice, but then my family was moving to Colorado, and Nolan U is my mom’s alma mater, so…”
“So…” I raise my eyebrows. “You didn’t want to be too far away from them?”
“It’s not that,” she clips. “I would have happily stayed in Cali, but my financial situation is…” Clenching her jaw, she looks away with a frown, then mumbles, “It’s complicated. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Right.” I sit forward, resting my arms on my knees. “So you’re just gonna make me guess, then?”
“Oh come on.” She gives me a desperate little frown. “Don’t you have things in your life you’d rather not talk about?”
“I’m pretty much an open book.” I shrug. “Ask me anything.”
“Fine.” She huffs. “How much of a say did your parents have when it came to your college education?”
“None.” I frown. “Why? Did yours?”
Her lips dip as she breaks off another piece of muffin, then mumbles, “They’re the bank, so yeah… they had a pretty big say,” before shoving it in her mouth.