Faster (The University of Gatica #2)

by Lexy Timms

  She couldn’t decide if his teasing, playful tone was for Coach’s sake or for covering the interest they had in each other.

  “Do you happen to have an extra race shirt handy?”

  Coach grinned. “Sure do. Let’s get you one and introduce you to a few benefactors who would love to meet you.”

  “Sure thing, Coach.”

  They started walking in the direction of a small tent that had been erected near the finish line. Coach Anderson paused and turned back to Aileen, still rooted to the ground and unsure where to go. “You coming? Looks like you need a top as well.”

  “Thanks.” She hurried to catch up with them and purposely stood on the opposite side of Coach so Tyler and she weren’t walking beside each other.

  Jani stood by the barbecue handing out plates. She waved at Aileen and gave her a thumbs up and down question.

  Aileen gave her a thumbs up and turned her attention back to Coach Anderson. She hadn’t been paying attention to what he was saying.

  “… I spoke with Coach Phelps. He’s going to incorporate my sprint program into your training. He and I talked for over an hour on your program. The plan is to give you full focus on your football season and still add some sprint that will carry over to the track season.”

  Aileen knew Coach Phelps was the head football coach. She wanted to ask if Tyler would be competing this indoor season but held back, too shy to interrupt Coach Anderson and Tyler’s conversation. She opted for listening and trying to absorb the information like a sponge as she attempted to imagine what Tyler’s life was like. College student by day, superhero footballer by weekend and role model full time. She wondered how he managed it all and didn’t crack.

  They came to the tent and Coach Anderson went through the tables and grabbed two shirts.

  Tyler pulled his wet shirt off, oblivious to those watching around him. Aileen sucked in her breath. His bare, tanned upper body rippled as he put his arms through the shirt and pulled it down over his head. Too soon the beautiful image of perfection disappeared. It seemed like forever ago Aileen had run her hands over that magnificent skin. He seemed to have gotten even sexier and more toned since then. Was that even possible?

  His new shirt was gray with the burgundy Red Coat soldier in the middle of the chest with U of Gatica written across it.

  Coach Anderson lightly tapped her arm. “Here’s your shirt, Aileen.”

  She blinked and glanced down, staring stupidly at the matching shirt to Tyler’s. “Th-Thanks.” She had no intention of stripping off her top in front of everyone here. She wouldn’t have cared if it were just the track team, she had trained in a sports bra a million times. Here just felt awkward. “I’ll be right back.”

  Tyler touched her elbow to stop her as Coach Anderson spoke with someone. “In case we don’t get a moment on our own again, why don’t I come by your place about three? If you still want to hang out…”

  Definitely! “Yeah! For sure. Three is good.”

  Coach Anderson walked back over to them. Aileen ran around to the back of the tent and stripped out of her wet top to the dry one as fast as she could. She walked back around to the front of the tent.

  Coach Anderson and Tyler had disappeared. She looked around and found them talking to a group of adults. Tyler nodded and smiled at something one of the alumni said. An older lady, probably in her forties handed him a marker pen and turned around, lifting her beautiful blonde hair up so Tyler could sign her shirt on the shoulder.

  “Aileen!” Jani called out to her. “Come help me.”

  She headed over to her roommate, pretty sure she wouldn’t be talking to Tyler again till after the barbecue was over. She checked her watch. Coach had said the fundraiser would last till about one thirty. A little over an hour and she would have Tyler all to herself.

  She had the feeling alone time with him was a very rare thing.

  Chapter 14

  Aileen wiped her hands on the material of her skirt. She touched skin just above her knees and she repeated the action again; a nervous habit she had picked up before getting into the starting blocks at the start of a race. Her hands weren’t sweaty but if they were in the blocks, she didn’t want to risk slipping on her fingers.

  “You look beautiful.” Jani headed toward the shower from her bedroom. “He’s not going to be able to stop staring at you.” She paused by the kitchen. “Where are you going?”

  “I have no idea.” Aileen played with her hair. Jani had helped her straighten and style it. A piece kept trying to hang in her face instead of behind her ear.

  Jani jabbed a finger at her. “Don’t you dare reach for that pony I see hiding underneath your watch! I see it. Don’t pretend it’s not there.” She grinned. “I cannot wait to hear where you guys go. I want every little detail.” She glanced at her watch. “After the party, of course. Remember, you have to come to the party.”

  “I’ll try.” She had no idea what Tyler wanted to do.

  “Pinky swear it. Or I’m going to call you every five minutes until you come.”

  She laughed. “I can turn my phone off.”

  Jani shot her a dirty look. “You wouldn’t!”

  A low mumbling muffler rolled by the house and pulled into the driveway. “He’s here,” she whispered. Butterflies began instantly crashing around in her stomach. She wiped her hands one more time against her skirt. She waved at Jani as she opened the front door. “See yah later, alligator.” She quickly closed the door before Jani came running out to remind Tyler that they needed to go to the party.

  Tyler’s vintage Mustang Cobra rumbled as it idled. He stood just outside the car, his arm resting on the opened door. “Hey.” The corners of his mouth spread upward as his eyes met hers.

  Aileen was impressed how his eyes didn’t travel over her. Not that she expected it, but had kind of hoped he would like the effort she had put into dolling herself up. It wasn’t every day she dressed up. Most days life revolved around a pair of jogging pants, a sports bra, t-shirt and a pony. Not that he would know, she never saw him at practice or on campus. “Hi.” She smiled back at him, one hand resting on the black railing of the porch as they stood staring and smiling at each other.

  “Get going, you bums!” Jani yelled from inside the house. She tapped on the window and waved at Tyler.

  It startled Aileen and Tyler to life. She hurried down the steps, sticking her tongue out at Jani as she passed the window.

  Tyler ran around the car and opened the passenger door for her. “Your chariot awaits.”

  She knew how much he loved this car, but couldn’t resist teasing him when he got into his seat. “It’s really nice your grandma let you have her car.”

  “It’s not...” He started to protest and shook his head. “You making fun?”

  Aileen rubbed the dashboard. “Of Lizzy? No. Never.”

  He grinned and pulled the car into reverse. “You remember.”

  She nodded. “That this baby is not a grandma or a nanny or anything related? She’s a sleek, revved up, hot Lizzy.” She repeated his words from her recruiting trip near perfectly. “I had the honor of naming her.” She laughed. “Did it stick?”

  “Her name? Yes.” He ran his fingers over the steering wheel.

  Aileen imagined him doing that to her and she felt her pulse quicken.

  “Lizzy was a little hesitant to come here.”

  “She was?” Aileen wasn’t sure if Tyler was referring to the car or to himself and using Lizzy as a metaphor.

  “You guys didn’t end off on a good note that last time you were together.”

  She thought about the argument that had happened the other night. “I think we might have misunderstood each other. I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.”

  Tyler concentrated on turning but glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “She forgives you.”

  Aileen pressed her lips together and then couldn’t hold back. “Don’t you think she should apologize as well?”

  “For w
hat? She didn’t hurt your feelings. A part of her died when you called her a grandma.”

  Pardon? She realized he actually was referring to the car, not the two of them. “You mean when she stalled?”

  “Yes, a part of her died.”

  Aileen started laughing.

  “It’s not funny.” Tyler had a difficult time keeping a straight face.

  “Does she like her name?” Aileen covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her giggles.

  “It stuck.”

  “That’s nice.” She giggled behind her hand and shifted in her seat so she could watch him. “I should have probably told you that ‘Lizzy’ is my grandmother’s name.”

  Tyler slammed on the breaks. “What?” He pulled the Mustang into a near-empty parking lot. “You gave her your gran’s name?”

  She shrugged. “It suited her. The car’s ancient. Like the nineteen seventies.”

  “She’s from nineteen eighty!”

  “Same thing!”

  He shook his head and pretended to look devastated. “I can’t have the two of you fighting. It just won’t work.”

  Aileen had an idea. “You could teach me how to drive stick.”

  “Say, what?” He touched the stick shift like he was trying to cover a child’s ears.

  “Jani was going to teach me, but we just haven’t got around to it.”

  “You’ve never driven standard?”

  She shook her head. “But I’m a very good driver.”

  He leaned back against his seat. “That’s what bad drivers say.”

  “No. I’m a good driver, and a quick learner.” She pointed to the parking lot. “It’s like destiny.”

  Tyler sighed. “Fine.”

  Aileen’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

  “I trust you. What better way to prove it?”

  She unclicked her seat belt and opened the car door. She danced as she ran around the front of the car. She spun around and stopped to lean into the window where Tyler still sat. “You are going to have to switch seats.”

  “Give me a moment. I’ve never let anyone drive her, anyone.”

  She laughed, enjoying the scent of his cologne as her head was inches away from his. Excited, she kissed him on the lips. Quick and hard. “I promise to give you one of those every time I stall or grind the gears.” She popped her head out of the car.

  Tyler jumped out of the car before Aileen could react. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her tight against him.

  A pleasure of something sensational sailed through her veins. She did not want it to leave.

  “Do you always get what you want?” His nose brushed against her hair.

  She pressed herself tighter against him, not sure it was even possible with the grip he had on her hips. “Not always.”

  “I have a hard time believing that.”

  “You’re one to talk.”

  He inhaled and pressed his cheek against the side of her forehead. His warm breath teased her ear as he spoke, “I can’t get you out of my head. I’ve been trying and it’s just not working.” He stepped back and smiled sheepishly at her. “So I decided to stop trying.”

  She didn’t like the space between them but wanting him to throw her on the hood of his car in public wasn’t an option. “I don’t understand.”

  He clasped his hands behind his head. “You’re a freshman. You’ve got four, if not five years of university. You are just starting out. I’ve got another year of track eligibility, but I’m not taking it. I’m done after this year. There are NFL offers and scouts, draft picks, sponsors to choose, plus helping lead the team through this season to our playoffs! And we’re barely halfway through the season.” He began to pace. “I’ve got to keep Coach Phelps happy, Coach Anderson in the loop, be a presence in the school, a leader and mentor every second of every day!” He stopped pacing and faced her. “I can’t allow myself to disappoint anyone, and you’re the one person I don’t think I know how to avoid doing that. Every way I look at it, you are going to be hurt.”

  She moved closer to him, hating the amount of weight on his shoulders. He needed an outlet, something he didn’t have to be responsible for. She could be that channel. She laid her hands on his chest and spread her fingers wide, basking in the strength that lay beneath them. “I don’t know why you got your panties all in a bunch.” She pushed him back so he stood trapped between his car and her. She winked at him and curled her fingers, letting her nails scrape against his shirt. “I’m not asking you for a promise ring. I’m just asking you to teach me how to drive stick.”

  The tension that caused his forehead to crease disappeared. He grinned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  “Nah,” she said as she leaned into him and slipped her hand into his jean pocket. “I’m going to be the one that brings you life.” She pulled his car keys out and shook them. “Now show me how to drive! We have a party to go to and I assume you are going to feed me dinner before we go.”

  He stood and watched her, uncertainty written clearly on his face.

  She could love him for his boyish charms and his need to avoid disappointment in others and, most of all, himself, but right now he needed someone who didn’t want anything in return – except maybe a lesson on how to drive stick.

  A smile slowly spread across his face. He clapped his hands and then rubbed them together. “Epic is on! I’ll teach you how to drive.” He grabbed her and lifted her so their heads were level. “I just need some kind of security deposit before we start.” He brushed his lips lightly against hers and then hungrily did it again forcing her mouth open so he could slip his tongue inside.

  He was going to break her heart.

  She was sure of it.

  But it wasn’t going to happen today, and she knew he was worth the risk. She only dreaded that she might break his in the process.

  Chapter 15

  “You’re a natural.” Tyler stole one of the fries off her plate. “I honestly thought I was going to have to install a new clutch after we were finished.” He bit into the French fry. “I’m impressed.”

  She grinned. “I told you I was a good driver.”

  “But to step into Lizzy like you owned her, that’s a mighty big responsibility.”

  She handed him another fry and popped one into her mouth as well. “If I can handle dealing with you, I figured Lizzy’d be a breeze.” She winked at him, loving the sense of empowerment she felt. It wasn’t over him but over herself. It was like she had grown up in an instant, and she didn’t mind at all.

  “How is school going?”

  “I like it. I have some boring classes, but that’s just like high school. I’m trying to get on the cadaver team for the anatomy physiology course next semester.”

  Tyler pointed at her plate. “I’m eating!”

  She rolled her eyes. “Your plate is empty, you’re eating my fries so I get to talk about gross things.”

  “I took that course.”

  “The anatomy one?” When he nodded, she slid him the rest of her plate of fries. “Were you on the cadaver team?”

  “No. I’d have liked to but between football and then track, there wasn’t a semester I had enough free time.” He gave her a sympathetic look. “If the course is only offered during the spring term, you might have a hard time committing to it as well. You’ll be gone almost every weekend competing. Or competing here.”

  “I could set my lab times for after practice.”

  “There’s a team of six for each cadaver. I’m not sure it’ll work. You’d have to get all of them to work around your schedule.”

  She hadn’t thought of that. She really wanted to be on the team, but Tyler had a good point. “Maybe I’ll see if it’s offered in the fall. What’s your major, by the way?”

  “I’ll graduate in June with a B S in kinesiology, with an emphasis in sports therapy.”

  It sounded interesting. She pretended to give him a stern look and took on her father’s tone, “And wha
t do you plan on doing with that, son?”

  Tyler’s eyebrows rose. “Nothing… Sir. I’m going to be playing in the NFL with the big kids.” He frowned a second before erasing the look from his face. “What about you? What’s your field of expertise?”

  She wanted to ask him about football but decided not to push it. “Probably Biology.”

  “And what do you plan on doing with that, dear?” he said, mimicking her voice.

  “Not sure. I have no idea what kinds of jobs are out there. Maybe I’ll get into pre-med.”

  “Looks like I landed me a smart one!” he teased.

  “I landed a famous, soon to be rich one,” she joked back. “Shall we give each other a shout in about ten years and see which one of us is richer?”

  Tyler pulled his wallet out and dropped some cash onto the table. “I’ll cover for dinner tonight, in ten years you’re paying for it.”

  Aileen stood and tucked the chair in. “I’m going to hold you to that.” She pulled her phone out of her purse. “I should probably have your cell phone number or email address or something so I can get in contact with you.”

  Laughing, he gave her his information. “Feel free to use them anytime.”

  She held her phone up and grinned. “I’d watch what you say. I might call you in the middle of a game just to say hi.”

  He grabbed her phone and held it out of her reach. “Maybe I should delete my info. You might be some messed up stalker who is going turn into some crazy doc. Then in ten years we’re going to meet up and you’re going to drug me. I’ll wake up looking like Frankenstein.”

  “Jekyll and Hyde? Nah. Too easy. I’ll plan something much more elaborate and complicated.”

  He put his arm around her shoulder and handed her the phone back. They walked outside to his car. “I wish I had more free time like today. This is more of a one-off. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to hang with you again. It sucks. You’re beautiful, smart and funny. I’d like to get to know you more.”

  He called her beautiful. The hottest guy on campus thought she was smart… and funny! “Don’t forget I know how to drive Lizzy.”