Faster (The University of Gatica #2) (9 page)

Not that she thought of it as a mistake. Something that felt that good couldn’t be wrong.

“Earth to Aileen! You still here?”

She turned to the sound of Jani’s voice. “Sorry. Lost in thought.”

“Lost in a pair of gorgeous eyes, more like.” Jani giggled.

They jogged out of the wooded area into an open field which looped around to the long hill they ran repeats on, and then finished down the slope on the other side where they had started the race. Tyler stood by a pair of tables full of cups of water. He stood, his back turned to them, filling cups and setting them on the table. They were just behind the front pack, about ten people ran in front of them.

“You going to invite him to the party?”

Aileen watched Tyler toss a cup of water at Craig as he ran past. Craig tried to grab a cup and throw it back, not even coming close to hitting Tyler.

“Should I?” Part of her wanted to, the other part just wanted him all to herself. Why wasn’t she nervous? Maybe her excitement was hiding the anxiety and it would hit her after the race. Somehow though, she just felt calm. One thing she was determined to do was clear the confusion from the summer. She needed to tell him she had been hoping he would contact her after her recruiting trip. Maybe say it so it didn’t sound so desperate or play it cool. Or something. Maybe she just wouldn’t bring it up unless he said something. Or they could just hang out, kind of start from scratch all over again.

She smiled at him as they jogged toward him, suddenly too shy to say or do anything. Tyler watched her pass, his eyes glued on her. She picked the pace up and concentrated on her running form, trying to make it perfect… And flirty. If running could even be considered sexy. She was so glad he couldn’t read her mind.

Jani ran on the inside, close by the tables and grabbed two cups. “Thanks, T!” She handed Aileen a cup.

She reached for it and completely missed grasping the bottom. It slipped from her hand and bounced off her knee, sending ice cool water splashing directly into her face. It couldn’t have been planned more perfectly. America’s Funniest Home Video’s would have put it in the top three reels.

Tyler called out, “You okay?”

She glanced back, expecting him to be running after her like a knight in shining armor—more like a guy with a towel and another cup. Thankfully he didn’t. He seemed to be trying to hold in his laughter. “I’m good.” She waved and quickly faced forward.

“Sorry, ‘bout that.” Jani giggled and offered Aileen her cup. “Have mine.”

Aileen took it and lifted the cup to her lips, already dripping with water. She paused and flicked her wrist, throwing the water into Jani’s face. “Whoops! Sorry about that. It slipped.”

Water dripped down both their hair and face. Other members of the team jogged by them laughing. Aileen tried not to, but the giggles escaped.

Jani wiped the wetness from her face with a dramatic swipe. “Payback’s a bitch.” She turned and sprinted back to the water table.

Aileen watched her go, too weak to move from laughing.

Tyler called out, “Start running, blondie!!”

Aileen reacted at the sound of his voice. Jani had wrenched the lid of the large Gatorade cooler off and was scooping the cold, crushed ice cubes into cups. Her arm swung back as she aimed for Aileen.

She tore off toward the finish line, using her fast legs to sprint away from Jani. A few ice cubes bounced off her calf as she ran. She could hear Jani scrambling around Tyler to catch her. She didn’t dare turn around to see if Jani was close. She figured with her fast sprinting ability, Jani didn’t stand a chance with those long legs of hers.

She screamed in surprise when two strong arms wrapped around her and easily lifted her off the ground, her legs still trying to run. “What the—?”

“This is nothing personal.” Tyler’s warm breath brushed against the cool wetness on her ear.

She froze a moment. “You’re helping her?” She could feel his chest rumble against her as he laughed.

“She doesn’t stand a chance on her own against you.”

As Aileen twisted her neck to look at him, a massive bucket of water and ice came crashing over Tyler’s head and splashing on to her. She prepared herself to be dropped, but amazingly he held on, not letting go of her. Probably something football related.

Blinking the water from her eyes, Aileen peered over Tyler’s shoulder. Jani and a large, solid thrower who she didn’t know his name, stood holding the big, now empty, Gatorade cooler.

Tyler sputtered water from his mouth, his eyes sparkled off the reflection of the water. Poor guy had gotten the brunt of the water. He winked at Aileen before slowly turning around, his face turning hard and angry. “You. Are. So. Dead,” he said to Jani and her partner in crime. He slowly set Aileen down and walked over to the water table.

“Jeremy, go!” Jani tugged at the big guy’s shirt. “Seriously, move your ass like someone’s gonna shoot it!” She started running, her long legs moving like a gazelle. “It’s every man for himself. Sorry!” She sprinted away, leaving poor Jeremy trying to catch up to her.

Aileen glanced down at her drenched gray shirt. At least she hadn’t worn white. The water was cool but thankfully the air was warm. She picked up the empty cooler and carried it over to Tyler’s table. “You’re not going after them, are you?”

Tyler chuckled and shook his head. “Nope. Just wanted to see them run.” He began gathering the remaining cups and dumping the unused water on the ground.

Aileen started helping. “You don’t have to carry this all back do you?”

“Nah. Coach Maves drives a truck. She’ll get a couple of the throwers to clear it up and take it back to Wavertree.”

“Maybe Jeremy?” She tried not to laugh. “I don’t think he’ll be coming back. I got the feeling he’s heading back to his place to change his shorts.”

Tyler gave her an innocent look. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Maybe not, but I’d have taken off running if you shot me the same look you showed them.”

“What look?” He set the empty cooler on the table and began tossing all the cups into it.

“That scary kill or be killed one.”

“My game face?” he chuckled. “That’s my game face on the football field. Can’t show anyone your weaknesses or you’ll be taken down, limb by limb.”

“Sounds like a fun sport. Only the crazy need apply.”

Tyler flashed her a perfect smile. “I prefer to think of us as fearless.”

“If you look the two words up in the dictionary, there isn’t much difference.” She held onto her last cup, just in case he decided to go after her.

He tossed his last cup onto the grass. “You’re probably right.” A horn sounded at the finish line, signaling the race was over. “Speaking of fearless. You should probably head up the hill and let Coach, and Jani, know you haven’t been torn apart.”

“Limb by limb?” she teased.

He gave her legs an appreciative glance. “You tempting me?”

She sat on the empty table. “Maybe I’m feeling a little crazy today.”

Tyler tossed the cup he was holding into the cooler without even looking and made his way closer to her. He rested his hands on her knees and pushed her legs slightly apart so he could stand in between them. He bent down his head close to her, his lips inches from hers.

His touch took her breath away. She should be mad at him. Or at least, keeping her distance. Her brain seemed drunk when he was around and only sobered when she was away from him. His shirt was drenched, and she wasn’t much dryer. A truck would probably appear on the hill any moment and ruin the moment. She ran her tongue over her lips. She didn’t want to lose this feeling.

Covering the distance between the two of them, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. His hands squeezed her thighs near her knee as he returned the kiss. Whenever she was near him, she felt drawn to him like a magnet – or a moth to a flame. She couldn’t seem to figure out if the stirring feelings deep inside her were divine or dangerous.

His tongue slipped into her mouth and she moaned from the pleasure scurrying inside of her. She wanted to be closer but couldn’t seem to command her brain to tell her body to move. Why in the world had they been avoiding each other?

A horn sounded near the top of the hill. Tyler stepped back and gave her a mischievous grin. He casually ran the pad of his thumb along his lower lip before putting it in his mouth, as if trying to suck any lingering touch of her lips into his mouth.

She watched him hungrily, tempted to jump off the table and cover the short distance between them.

“I should probably head up to the finish line and chat up the alumni. Wouldn’t want to disappoint Coach Anderson.”

She shook her head slowly, still dazed from the euphoria of his lips. “Yeah, Jani’s probably worried about me.” Was she speaking slowly? It felt like slow motion.

A single eyebrow rose. “You think?”

She smiled, everything fast forwarding to normal pace. “Probably not.” Jani no doubt had a pair of binoculars and was watching them at this very moment.

A horn beeped as a small truck came over the hill and headed toward them. Two throwers sat in the back bed. “Jensen!” one of them hollered out.

Drew, the pole vaulter, drove the truck and pulled up beside them. He got out as the guys in the back hopped off and began loading the truck. “You hurt, freshman?”

Her cheeks burned as she fumbled for a response.

“She’s okay,” Tyler said as he stepped in front of her to set one of the tables flat. “Does everything go in the back of the truck?”

His movement was calculated. It blocked Drew from seeing her face.
That’s considerate of him
. She’d have to thank him later.

“Yeah,” Drew said, rushing over to help Tyler. “Great game last weekend. You ever thought of playing quarterback? Some of those throws made our quarterback look like a chump.”

Tyler straightened. “Our QB is not a chump.” His words came out tight and protective.

Drew held his hands up. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant… you’ve got a great arm.”

Aileen stood back and watched the interaction. Tyler played his position on and off the field. He guarded and protected like a true defenseman. “I’m going to jog over to the team.” She handed the cooler lid to one of the throwers who had just tossed the water cooler into the truck bed.

“I’ll come with you.” Tyler untucked his wet shirt. “Coach should have a shirt I can change into.” He glanced down at her gray shirt. “Looks like you need one as well.”

Drew cleared his throat. “We can give you guys a lift.”

Tyler put his arm around Aileen’s shoulder. “We’re good.” He pulled Aileen close, surprising her with his public display of affection.

They walked together up the hill, the truck flying past them and honking the horn. Aileen felt Tyler stiffen as they drove by. “Everything okay?”

“It's all right.” He puffed out a breath. “It just gets annoying when everyone has an opinion on how I play, or how I should be playing or what position. Everyone’s a critic.”

“Don’t forget expert. Everyone’s an expert as well.”

“Exactly!” He snapped his fingers. “It’s a pain in the a—it’s a pain.”

She nodded and held back a smile at his attempt to not swear.
He’s a gentleman, his mother taught him right.
That’s what her mother always said about polite boys. Aileen couldn’t disagree with her.

Tyler dropped his arm off her shoulder when they reached the top of the hill.

A large crowd of people, mostly alumni and parents, stood chatting. A large, industrial barbecue had been set up and the smell of burgers and sausages cooking waffled over to them. Coach Anderson stood amongst a small group and raised his hand when he saw Tyler. He came walking toward them. “Everything alright?” He glanced over at Aileen and pointed to Tyler’s shirt. “Did Aileen do this?” the surprise in his voice clearly evident.

“Nah.” Tyler ruffled the top of her head. “She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He winked at her.

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.