Chapter Ten

I don’t really remember stumbling through changing and getting ready for bed, but when I wake the next morning, it’s to a lingering throbbing throughout my body and a litany of sweet, hot memories. My mind replays the afternoon before, from the flirting disguised as a batting lesson to the mutual orgasms under the cover of the rain.

The way Eve responded with encouragement and enthusiasm to my inexperience had warmed my heart as much as her touch had warmed my body.

I can’t wait to do it all again—next time somewhere a little more comfortable, I hope.

I roll out of bed and grab a bottle of water and a few cheese squares from the mini fridge in the corner. There are several computers and phones that need my attention today, and then reading for two of my classes and a project to finish for another. As much as I’d love to spend my weekend mooning over my…girlfriend? Lover? Whatever…life does go on.

I check my phone, though, and find a text message from late last night, a couple of hours after Eve left me at my door.

Had a great time with you tonight. I’d love to do it again soon—maybe indoors?

I laugh at the way she had the same thought as me.

Same here, I text back. I hesitate but decide I might as well lay it all out there. You know I have a private room, right? No roommates to interfere.

Eve doesn’t strike me as an early riser. So, instead of waiting for a reply, I lay my phone at the side of my working desk and pick up the broken phone that’s next on my list.

I fall into the work as deeply as I usually do, unaware of time passing, finishing the first task and moving on to the second.

When my phone vibrates from an incoming message, I glance over and see that nearly two hours have passed, and the name on my screen is Eve’s.

I’m almost done with the repair I’m working on, though, so I push my curiosity—and spike of arousal—down and make myself finish before setting the laptop aside and checking Eve’s message.

I think you mentioned that, she says, following it up with a winking eye emoji. We have a game tonight in Athens and then one in Augusta tomorrow, so we won’t be back until late. Maybe I could bring dinner over Monday night?

That sounds great, I write back. I like just about anything as long as it’s not super spicy.

When no reply comes immediately, I shrug and go back to work. She’s probably in the shower or something, since she’s got a game later. I briefly consider going. Athens is only an hour and a half away, and I’d probably be back by midnight.

But another look at the repair jobs still left, the textbooks waiting for me, and the laundry basket in the corner that I should take care of before I have company makes me sigh.

Damn being a responsible adult.

I go back to work, but I’ve only finished one phone repair when my phone rings. The number on the display isn’t familiar, so I let it go to voicemail, but a couple of minutes later, the same number calls again.

Annoyed, I answer it. “Hello?”

“Hello, is this Annie Clark?” It’s a woman’s voice, serious and efficient sounding, but not familiar.

I roll my eyes. “Who’s asking?”

“Miss Clark, this is Ms. Richardson in the administration office. We have a report here that you were seen on the baseball field after hours on Friday night. Is that true?”

Shit. My stomach swoops and not in a good way. I have no freaking idea what to say. Have they talked to Eve already? What did she tell them?

If in doubt, go with the truth, I guess.

“Yes,” I tell her. “I was there.”

“Were you aware that the field is off-limits to students after hours?”

I swallow. “No, ma’am.” The “ma’am” slips out, a Southern habit I’ve been trying to unlearn.

“Miss Clark,” Ms. Richardson says. “We are going to need you to come down to the administration building Monday morning at nine. If you have a class at that time, we will provide you with an excused absence. Will you be there?”

Shit, shit, shit. “Yes, I’ll be there.”

“Thank you. We will see you then.”

She ends the call, and I drop my phone on my desk and cover my face with one hand.

What the hell? Eve said it was fine.

Heat floods through me at the memory of exactly what we’d done in the dugout. Did someone else see us? Were there hidden cameras?

Fuck. I wish they’d called me over right then or waited until later to call me in the first place. I’m going to be freaking out now until I know what they know and what they’re going to do about it.

I reach for my phone, ready to call Eve and ask her to explain, but then pause. She has a game tonight and one tomorrow, so she’s got to be busy, and what could she do about it anyway? I’m sure they’ll be calling her, too, if they haven’t already.

Before I can make up my mind, my phone buzzes.

It’s a text from Eve. Did you get a call from admin?

I sigh and reply. Yeah. What’s up with that?

Don’t know. I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t think it was a problem.

Well, that’s good, at least.

Guess we’ll find out Monday, I text her.

Sorry again. Gotta run, bus leaves in 20.

I toss my phone back on my desk. I knew this whole dating thing was a bad idea. How’d I let myself get talked into it? Oh yeah. A gorgeous athlete who makes me combust with just a look asked me out, and I took a chance.

I drop my head back. I don’t regret it, but damn the complications. “I’m never leaving my dorm room again,” I tell the ceiling.

If only.

I sigh and make myself get back to work. Sitting around freaking out certainly isn’t going to get the mounds of work, reading, and laundry done.

…

Sleep is hard to come by the next couple of nights. By eight Monday morning, I’m up, dressed, and sipping a Sprite to settle my roiling stomach. It’s too early to head to the admin building, which is only a five-minute walk away. But I don’t have time to get started on anything new, and between the anxiety and the sleep deprivation, I’m not sure I could concentrate anyway.

I swear, if they don’t expel me, I’m jumping back into bed and sleeping until noon tomorrow.

Finally, it’s 8:40, a reasonable enough time to leave.

It’s foggy outside, but the rising sun is warm on my back as I walk across the quad. The administration building sits at the front of campus, facing the main road, with the entrance gates directly in front of it. It’s imposing in that way of most similar kinds of buildings, built of red brick and trimmed in white concrete, like the rest of the buildings on campus.

Inside, I approach the reception desk at the center of the lobby. “Hi.” I try a smile at the woman behind the desk. “I have a meeting at nine with Ms. Richardson?”

The woman nods toward the side hallway. “Right down that hall on the right. Room 110.”

“Thank you.” I head in that direction, my footsteps soft on the hard marble flooring, and I’m glad I didn’t have to wear dress shoes or anything. I did wear a plain blouse, not one of my usual character T-shirts. I don’t think the Incredible Hulk would have gone over that well.

The door to room 110 is open, and I reluctantly step into the doorway.

Another woman behind a desk glances up. “Yes?”

“I’m Annie Clark,” I tell her. “Nine o’clock with Ms. Richardson?”

“Come on in. Can you close the door, please?”

I turn to push it shut and then sit in the chair she indicates with one hand. She finishes whatever she’s typing and then turns to face me, her hands folded on the desk.

“I’m Ms. Richardson,” she says, and I sit up straighter. “I want to talk about what happened at the ballfield Saturday night.”

I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You were there?” She raises an eyebrow, her expression reading “we both know you were; I’m just seeing if you’ll admit it.”

I nod again. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And you weren’t alone?”

I shake my head. “No, ma’am.”

She nods this time. “The person you were with. At any time, did they tell you that the area is closed to students except during official practices and games?”

I swallow hard. “No, ma’am.”

She watches me for a long moment, as if trying to read my honesty, before she finally sighs and leans back in her chair.

“You aren’t in trouble.”

I sink down in my seat in relief.

“Well, at least, you get off with a warning this time. You aren’t part of the athletic department, so we’re operating under the assumption that you simply did not know the rules.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t.”

“Well, you do now.” She folds her hands on the desk again. “I won’t ask who told you otherwise.” Because we already know hung unspoken. “But please be aware that we won’t take a second violation so lightly.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ms. Richardson nods once more. “That’s all,” she tells me. “Do you need a note for class?”

“No, ma’am.” I push to my feet, thankful to find my knees still hold me up. “Thank you.”

“Take care, Miss Clark.”

Ms. Richardson gives me a very small, very brief smile, and I turn and get out of there as fast as I can manage.

Outside the building, everything catches up with me, and it’s all I can do to stumble across the quad and back to my room. I drop everything and fall onto my bed, and I don’t remember anything for the next three hours.

When I finally swim awake, the first thing I do is dig out my phone to see what time it is. It’s 12:13, and I have two missed calls and several text messages.

I check the texts first. They’re all from Eve.

I hope you didn’t get into any trouble? After admin got done with me, I got totally reamed out by the athletic director and Coach Young.

I’m suspended from the team for two games. Almost a week. Ugh.

I tried to call but it went to voicemail. Let me know if everything’s okay with you. I hope you aren’t angry?

I’m not angry, exactly. Annoyed, yeah. If I’d had any idea what we were doing wasn’t on the up and up, then at least I would have had some warning before I got called on the carpet.

I think about what I want to say in response before I type it out.

I’m not in trouble. A little freaked out, but I just got a warning.

Her reply comes in fast. Oh geez. I am so, so sorry. I swear I didn’t know we’d get in trouble. It won’t happen again, I promise! I have to figure out who saw us, though. They don’t have security cameras on the field.

Relief washes over me at that reassurance. At least they didn’t get our tryst on camera.

Jealous ex? ;)

LOL, I hope not! ;)

Another message comes in before I can respond. I have to cancel dinner tonight. Got a team meeting. They’ll probably ream everybody out about the rules. That’ll make me Miss Popularity for sure.

I wince. Sounds like a blast. Sorry.

Not your fault, hon.

My stomach growls. Well, at least this whole thing didn’t kill my appetite forever. Gotta go get food. Stay out of trouble, you.

Will do! See you soon. Xoxo

I roll to my feet and take a look in the mirror. Ugh. I look like I slept in my clothes. I do the best I can with a hairbrush and my hands to straighten myself out and then grab my backpack and head out for lunch. Maybe I’ll actually make my afternoon classes after all.

I’m just stepping through the doorway into the cafeteria when a call of “Annie-conda!” comes from off to the right.

I look around and see Grant waving an arm, Darryn smiling next to him. After the scare with Darryn’s ex, I’m glad to see them both looking so relaxed and happy.

I wave back and head toward the food line. A few minutes later, tray in hand, I walk over to join them at their table.

“So,” Grant says as I lower myself into a seat. “How are things going with your love life?”

And there goes the blush.

Grant’s eyebrows shoot up and his eyes widen. “Oh really,” he drawls. “Do tell.”

I shake my head. “No details.”

He waves that off. “I’m not asking for details. Just, well, details.”

Darryn laughs, which in turn makes my brother stop and stare adoringly at him, then go in for a kiss on Darryn’s cheek.

“Leaving.” I make to stand up.

“Okay, okay. I’ll behave.” Grant shakes his head and mutters something that sounds like “for now” to Darryn, which makes Darryn’s tawny skin darken with a blush. “Now back to you. Did you or did you not go on a date? Feel free to share, but keep anything involving physical contact to yourself.”

“Only if you keep physical contact with your boyfriend out of my face.” I’m teasing, of course. I have no problem with PDA, especially if it involves my brother’s happiness.

He rolls his eyes. “Promise. Now spill.”

I chuckle. Trust my brother’s ridiculousness to get me back into a better mood after this morning’s mess. “Yes, there was a date,” I confirm. “And yes, it was…fun. No, I will not give details.” I slump a little and poke at my mashed potatoes. “Except that we got in trouble for it.”

“Wow, suddenly you’re a scofflaw!” Grant snaps his fingers. “I know I said no details, but you have to tell me that story.”

“What story?”

I look up just as Mo stops next to me, tray in hand. I pull out the chair next to me. “Might as well sit so I can tell you too.”

She sits, and I blow out another breath. “We went to the softball field. She said no one minded that we were there after hours, but apparently someone who saw us did, because they reported us.”

“Yikes.” Darryn winces at that. “Do you know who did it?”

“No idea. I just had to go down to the admin building this morning for a scolding. And Eve got suspended for two games.”

“Wow.” Grant sets down his tea. “What were you doing out there anyway?”

Damn my pale skin. My face flushes hot, and from the way all three of them start laughing, I probably look like an overripe tomato.

“Well, then.” Mo nudges me with her elbow. “How was it?”

My face is on fire. I drop my head and bump it lightly against the tabletop. “Not gonna talk about it.” I glance up at her out of the corner of my eye. “Change the subject. I’m begging you.”

Mo laughs again. “Okay, okay.” She grabs a carrot stick off my plate. “When are you going out with her again?”

I lift my head to glare at her. “That’s not changing the subject!”

“I’m not talking about your last date anymore,” she says, all fake patience and logic. “I’m talking about the next one.”

I sigh. “No next date.”

“Not yet.” Mo nudges me again before turning back to Grant. “What about you two? Annie told me you’re now disgustingly happy together?”

Darryn’s the one to flush at that. Grant just grins. “Yep,” he says, popping the P on the end. “If the dorm room’s rockin’—”

“Okay, okay!” I stop him with a raised hand. “We really don’t want to hear about your sex life any more than you want to hear about mine. So let’s just make a deal now not to talk about it around each other. Deal?”

“Deal.” Grant holds out a hand across the table, and we shake on it. I look over at Darryn. “I’m guessing I don’t need to make a deal with you?”

“Nope.” He pops the P just like Grant did, cheeks and ears still slightly red. “What happens in private stays in private.”

“Or on the ballfield,” Grant says, and I throw a balled-up napkin at him. He dodges it, laughing.

“For real, though,” he continues. “I’m glad y’all hit it off. And as long as you’re both on the same page, then I say start planning more dates.”

I’m not sure where Eve stands. I mean, we’ve only gone out a couple of times, so bringing up serious talk about where we see things going has not been a priority. Besides, I’ve already told myself not to get in too deep too fast in case the plan is to stay casual.

I just hope I can stick to that plan.