“Darius is going to introduce me to a girl,” I said. “Just … keep your mouth shut.”
Travis arched a brow and then nodded once. “Yes, dear.”
“I mean it,” I said, eyeing him. I shoved my hands in my jeans pockets and took a deep breath, watching Darius make small talk with Finch.
The brunette had already left, but thankfully, her friend seemed to be interested in sticking around.
“Stop fidgeting,” Travis said. “You look like you’re about to piss your pants.”
“Shut up,” I hissed.
Darius pointed in my direction, and Finch and the blonde looked at Travis and me.
“Fuck,” I said, looking to my cousin. “Talk to me. We look like stalkers.”
“You’re dreamy,” Travis said. “It’s going to be love at first sight.”
“Are they … are they walking over?” I asked. My heart felt like it was about to claw through my rib cage, and I had the sudden urge to beat Travis’s ass for being so flippant.
Travis scanned with his peripheral vision. “Yeah.”
“Yeah?” I said, trying to suppress a smile. A stream of sweat escaped my hairline, and I quickly wiped it away.
Travis shook his head. “I’m going to kick you in the balls. You’re already freaking out about this girl, and you haven’t even met her yet.”
“Hey,” Darius said.
I turned and caught the hand he held out to me in a half high five and half handshake.
“This is Finch,” Darius said. “He lives next door to me.”
“Hi,” Finch said, shaking my hand with a flirtatious smile.
“I’m America,” the blonde said, holding out her hand to me. “Orientation was brutal. Thank God we’re only freshmen once.”
She was even more beautiful up close. Her eyes sparkled, her hair glowed in the sunlight, and her long legs looked like heaven in those frayed white shorts. She was almost as tall as me, even in sandals, and the way she held her mouth when she spoke, coupled with her full lips, was sexy as hell.
I took her hand and shook it once. “America?”
She smirked. “Go ahead. Make a dirty joke. I’ve heard them all.”
“Have you heard, ‘I’d love to fuck you for liberty’?” Travis asked.
I elbowed him, trying to keep a straight face.
America noticed my gesture. “Yes, actually.”
“So … are you accepting my offer?” Travis teased.
“No,” America said without hesitation.
Yes. She’s perfect.
“What about my cousin?” Travis asked, shoving me so hard that I had to sidestep.
“C’mon,” I said, almost begging. “Excuse him,” I said to America. “We don’t let him out much.”
“I can see why. Is he really your cousin?”
“I try not to tell people, but yes.”
She scanned Travis and then turned her attention back to me. “So, are you going to tell me your name?”
“Shepley. Maddox,” I added as an afterthought.
“What are you doing for dinner, Shepley?”
“What am I doing for dinner?” I asked.
Travis nudged me with his arm.
I shoved him off me. “Fuck off!”
America giggled. “Yes, you. I’m definitely not asking your cousin on a date.”
“Why not?” Travis asked, feigning insult.
“Because I don’t date toddlers.”
Darius cackled, and Travis smiled, unfazed. He was being a dick on purpose to make me look like Prince Charming. The perfect wingman.
“Do you have a car?” she asked.
“I do,” I said.
“Pick me up in front of Morgan Hall at six.”
“Yeah … yeah, I can do that. See you then,” I said.
She was already saying good-bye to Finch and walking away.
“Holy shit,” I breathed. “I think I’m in love.”
Travis sighed, and with a slap, he gripped the back of my neck. “Of course you do. Let’s go.”
America
Freshly cut grass, asphalt baking in the sun, and exhaust fumes—those were the smells that would remind me of the moment Shepley Maddox stepped out of his black vintage Charger and jogged up the steps of Morgan Hall to where I stood.
His eyes scanned over my pale blue maxi dress, and he smiled. “You look great. No, better than great. You look like I’d better bring my A game.”
“You look average,” I said, noting his polo and what were likely his dress jeans. I leaned in. “But you smell amazing.”
His cheeks flushed dark enough to show through his bronze skin, and he offered a knowing smile. “I’ve been told I look average. It won’t deter me from having dinner with you.”
“You have?”
He nodded.
“They were lying. Just like me.” I passed him, heading down the steps.
Shepley hurried past me, reaching the door handle of the passenger side before I could. He tugged on it, opening the door wide in one motion.
“Thank you,” I said, sitting in the passenger seat.
The leather felt cool against my skin. The interior had been freshly vacuumed and polished, and it smelled like generic air freshener.
When he sat in his seat and turned to me, I couldn’t help but smile. His enthusiasm was adorable. Kansas boys weren’t so … eager.