Changing Forever (2 page)

“You should probably watch where you’re going,” a deep, male voice comes from a few feet in front of me.

Slowly, I lift my eyes and find myself staring blankly at very toned calves and working my way up to an equally defined torso.
Holy mother of God …
this guy doesn’t have a shirt on, and his black mesh shorts hang low on his trim hips—showing off everything. There’s at least a six-pack there, maybe even eight. I don’t let my eyes stay there long enough to figure it out. Ogling isn’t usually my thing, but this guy is impossible to ignore.

After lifting my eyes from his muscular chest, which glistens with a thin layer of sweat, I close in on his face. It’s been my experience that a guy either has a killer body or good looks, but not both. Blinking,
I try to keep my expression from giving away my amazement. They just don’t make guys like this where I come from. That, or I don’t see it because of the baggy t-shirts and jeans they wear.

“Are you done yet? I have a game to finish.” The sound of his amused voice brings my head up the rest of the way without even thinking about it.

My theory is completely debunked when I finally see the rest of him. Unable to speak, I take in his damp, sandy blond hair and brazen blue eyes, highlighted by the bright sunlight. Unbelievable.

His lips quirk at the sides as he slowly scans my body. I can’t decide if I should be relieved or embarrassed that I chose a pair of shorter cut-offs and a white tank this morning. I mean … I’m in shape because I’m constantly on the go, but I have no idea how it looks to him. I’m probably less than a five on this guy’s scale.

I want to turn around and run the other way, but he interrupts my plan before I get a chance. “Do you speak?” he asks, rubbing his hands along his strong jaw, which is peppered with a light shadow of facial hair. I’m not usually a fan of it, but it works on him, making him look older than he probably is.

I adjust my purse strap on my shoulder, wishing I’d at least put a little make-up on this morning. Back home I never cared much, but this is a whole other world … one that’s going to take some getting used to.

“Sorry,” I finally reply, shaking myself out of my stupor. “I guess I can’t do two things at once.”

A cocky smile appears on his face, bringing out more of his strong, masculine features. Square jawline. Chiseled cheekbones. If my heart rate wasn’t already high from all the walking I did today, it’s on a 200-mph race out of my chest right now.

“If you ever want any lessons on multi-tasking, find me. I could teach you a couple things.”

He just knocked himself down a couple notches on the hot meter. I know guys like him. They’re all about girls and fun, or should I say, having fun with girls. So very self-important, and he doesn’t know it yet, but I’m his worst nightmare. I can’t stand his type, and I’ll never give him what he wants so he shouldn’t waste his time on me. With looks like his, there are lots of other girls who will be happy to cater to him.

“I think I’ll pass. I prefer to hang out with people who aren’t so full of themselves,” I say, keeping my eyes up to avoid getting sucked in by his magnificent body again. His looks are the only thing still holding my interest.

“Chambers, this one looks like she’d like to be full of you,” his friend, who I hadn’t even realized was standing next to him, pipes in.

I step back and watch as Mr. Half-naked-and-sweaty gives the friend a look that would send an MMA fighter packing. It works. The guy walks back to the grassy area, tossing the football high in the air for another shirtless guy to catch.

“Gavin’s an ass. Ignore him,” he says, momentarily bringing my attention back to him.

“It’s not a big deal. I know plenty of assholes so it’s nothing new.”

“Blunt much?”

“Every day.”

Scanning our surroundings, I try to figure out an escape plan. This is awkward, and I’m ready to get back to my idea of a perfect Saturday. So far, my college life is unblemished. My day has been perfect … I’m not going to let this guy ruin that.

“What’s your name?” he asks, running his fingers through his damp hair, letting it fall every which way. He’s got this accidental sexiness to him, but he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Chambers, hurry up. Your new friend can wait!” his friend shouts with the football tucked under his arm.

“Calm the fuck down! I’ll be right there!” His voice softens as he focuses his attention on me again. “I should probably get back over there.”

“Nothing’s stopping you,” I say, pushing back a loose strand of hair that had blown in my face.

As I take a couple steps back, his friend, Gavin, approaches again, passing the ball back and forth between his hands. “Numbers are odd,” he remarks, raking his eyes up and down my body. “Maybe your new friend wants to stick around and play a little football.”

A grin spreads across Mr. Sexy’s face as he looks at me. “I don’t know, Gavin. She might get hurt playing with the big boys.”

I shift on my feet, crossing my arms over my chest. “There’s nothing hard about catching or throwing a football.”

“I’m not a girl, and I don’t throw like one either.”

Gavin laughs, tossing the football at the guy who’s become my Saturday distraction. “Show her what you got. Words don’t hold the same weight, Chambers.”

I open my mouth to argue, but I’m silenced by the football falling at my feet. The guy I now know as Chambers bends in front of me to pick it up, sliding his shoulder against my bare leg. I flinch, taking a small step back. I should walk away right now, but I don’t. When he straightens, his body is close to mine again. The smell of musk and sweat hits me as he raises his hand, brushing a piece of hair off my cheek. “Let’s make a bet. I’m going to walk over by the oak tree over there and throw you the ball. If you catch it, you’re free to go. You drop it, and you’re mine tonight.”

My eyes widen, genuinely shocked by his bold words. College is promising to be quite an adventure. “Not happening.”

“I didn’t mean that quite like you think. Besides, there’s a reason you’re still standing here.” He slides his tongue over his lower lip while staring down at mine. “Maybe we should find out why that is.”

“You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?”

“Prove me wrong,” he says, his eyes searing into mine. “I don’t think you can catch a ball—not one thrown by me.”

He’s challenging me, and I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge. “One ball. I catch it, and I’m out of here.”

He smiles, nodding to the grassy area. “Stand over there.”

I do as he asks while he walks about twenty yards away from me.
Why am I even doing this?

“Are you ready?” he yells, pretending to throw the ball.

Taking a deep breath, I place my hand over my eyes to block the sun. After regaining some of my composure, I drop my hands to my sides, and nod, waiting for ball to fly through the air.
Please let me catch this.

He fakes it one more time before he lets go, sending it straight at me. I don’t know much about football, but it looks like a well-thrown ball. Putting my hands up, I move a few inches to my right, and when I feel the leather against my palm, I grip it tightly.

It all happens in a matter of seconds, and when it’s done, I look down, feeling the ball in my hand. I smile, tucking it under my arm as I watch Chambers walk in my direction. When he’s close enough that I know I can throw it to him, I do just that. “Looks like I win. You’ll have to find someone else to play with tonight.”

“Tell me your name.” He stares at me with his head cocked to one side, hands resting on his slim hips.

“There’s really no reason to since I don’t plan on talking to you again.” I smile, proud of myself for being able to think quickly with a college-aged god standing feet in front of me.

“Good luck then. You might need it around here.” He backs away, eyes roaming my body as he pulls his lower lip between his teeth. A tingle runs down my spine; even though his personality hasn’t wooed me, his looks are getting to me. The guy’s walking sex, but luckily, he’s walking away from me.

Not even a hot guy walking around campus without a shirt can stand in my way when it comes to doing what I came here to do.

Before heading back to my dorm for the day, I stop at the coffee shop for a latte. The quaint space is much like the rest of campus, full of students, some reading, while others are chatting around packed tables. The walls are a rich yellow, and the floors are rustic stained cement. It’s another place I can see myself spending a lot of my afternoons over the next four years.

I order an iced caramel latte, letting the first sip sit on my tongue for a few seconds longer than I should. This is something I can’t get back home, and I’m going to spoil myself with it as often as possible. An indulgence my dad would tell me is just a waste of money. Maybe it is, but I only have one life to live.

When I finally reach my door, I take a deep breath, part of me hoping that Kate has already left for her date. I only met her yesterday, and she seems like a nice girl, but I also need time to myself. Time to process and adjust.

As I open the door, the first thing I see is her head of long, auburn hair in front of the mirror. At least she’s getting ready, I think.

Her smile reflects off the mirror when she spots me. “Hey, where’ve you been all day? I thought you were just going to take a walk around.”

“I did. I just got a little carried away and walked the whole campus. Enjoying a little freedom, you know?”

She smiles. “Hey, what are you doing tonight?”

I pull my purse strap over my head and sit on the edge of my bed, watching her perfectly place every section of her hair. “I don’t know. I’ll probably just read a book or something. It’s been a long day.”

Hot temps, long walk, arrogant college guys … it’s definitely been a very long day.

Setting the curling iron down, she spins around in her chair. “It’s Saturday night. Don’t you want go out and see what this college thing is all about? There’s a lot to do outside of this campus, you know.”

We’ve only known each other for twenty-four hours, but she’s already getting an idea of just how fun I can be. If she expects me to be the life of the party, she might want to deal with her disappointment now. It will be easier on both of us.

“I will some other time. I’m just too tired tonight,” I answer as I pull my shoes off my feet. I’m glad I opted for sneakers over flip-flops this morning because I probably walked at least five miles.

“You’re welcome to come to the movie with Beau and me. We’re going to the new Liam Hemsworth flick that everyone is talking about. It won’t require too much energy … I promise.” She says it as if she thinks I’m easily lured by a hot guy with a killer body and smile to match. I can be, but not when she’s doing the pity invite. Plus, I’ve seen enough of that today.

“No, I’m good. Besides, you guys just started dating yesterday, right?” She nods, watching me curiously as I continue. “I’m not tagging along on your first date.”

She laughs, facing the mirror again. “It’s hard to consider it a first date when we’ve known each other for fifteen years.”

I haven’t been around her long enough to understand the dynamics of her relationship with Beau, but I get the feeling that there’s a story that might be worth hearing some day.

“Honestly, I’m looking forward to relaxing before classes start on Monday. I’ll go some other time, though,” I say, falling onto my bed.

“If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“Does this look okay?” she asks, glancing down at her light brown wedges and strapless black maxi dress.

I laugh. “It’s exactly what I would have picked for a date. Just make sure to bring a sweater if you’re going to the movie. I always think it’s cold in theaters.”

“Good point. I always think of that too late.”

“Then again, maybe you don’t need to worry about it if you’re with Beau.”

Through the mirror, I see her roll her eyes. “Seriously? His hand will be buried so deep in a tub of buttery popcorn, he won’t have time to worry about me.”

“Men.”

“You’re telling me.”

The room stays quiet as Kate continues to get ready. For me, the silence is a little slice of heaven—a delicacy I’ve rarely enjoyed with my dad around. It certainly didn’t help when my mom left us, and he had no one else to talk to or ask to help around the house. It also didn’t help that we lived in a small two-bedroom farmhouse with only one bathroom. There was never anywhere to go to get away. For many years, I thought my dad was trying to punish me by staying in small quarters, but I soon realized the way we lived wasn’t a choice. We lived with what he had. I also knew it was one of the reasons she left.

A knock at the door causes both of us to jump. I should offer to answer it, but I already know it’s Beau, Kate’s perfect boyfriend. When he dropped her off last night, I couldn’t help but listen to their goodbye. At first I thought it was disgust I felt when he was so sweet with her, but then I realized there was a tinge of jealousy that I was mistaking for something else.

No one has ever talked to me the way he talks to her. But then again, I’ve never really let anyone get that close to me. I dated Clay for most of high school, but before our relationship even got off the ground, I convinced myself that we had no chance of forever and always kept a certain amount of distance between us.

“Emery, are you listening to me?” Opening my eyes, I see Kate standing over my bed with Beau close behind. She’s definitely one lucky girl. He’s boy-next-door cute with a protective stance to match. The type of guy most girls dream about.

“Sorry, I guess I’m tired,” I lie, trying to bring myself back to reality.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come along? I hate leaving you alone.”

I’m almost afraid to tell her no again because it’s evident from the way she’s asking that she’s being completely genuine. “I’ll be fine. You guys go have fun.”

“Okay.” She smiles, glancing back at Beau. The way he looks at her, with pure adoration in his eyes, brings the jealousy back that I felt the night before. Every day I tell myself I don’t want that right now, but maybe it’s because I haven’t found anyone worth changing my rules for.