19
Hannah
It’s becoming glaringly obvious that Garrett was right. He is an image booster. As I walk down the cobblestone path toward the Philosophy building, at least fifteen people call out to me. Hi, how are ya, looking good. I’m greeted by so many smiles, waves and hellos that I feel like I’ve just stepped foot on a whole other planet. A planet called Hannah, because everyone seems to know me. But I have no clue who they are, though I must have met them at Beau’s party.
Discomfort twists my stomach, along with a wave of self-consciousness that has me picking up my pace. Unsettled by all the attention, I practically sprint to class and slide into my seat next to Nell. Garrett and Justin haven’t arrived yet, which is a bit of a relief. I’m not sure I feel like talking to either of them right now.
“I heard you went out with Garrett Graham this weekend,” is the first thing Nell says to me.
Sweet baby Jesus. Can I not go a single second without being reminded of the guy?
“Uh, yeah,” I say vaguely.
“That’s it? Yeah? Come on, I want all the dirty details.”
“There aren’t any.” I shrug. “We just hang out sometimes.” Apparently, this is now my go-to response.
“What about your other crush?” Nell nods meaningfully toward the opposite aisle.
I follow her gaze and realize that Justin has just shown up. He settles in his seat and pulls a Macbook out of its case, and as if he senses my gaze on him, he lifts his head and smiles.
I smile back, and then Tolbert saunters in, and I break eye contact as I focus on the podium.
Garrett’s late, which is unlike him. I know he was out with his teammates last night and didn’t have practice this morning, but there’s no way he would’ve slept in until four o’clock. I discreetly pull out my phone to text him, but his message reaches me first.
Him: Dealing with an emergency. I’ll show up for the second half. Take notes for me until I get there?
Me: Everything OK??
Him: Yeah. Cleaning up Logan’s mess. Long story. Tell u later.
I take copious notes during the lecture, more for Garrett’s sake than my own, since I’ve already read ahead and have the latest theory memorized. As Tolbert drones on, my mind drifts. I think about my impending dinner date with Justin, and that uneasy sensation returns, bringing a queasy feeling to my stomach.
Why am I so nervous about it? It’s just dinner. And that’s all it’s going to be. Other girls might put out on the first date, but I’m certainly not one of them.
But Justin is a football player. The girls he dates probably get naked before the menus even arrive. What if he expects that from me?
What if he…
No, I firmly tell myself. I refuse to believe he’s the kind of guy who would pressure someone to sleep with him.
At the forty-five minute mark, Tolbert calls for a break, and all the smokers in the class bolt out as if they’ve been trapped in a mine for two weeks. I head outside too, not to smoke, but to look for Garrett, who still hasn’t made an appearance.
Justin trails after me into the corridor. “I’m grabbing a coffee. Want one?”
“No, thanks.”
His lips curve as he meets my eyes. “Are we still on for Sunday?”
“Yep.”
He gives a pleased nod. “Good.”
I can’t help but admire his butt as he walks off. His cargo pants aren’t super tight, but they hug his ass nicely. His body really is amazing. I just wish I had a better sense of his personality. I still find it difficult to read him, and that bugs me.
That’s why you’re having dinner with the guy—to get to know him.
Right. I force myself to remember that as I shift my attention back to the front doors, right as Garrett strides through them. His cheeks are flushed from the cold and his hockey jacket is zipped all the way up to the collar.
His black Timberlands thud on the shiny floor as he heads toward me. “Hey, what’d I miss?” he asks.
“Not much. Tolbert’s talking about Rousseau.”
Garrett glances at the lecture hall entrance. “Is she in there?”
I nod.
“Okay, good. I’m gonna see if she can give me my midterm back now instead of at the end of class. I’m still dealing with that emergency, so I can’t stay.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened or should I start guessing?”
He grins. “Logan lost his fake ID. He needs it in case we get carded tonight, so I’m driving him to Boston to meet this guy who does ’em on the spot.” He pauses. “You’ve got ID, right? The bouncer at Malone’s knows me and the guys, so we shouldn’t have a problem getting in, but you might.”
“Yeah, I have ID. And by the way, why is Dean having his birthday party on a Monday? How late do you guys plan on staying out?”
“Probably not too late. I’ll make sure you get home whenever you’re ready to go. And it’s on a Monday because Maxwell stole Dean’s thunder by having his party on Saturday. That, and we don’t have ice time on Tuesdays. The team’s in the weight room, and when you’re hung over, it’s a lot easier to lift weights than skate.”
I roll my eyes. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just not be hung over?”
He snickers. “Tell that to the birthday boy. But don’t worry, I’m the DD tonight. I’ll be stone cold sober. Oh, and I wanted to talk to you about something, but one sec, let me just speak to Tolbert first. Be right back.”
A moment after Garrett disappears into the lecture hall, Justin reappears holding a foam coffee cup. “Heading back in?” he asks me as he walks to the doorway.
“I’ll be there soon. I’m just waiting for someone.”
Two minutes later, Garrett pops into the corridor, and I take one look at his expression and know he’s about to deliver good news.
“You passed?” I squeal.
He raises his exam booklet over his head like he’s acting out a scene from the Lion King. “A-fucking-minus!”
I gasp. “Holy shit! Really?”
“Yup.”
Before I can blink, Garrett tugs me into his arms and hugs the breath out of my lungs. I throw my arms around his neck, then burst out laughing when he lifts me right off my feet and spins me around so many times I get dizzy.
Our exuberant display draws several curious stares, but I don’t care. Garrett’s joy is contagious. When he finally sets me down, I snatch the paper from his hand. After all those hours I invested in his tutoring, it kind of feels like this is my grade too, and my chest overflows with pride as I skim through his A-minus-worthy words.
“This is amazing,” I tell him. “Does that mean your GPA is back where it should be?”
“Damn right it is.”
“Good.” I narrow my eyes. “Now make sure it stays that way.”
“It will—if you promise to help me study for every quiz and outline every paper.”
“Hey, our arrangement is over, dude. I promise nothing. But…” As always, I capitulate in the presence of Garrett Graham. “I’ll help you maintain the grade as a token of my friendship, but only when I have the time.”
With a smile, he draws me in for another hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you, you know.” His voice has gone husky, and I feel his warm breath tickling my temple. He eases back, those magnetic gray eyes focusing on my face, and then his head dips slightly, and for one nerve-wracking second I think he might kiss me.
I abruptly step out of the embrace. “So I guess we are celebrating tonight,” I say lightly.
“You’re still coming, right?” There’s a chord of intensity in his voice now.
“Did I literally not just say that?” I grumble.
Relief flits through his expression. “Listen…I wanted to run something by you.”
I check my phone and realize there’s only three minutes before class starts again. “Can you do it later? I should go back in.”
“It’ll just take a minute.” His gaze locks with mine. “Do you trust me?”
Wariness ripples through me, but when I answer, it’s with unwavering certainty that startles me. “Of course I do.”
Gosh, I really do. Even though I’ve only known him for a short time, I trust this guy.
“I’m glad.” His voice thickens, and he clears his throat before continuing. “I want you to have a drink tonight.”
I stiffen. “What? Why?”