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Finding Me, Finding You (Finding #1)

Page 4

by Shealy James


  The girl from the band hopped off the stage and sauntered over to our table. She whispered in Parker’s ear before grabbing his hand and pulling him up there. He followed her reluctantly and climbed on stage. He took the offered guitar from the guy with the long hair.

  They played two songs, both with elaborate and memorable guitar solos. Parker played both solos perfectly. Just when I thought he couldn’t get any hotter, he had to go and pick up a guitar and play two of my favorite songs perfectly. I was completely mesmerized. His muscles rippled as he moved his fingers up and down the arm of the guitar, and his long fingers played the chords as if that was their only purpose in life. Parker was quickly becoming irresistible. While I was excited to have a crush on a boy at my awesome new college, I was a little nervous too. I had read enough romance novels to know how painful unrequited love can be.

  When they were finished with the two songs, Parker passed the guitar back to the other guy and hopped off the stage. He gave the lead singer “the guy head nod” on his way down from the stage. It took him awhile to get back to our table because everyone was patting him on the back and telling him how great he was. The girls were trying to talk to him, but he walked straight back to our table. When he caught my eye, I felt butterflies erupt in my belly and a grin stretched across his face. I immediately looked away even though I wanted to run up and hug him and tell him how amazing he was, like all the other girls were, but I was not that kind of girl. Instead I stood at the table drinking my beer next to Max. What was I going to say? “Wow” or how about “that was really good” or even better, “thank you.” Nothing seemed right. I didn’t have the words to describe what that was or how I felt about it. I wasn’t even sure if I knew what I felt right then.

  Parker

  Playing with the guys tonight was awesome. We rarely do those covers, so it was a pretty cool night for me. I didn’t want to go up there and show off in front of my new roommate and company, but once I was there, the rush took me. I had been practicing those songs for years. I know not everyone can play them. The only thing that would have made it better was if I could have the rest of the night alone with Maggie. That would have been a fantastic night except for one thing- judging from what Max had said, Maggie was probably a virgin. Some guys get off on that but not me. Virgins terrify me. Nothing sounds worse to me than purposely hurting a girl, and from what I hear, no matter what you do, the first time always hurts the girl. I wouldn’t know from experience though. Every girl that I have been with has been older and experienced (ok, slutty). Like I said, I wasn’t looking for a girl to bring home to the family. My requirements for bed partners were sadly simple- hot, clean, and willing.

  On my way back to the table after playing, I looked up and saw Maggie watching me with only a hint of a smile. I watched her as I walked through the crowd of people who were touching me trying to get my attention. I kept my eyes locked on the one person in the room that wasn’t likely to do either of those things, but yet she was the one person who already had my attention. I walked back to the table thinking that I may risk the virgin territory and the trouble with her dad and Max to maybe kiss her perfect pink lips tonight, but then her head dropped, and she turned around. I know she was feeling it when our eyes locked, or I think she was, or I hope she was. When did I become such a pussy?

  After a couple more songs and no further eye contact with Maggie, we decided it was time to go. Maggie and Max were planning to wake up early to run and walk their schedules on campus. I was fine with leaving because I was beat and needed to work out in the morning as well, but Sarah was a different story. We had to drag her out of there. She was pretty drunk to the point where I was worried about her throwing up in Maggie’s car. I wasn’t even sure what she had to drink since every time I saw her, she was dancing away in the middle of the dance floor.

  “Maggie, next time she gets drunk, you’re riding in the back with her,” I said when we finally climbed out of the car. Sarah had tried no less than three times to cuddle with me. I was not a cuddler.

  Maggie laughed and looked down at her feet. Why does she always look down? I tipped her chin up with my finger then said, “I’m not kidding” as seriously as I could.

  I saw her smile wider before her chin dropped again. She stepped out of the way, so I could close her car door, and Max and Sarah walked over to our side of the car. Sarah’s arm was hooked through Max’s. She looked drunk and happy. Max looked like he didn’t even notice she was hanging on him. I had to laugh at his nonchalance. He was turning out to be a really cool guy.

  We walked the girls to the door and said good-bye. Max promised to text Maggie when he got up, so they could run and then tour the campus.

  “Ugh! Running? That sounds terrible! I’m going to be s-s-sllleeeepin’ in the morning,” Sarah sang drunkenly.

  “Ok. Sarah. Maybe you should drink some water before you go to bed,” Max said as if he were talking to a child.

  She smiled drunkenly at us. “Goodnight you sexy boys. Come over if your beds get lonely. Maggie and I know exactly how to-”

  “Ok. That’s enough!” Maggie scolded as she blushed bright red. “Oh my God,” she muttered as she dragged Sarah up the stairs. When Maggie opened the door and let Sarah walk through, she turned and waved, “Night guys.” She turned and quickly darted inside the fluorescent-lit lobby of their dorm before Max and I started heading for our dorm still laughing at Sarah’s drunkenness.

  As we crossed the courtyard, Max said, “That band was really awesome, and you were really good. Maggie was stoked. She loves eighties rock.”

  Wondering when Maggie told him anything since she barely spoke all night, I responded, “Thanks. It was a lot of fun.”

  “Yeah. Tonight was a good night. Don’t stab me in my sleep, and we can all go out again sometime,” he said as he held the door to the dorm open.

  “You got me. I guess I’ll have to save my daggers for another day.”

  Chapter 2

  Maggie

  “Oh my gawd! Those boys were hot, hot, hot. That band is amazin’. You and I are going to have so much fun this year, Mags.” Sarah said excitedly with her southern drawl more pronounced in her current state. At least she was a friendly drunk. Given she kept touching Parker inappropriately and was hanging all over Max, but that is better than getting angry and belligerent.

  We had gotten ready for bed, and now we were tucked into our pink beds coming down off of the high of the night. “I had a great time too. That band was amazing. Parker was impressive.”

  “Yes, and it doesn’t hurt that he has a rock hard body with the face of a god. You should feel his abs! I bet naked Parker would make Michelangelo’s David want to run and put on some clothes.”

  “He is pretty good looking-“

  “Pretty good looking! Are you blind? He is super-hot. I’m surprised he doesn’t model. He is vampire-guy hot! Although…you have been best friends with Max for years and probably never noticed that he is model worthy himself.”

  I wrinkled my nose up at the thought of Max. “I don’t see Max like that. He is like a brother to me. Do you see your brother like that?”

  “Not quite like that. I mean he is good-looking. We have great genes obviously, but I have heard him fart and burp and seen him throw up all over my parents living room. Not to mention, we came out of the same mother, and that’s weird.”

  “Max and I may not have come out of the same mother, but I have definitely heard him burp and fart. Not to mention he threw up all over me on the playground in fourth grade. Max is family to me. I don’t see him like a guy-guy, and he definitely doesn’t see me as a girly-girl.”

  “You could easily be a girly-girl if you wanted to be. If you would wear clothes that are made to show off your hot body, you would have every boy on campus after you. Whether you realize it or not, you’re a hot tamale, girl! You have an ass I would kill for and tatas people pay for. You just need to know how to work it. Those t-shirts aren’t doing you any favors.”
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  “I know. I know. My mother and sisters harass me about my clothes all of the time. I have a closet full of preppy country club clothes, but you will never see me in anything but jeans and t-shirts, maybe a casual skirt and t-shirt, but still jeans when I get to choose.”

  She gave me a wicked smile and said, “I bet I could get you in something else. Just you wait.”

  I rolled my eyes and rolled over. Not this again. “Good night Sarah.”

  “Goodnight hot tamale.” She giggled as she turned off the lamp.

  The next morning I woke up early. I have been trained to get up early all my life, so I went ahead and got up.

  When I came back in the room after getting ready in the bathroom, Sarah was rolling over to face my direction. “What are you doing? It’s the middle of the night.”

  “It’s eight in the morning. I’m going running.” I put on a t-shirt, grabbed my iPhone, ear buds, and shoes and headed down to the lobby of the dorm. Before I sat down to put my shoes on, I texted Max.

  Me: Running. Now. I’m standing at your front door.

  I put on my shoes and started walking over to the boys’ dorm. My phone buzzed with a text message.

  Max: Screw you. Sleeping.

  Me: Somebody’s grumpy. Get up. You can sleep when you’re dead.

  Max: You suck. Getting dressed now.

  I had to wait by the front stairs for a few minutes, so I stretched my legs. I was tight from not working out the day before except for moving, which does not count as a workout for me. As I was bending over stretching, I heard Max sing, “I like big butts, and I cannot lie.”

  I felt my cheeks burn when I looked up and saw that Max was coming down the stairs with Parker. Oh God. They were looking at my bubble butt, and there was more than enough to see. Great!

  “Ready? Parker is going to come too. He said he has to start soccer practice tomorrow.” Max said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

  I looked at Parker, “You play?” He nodded simply. “Me too,” I said dumbly. I was so bad at this whole conversation with the opposite sex thing.

  “Max told me. I guess I’ll be seeing a lot of you.” He gave me his signature, swoon-worthy grin.

  I looked away from him and focused on my stretching while attempting to continue the conversation without being too socially awkward. “What position do you play?”

  He stretched as well, and I could still see his muscles from the corner of my eye. There was no escaping this crush that was developing, so I went all in and stared while he spoke. “Sweeper, but I’m starting this season as a defender because the sweeper is a senior. It gives me a year to get to know the team. What about you?”

  “Midfield.” That was all I could say. Not that there was much more to say, but if there was, I couldn’t have formed more words. I was trying not to drool. It was official. I had a huge lust crush on Parker Pryce.

  Thankfully, Max was used to my odd behavior and was more than happy to step in for me. “She is fast and a killer. Watch out for her if you have the ball and she wants it. She’ll knock you on your ass and be half way down the field before you realize what happened.”

  I backhanded Max’s arm when he exaggerated my skills. “Ok. Let’s go,” I said embarrassed. I was not a killer. I might be a little aggressive and am definitely fast, but I could not imagine knocking Parker on his ass. Parker’s ass…hmmm… I filed that thought for later. I’d stared at his body enough this morning, and I didn’t want Max to see my tell tale blush. He would know my red cheeks weren’t from running.

  We started jogging evening out our pace. We ran past the dorms and through the campus up to the soccer fields. We ran all the way to the opposite side of the large campus where the hospital was located and turned around. When we made it back to campus, we slowed down and walked looking at all of the buildings. I bravely invited Parker to continue running in the mornings with us after explaining that I like to run early because I preferred the quiet. “I think I’m going to go to the campus gym to work out some as well.”

  “Oh yeah? I swim at the campus pool sometimes. You should come,” Parker offered.

  I nodded my agreement. I would be checking out the pool when our new friend is not around. The last thing I wanted was for the Adonis that was Parker to see me in a bathing suit. Although if it meant I would get to see him with his shirt off, I might rethink my pool time.

  Max added with an elbow nudge and a grin, “You should definitely go swim laps. You’re going to miss your parent’s pool when it starts getting cold. No Olympic size pool in your backyard anymore, Mags.”

  I had forgotten that I wouldn’t be able to walk into my backyard whenever I want to swim. I suddenly longed for the water as we continued to walk back to the dorms.

  We decided to stop by a coffee shop that was on the way. The muffins were huge and delicious, and the company was great. The three of us continued to chat comfortably about whatever came up. Parker was funny and seemed to fit right in with Max and me. I actually spoke more than I usually would with a stranger. It already felt like I belonged, and it was strange in a good way.

  On the walk back to the dorms Parker found another coin on the ground. It was a nickel this time, but it was still heads up. He handed it to me without a word, and I took it with a simple smile this time. Already my luck seemed to be improving.

  When we made it back to the dorms, they walked me to the door like gentlemen, and I ran inside waving good-bye over my shoulder as I opened the door.

  Sarah was sitting on her pink computer dressed in lounge pants when I came back in the room. She smiled brightly at me. “Hey sunshine. How was your run?”

  Her happy greeting was infectious, and I found myself smiling back at her as I stuck the nickel in my jewelry box with the good luck penny from last night. “Good. Max, Parker, and I ran, walked campus, and then ate breakfast at that coffee shop on the corner.”

  Her easy smile turned to interest and her computer was quickly set aside. “Parker went? Damn. Suddenly I wish I enjoyed running. Did he take his shirt off?”

  I laughed at how boy crazy she was. She didn’t need to know how I reacted to seeing Parker stretch with his shirt on. I would have probably needed a bib for my drool had he taken his shirt off. “No, his shirt stayed on, but he goes to the pool sometimes if you want to follow him there. I’m sure he won’t be swimming in a body suit, so you can probably get a glimpse of what is under the t-shirt,” I told her with a smirk and waggle of my eyebrows.

  “Yes! I’ll be at the pool everyday. Even if he isn’t there, I’m sure I can find some hot body to stare at. Swimmers are hot!” She wiggled her eyebrows then picked her computer back up as I sat down at my desk for a minute. “Whatcha up to now?”

  “Shower then I need to get everything ready for tomorrow. I have some reading to do before the first day, one of the benefits of being an overachieving poli sci major, I guess.”

  She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Yuck. I’m a psych major, but I have to get through my core classes first. Bleh! Wanna go out to lunch a little later?”

  “Sure. Lunch sounds good.”

  I gathered my stuff for my first dorm shower. It was my first time sharing a bathroom, and I still felt a little strange about putting my stuff in there. Sarah already had hers spread out all over the place, so I guessed she wouldn’t really mind. It was still weird though. “Ugh! It was really muggy this morning, so I’m sure my hair looks like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket. I’m going to shower.”

  Sarah laughed out loud at my hair when I took it out of the ponytail, which made me wonder what it looked like while I was running with Perfect Parker Pryce. Hopefully my hair held itself together until I took my hair tie out. It was one thing for Sarah to see it messy, but Parker was another story.

  Parker

  I liked running with Maggie and Max. Maggie was even beautiful when she was sweating. She was graceful when she ran, like a gazelle, and seemed unfazed by our pace or distance, which made me push
myself harder. I couldn’t wait to see her on the soccer field. As I was taking a shower, I was still thinking about Maggie, and I was literally about to take things into my own hands, but I heard a knock on the other door. It was one of the guys we share a bathroom with. Damn. Today was going to be one of those days.

  Once I was dressed, I sat down on my bed and grabbed my guitar. Max was on his computer with his ears covered in headphones, so I assumed he wouldn’t hear me strum a few notes. I was totally lost in my own world when Max asked if I wanted to grab some lunch. We took my Challenger, and Max told me about his dad not letting him bring his car. If nothing else, Max and I had bonded over our difficult dads over the past two days.

  We went out to one of my favorite pizza joints in a strip mall that also housed an electronics store and a music store. We stopped by the electronics store first after lunch, and Max walked me through all of the new computer stuff he was going to get. It was interesting, but I was not really into computers like he is. I had a laptop and it worked. That was enough for me. We stood in front of a large TV playing a football game on one of their gaming systems. I always preferred music to video games, but it was really fun playing with Max because he was so into it even though I kept beating him.

  A couple of younger kids came up and wanted to play, so we left and went to the music store. I strummed some of the display guitars testing them out.

  Max picked up a left-handed Fender Stratocaster and held it the wrong way when he asked, “Do you play anything else?”

 

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