by Gia Riley
“I’m in,” I tell him. “I just need to change into some running clothes.”
Taking the stairs two by two, I find an empty bedroom, and toss my bag on the bed. I’m still changing my clothes when the en suite bathroom door opens. “What the hell are you doing here?” Standing in my boxer briefs, with my shirt in my hand, I’m shocked when Alisa appears out of thin air.
“Kipton. You made it.”
Her eyes lock with mine before they drop and roam over my naked chest. It feels wrong mostly because it is. This wouldn’t be okay with Sophie—ever. “What are you doing here?” I ask as I throw my T-shirt over my head, and dig around in my bag for the first pair of gym shorts I can find.
“I’m with Troy. He asked me to come along with him for the weekend. I thought I could make some meals so the kids don’t starve. He definitely can’t cook.”
“Troy? Really?” I wouldn’t have paired them up, but then again I wouldn’t have paired her up with the asshole basketball player she was screwing in her dorm either. She likes athletes, and considering Troy’s an athletic trainer, he fits her criteria. He’s also a former wrestler from our home town, and knows Alisa is my ex. “I guess he’s your type. Or are you using him, too?”
“My type? I don’t have a type, and I don’t use people. Why are you being rude?”
I roll my eyes. She knows why. “Because you fucked half the guys on campus, and now you show up here in my bathroom.”
“Kipton,” she gasps. Her jaw hangs open like she can’t believe I said that about her. “I didn’t sleep around.”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s two or ten, Alisa. Call it what you want.”
“You’re still mad? It’s been four years. I thought we moved on from that.”
“I have moved on. You’re not worth my energy anymore.”
“You know, Kipton, when I heard you were taking the assistant coaching position, I was happy for you. I was hoping we could be friends again now that you’re back in town.”
“Not gonna happen, darlin’.” She puts her hands on her hips, and I’m positive she’s about to lay into me. Maybe I am being a dick, but she always has an agenda. Why would today be any different?
“Are you too good for me now, Kipton?”
“I didn’t say that, but I’m in a good place, Alisa. I finally moved on, and I have no intention of looking back.” Even if I did have feelings for Alisa, I would never be able to trust her. I’m not sure how Troy can unless she never told him why we broke up.
Her gaze drops to the floor, her sneaker digging into the carpet fibers. I wasn’t trying to hurt her, but she needs to know the truth. I’m here to do my job, not to reconnect with an ex. Sophie is the only girl I need, and I would never fuck it up with her for a walk down memory lane.
“What’s her name?” Alisa asks sullenly.
“I’m not sure why it matters, but her name is Sophie. She’s Cara’s roommate.”
Nodding her head, she smiles. “That worked out well.”
“It doesn’t matter how we met, Alisa—only that we did.”
“You don’t have to get defensive. I’m happy for you, Kipton.”
“Thanks.” I think. Her approval means nothing to me, but at least she’s being civil about it. “I’ve gotta get going. I’m going for a run.”
“I’m coming, too. I like to run.”
“Since when?”
“I’ve changed, Kipton. I’m not the same girl who made all those mistakes.”
“Never said you were.” I brush past her, and take the stairs back down to the kitchen. Everyone’s crowded around the front door, stretching. Troy’s eyes narrow the slightest bit as he watches us join the rest of the group. It’s no secret that I used to be in love with his girl.
He may stare us down, but he doesn’t say a word when she wraps her arms around his neck, kissing him on the lips in a very public display of affection. There was a time the gesture would make my blood boil. Now, it’s not even worth a second glance.
“What was that for?” Troy whispers to her.
“Just because,” Alisa responds with a fake as shit smile.
Troy glances in my direction, and I give him a silent nod. Maybe he’s worried I have a problem with her being here, or maybe he’s worried being around her would stir up old feelings. Either way, Alisa and I are over.
I have a beautiful girl waiting for me at home.
AFTER A LONG AFTERNOON OF practice, I’m exhausted. It was harder than I imagined, but I did better than I thought I would. Now the only thing I want to do is talk to Kipton. There’s so much I want to tell him—mostly about how I kicked some serious ass on the vault today.
By now, he should be finished with his male bonding requirements—whatever they may be. There’s no telling what actually happens on a team building trip, but my guess involves a lot of testosterone and sweat. Maybe even a no girls allowed sign on the cabin door like they do at summer camp. I’ve never experienced camp, but I have watched The Parent Trap enough times to get the gist of it.
I grab my phone and plop down in the center of my ginormous bed. The one that almost crushed me on move-in day.
Sophie: Having fun?
Kipton: Only two of us have service. I lucked out. Call you in five.
His five minutes is more like thirty seconds, and I smile when his face lights up my screen sooner than I was expecting.
“Hi, babe.”
“Hey, beautiful. I miss you. How was the rest of your day?”
“Decent. Your mom messaged me.”
He sighs and says, “I told her not to call you.”
I scrunch down under the covers and smile. “Technically, she didn’t.”
“A text is still contact though.”
“The text I could handle. I may have hid under my bed had she actually called me on the phone.” I realize I’ll have to be in the same room as her at some point, but I’m hoping that’s in the very distant future. Long after she’s forgotten about the picture.
“What did Mom say?”
“She didn’t want me stressing about what happened—even though I already have been. It was nice of her to worry about me.”
“Good, I’m glad she made you feel better. Hang on, someone’s at my door.”
“Okay.”
His blankets rustle as he climbs out of bed. “Jesus,” he groans. “I can’t even get up. My quads are killing me from the trail.”
“You sound like an old man,” I giggle.
“There’s nothing old about me, baby. Hang on.”
The door creaks open, and I’m shocked when the voice I’m expecting to hear comes from a woman. I grab the remote and quickly turn down the volume on the TV, but I can’t make out a word she’s saying no matter how hard I press the phone against my ear. I don’t understand why girls would be on the trip.
“You still there, Sophie?”
I’m afraid to ask, but I do anyway. “Who was that?”
He pauses for a second before saying, “Just one of the guys. I left my clipboard out by the campfire.” If I didn’t know he was lying, I would never suspect it. It scares me how easy it is for him to come up with a lie, and it hurts coming from the one guy who’s supposed to have my back—who’s supposed to be honest with me no matter what. And that’s how I know she’s a deal breaker.
“You still there?” he asks.
“Yeah. I’m tired. Sorry.”
“It’s okay, beautiful. I really miss you. It wasn’t the same eating s’mores without you.”
“I miss you, too,” I whisper. My mind’s going a hundred miles an hour, horrific scenarios of where he’s at and who he’s with are jumbling around in my head. He wouldn’t make up this trip. I know he wouldn’t. But what if he is?
“Are you okay, Sophie?”
I hear the concern in his voice, and he has every right to be worried. Especially since I caught him. “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll let you get some sleep. Thank you for
messaging me.”
“Why didn’t you message me?”
I wait for another clue to the puzzle, but he doesn’t skip a beat. “I was outside with the guys. I was sure you already fell asleep.”
I’ve been wide awake, hoping to talk to him. “I’m up.”
“I know that, silly girl. I’m talking to you.”
“Yeah. You are.” Who else was he talking to tonight?
“Sophie, seriously. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Practice wore me out. I need some sleep.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“You too. Good night.” I stab at the end call button like the phone is on fire. Before I lose my mind trying to figure him out, I set my cell on the bedside table. That was the first time since I met Kipton that he’s really hurt me, and that scares me more than anything. I’m so invested in the idea of us, I never considered who I would be without him. I hated the girl I used to be—she was lost and alone. Despite the pit in my stomach, Kipton’s made me feel more alive than I ever have in my entire life. I fear if I lose Kipton, I’ll lose everything.
I can’t let that happen.
I’m hesitant to touch my phone when it chimes with an incoming text. But curiosity wins, and I look anyway.
Kipton: I love you, Sophie.
I’ve never played the jealous girlfriend role before, and I don’t want to start now. Because despite how shitty being lied to is, I still love him with everything I have.
Sophie: I love you too.
I press send, watching as my message nestles under his on the screen. I almost wish he hadn’t had a signal tonight. Then my heart wouldn’t be so conflicted. I’m so tired of being disappointed.
Tossing and turning all night, I fall in and out of a restless sleep. But for once in my life, I try my best to give a guy the benefit of the doubt. Kipton’s proven time and again that he loves me, so until I have solid proof that he doesn’t want me anymore, I’m leaving my faith in his hands. It could be my worst judgement call to date, or it could be exactly the right thing to do. Either way, the choice doesn’t come easy. But it’s mine to make.
THE REST OF THE WEEKEND flew by without mention of the mysterious girl at the cabin. I’ve spent all of my free time since then at the gym pouring my frustrations into my training instead of wallowing at home about problems I’m not willing to face.
All week long, Kipton’s been the guy I fell in love with, talking for hours before bed each night. Things have been just as they always have with him. He’s as attentive as always. So instead of driving myself crazy, I try to forget about it. It’s so easy for me to get swallowed up by background noise, but I can’t afford to get distracted.
The first test of the semester sets the tone for every test that follows—and the first one is today. The material is fresh in my mind, yet I worry I’ll forget everything I worked so hard to memorize. And now, as I sit here drowning in a sea of review questions I pray I remember the answer to, the insecurities I pushed away along with my fear of failure return full throttle.
“Sophie, why do your hands look like they’re shaking?” Cara asks from the other side of the kitchen table.
I flex my fingers a few times hoping the trembling stops. “Because I’m going to fail.”
“Hush it up. No you’re not. You’ve been studying your ass off.”
“I know, but I still don’t know as much as I should.”
“Look at it this way, at least you opened your textbooks. Mine are still wrapped in plastic.”
My mouth hangs open as I stare at her. “How did you get through two weeks of classes without opening a single book?”
“Believe it or not, I’m not just a pretty face, Sophie.”
I laugh as I ask, “Okay, and? What’s your secret then? I’ve practically worn out the pages in mine already.”
“I’m resourceful. Think of me as a human sponge,” she says in all seriousness. “And the guy who sits next to me in astronomy is crazy hot. The entire first week I told him the text was out of stock so he would share with me.”
I smack the table with my hand. It stings, but this is a new low for her. “Cara! You have a boyfriend!”
“I know, and I love him. But I’m a people watcher, and I couldn’t figure him out. He rarely spoke, and when he did, it was a whisper. He seemed so shy, but people as hot as him, aren’t shy. They’re usually assholes who never shut up. So imagine my surprise when this conundrum sits next to me.”
“Did you crack the code?”
“Of course I did. His ex sits in the row in front of us. And she’s scary.”
Not what I was expecting. “I won’t even ask how you found that out. As for astronomy, watch out.”
“Why? You took it with my brother last year and survived.”
“We did. Even after Professor Bell caught us making out in the planetarium.”
“You little slut. I forgot about that.”
Laughing, I glance at the clock, and realize if I don’t get going now, I’ll be late. Closing my notebooks, I jam everything into my backpack before tossing it over my shoulder. “It was the best first kiss of my life. Wish me luck!”
“Good luck, hooker.”
“Oh, so I don’t forget, I’m taking my car. I need to pick up some groceries after class.”
“You want some money toward the groceries?” She reaches into her wallet for some cash.
“No. You covered it last time. Just buy me a drink at Shooter’s tonight, and we’ll call it even.” It’s Labor Day Weekend, Kipton’s finally coming to see me, and I intend to drink too much and dance even more. I’ve been way too stressed out over this stupid test.
“Works for me!”
Hurrying out the door, I unlock my car doors and toss my bag in the passenger seat. I cut my drive time close, but thankfully, I catch all the green lights, and pull into one of the few remaining parking spaces. Maybe luck is on my side today.
I breeze through the lecture hall door just as the professor begins handing out materials. Quickly sliding into a chair, I pull the folding desk top into place and grab my number two pencil. As I try to write my name on the answer sheet, the tip breaks off. Again, I dig though my bag for a spare.
“Here,” a deep voice says from behind.
I turn around to find a brand new pencil waiting for me. “Thank you so much. I owe you one.” He nods his head, but I turn back around so fast, I couldn’t tell you a single feature about him other than his baritone voice.
With less than two hours to complete the exam, I focus on the questions in front of me. “Are you kidding me,” I mumble. I’m not usually indecisive, but I’m positive a few are trick questions.
The first glance at the clock above the door has my leg bouncing under my desk. I need to move faster. A few students stand to hand in the answer sheets, and I feel even more pressure. But I get some relief when a string of curses come from somewhere in the back corner of the room. I feel your pain, buddy.
As I fill in the very last circle on the answer sheet with lead, I breathe a sigh of relief. With fifteen minutes to spare, I walk to the front of the room to hand in my paper. With my borrowed pencil in hand, I grab my backpack and file out of the lecture hall in my own little world. I’m positive I did pretty well, until I trip up the last stair. I almost fall, but a strong arm reaches out to steady me. “Sorry,” I apologize.
“That test was killer, I’m still in a daze myself,” his deep voice responds.
“It’s you,” I say, as I hand his pencil back to him. “Thanks for saving my ass.”
He waves my hand away. “Hang onto it. I have plenty.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive,” he answers with a smile. “I’m Jake. I’ve noticed you around.”
“You have?” Normally I try my best to blend in.
“Yeah. You’re hard to miss. And we have chemistry together.”
“I hope that’s meant as a compliment.” I laugh nervously as I wait for his response.
> “Definitely a good thing.”
“That’s a relief.” We walk down the hallway side by side, until coming to the double doors leading outside. He opens the door for me and waits for me to go through ahead of him. “Thanks. Have a good rest of the day,” I say with an awkward wave.
“Wait.”
I turn back to look at him. “Yeah?”
He closes the gap between us. “You didn’t tell me your name.”
I shield my eyes from the sun, squinting one eye shut as my pupils struggle to adjust to the brightness. “Sophie.”
“Sophie, I know we just officially met and all, but would you want to go for coffee?”
This is awkward. “I’m sorry, Jake. You seem like a really nice guy, but I have a boyfriend.”
I can easily see his disappointment. “Figures, the pretty ones are always taken.”
I blush from his compliment, but I can guarantee if he knew about my baggage, he would be running in the opposite direction. That thought sobers me quickly. “I’ll see you in class. It was nice meeting you.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Before he has a chance to stop me again, I start walking to my car. I smile when I see a waiting text from Kipton on my phone.
Kipton: Good luck on your test. xo
Instead of texting him back, I call him, hoping he’s free to pick up. I get lucky when he answers on the second ring. “Hey, beautiful. How’d you do?”
I sense the smile in his voice as he calls me beautiful. That will never get old. “Decent I think. The multiple choice tripped me up a few times, but I’m happy about it.”
I’m startled when there’s a tap on my shoulder. “Shit! You scared me, Jake.” His green eyes sparkle against the warmth of his tan skin. Without the sun in my eyes, his blond hair is lighter than it looked a few minutes ago.
Jake holds out a folded piece of paper. “Just in case you change your mind.”
I hesitate, unsure of how to turn him down a second time without looking like a total bitch. “I can’t accept that.”
