Higher (The University of Gatica #3) Read online

  Carter bit into a piece of toast and watched her as he chewed. After he had swallowed it, he gulped down some orange juice, still observing Jani from behind the glass. He set it slowly down on the counter. “So… does that mean you’re impressed? That is my goal, you know, to amaze you.” He swiveled his bar stool chair so he could rest his elbows on the breakfast nook counter and flashed her a cocky grin. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I impressed you last night, but I’m not the sort to brag.”

  She threw her napkin at him and laughed. “You’re not arrogant at all!” She stole the last piece of bacon off his plate and as she bit into it, she said, “I had fun last night. Thank you.”

  He stared at her, his mouth hanging open slightly and a confused look on his face. He didn’t know what to make of her comment. Apparently most girls probably gushed about how great he was. Jani, on the other hand, was an athlete as well and street smart. She liked him but had no intention of letting him know flat out. He would have to do a bit of chasing if he wanted to hang with her. He knew how to play the game, and so did she.

  Carter closed his mouth and cleared away the dishes. He closed the dishwasher with his foot. “Do you have to train today?”

  She shook her head. “Sundays are usually off days. What about you?”

  “I should hit the pool for a few laps, but it’s not a necessity. I’m competing next weekend so a rest day won’t hurt. Do you want to do something?”

  “Is it here?”

  “What here?”

  “The swim meet.”

  “Oh, yeah. As a matter of fact it is.” One side of his mouth curled up. “Are you going to come watch me? Or are you competing?”

  She shook her head. “We don’t start until January. There’s one meet in December before the holidays as a season opener, but we don’t go hard until January. Then it’s basically every weekend.” She considered his first question. Maybe Aileen would come with her. Football had an away game. “What time do you race on Saturday?”

  He moved to the calendar hanging on the wall. There was a nail with photocopied papers hanging on it. “I’ll have to check the schedule. I’m not sure what races I’m all doing. Do you want me to let you know?”

  “I’ll have to give you my cell phone number then.” She loved how they could tease and banter each other so easily. “You aren’t going to start stalking me?”

  He tapped his chin with a long, perfectly manicured finger. “The thought did cross my mind. However, after the restraining orders from my last five girlfriends, something tells me I should try and resist the urge.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  He watched her with a confidence Jani found extremely attractive. “You’re not too far behind.” He straightened. “So what do you want to do? Do you have to head home or are you interested in hanging with me?”

  Nothing sounded more appealing than spending the day with Carter. Except for one thing. “I should head home and shower.” Okay, maybe two things. She also had a paper due tomorrow.

  “You can do that here.” The wicked, sly grin returned.

  “AND change.” She tugged gently at the shirt she wore. “As much as I love your top as a dress, I’m not wearing it out in public.”

  “Who says we have to leave the house?”

  Low in her abdomen a swirl of excitement mixed with built-up longing warned her to do as he suggested or suffer the consequences.

  The front door banged opened. Jani jumped off her chair in surprise. Her eyes darted across the room as she tried to find a way to escape upstairs or a place to hide.

  “Carter?” A booming male voice echoed from the hall. The stranger sniffed loudly. “Did you make bacon?”

  Carter checked his watch and rolled his eyes. “My roommate,” he whispered to Jani before moving to the hallway, perfectly positioning himself so Jani had a direct path to the stairs without having to pass in front of his roommate. “Wayne! You’re back early. I thought you wouldn’t be here till tonight.”

  “Nah, I was bored.”

  Jani stood, unsure if she should say hello or slip behind Carter. What if he didn’t want Wayne to know she was here?

  “Wasn’t your sister getting married?”

  “Nope. That’s three weeks from now. Yesterday was some party pre-rehearsal waste of time.” A heavy bag dropped to the floor. “I’m missing conference for it. Coach is going to be ticked I’m not on the relay.”

  “Oh, hell. I forgot. That sucks.” Carter leaned back slightly so his head popped around the wall. He looked at Jani with an amused face. “You going to try and find a cupboard to hide in?”

  “What?” Wayne asked, apparently confused. His face appeared beside Carter’s. “Why hello! Now I know I smell bacon.” He playfully punched Carter in the shoulder. “Nice to meet you, tall glass of water. I’m Wayne.”

  Jani knew her cheeks were burning, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. Wayne hadn’t lived with Carter last year. She hadn’t recognized his voice or now his face. “Hi. I’m Jani.”

  “You don’t swim,” Wayne stated.

  “She’s on the track team, idiot.” Carter moved back into the kitchen.

  “I jump.” She sounded like the idiot, not Wayne. “High. I high jump.”

  Wayne slipped by Carter to get into the kitchen. He glanced over at the countertops. “You guys ate all the bacon?”

  Carter nodded his head. “Make some more. There’s half a pack in the fridge.”

  Wayne moved to the refrigerator and opened the door. He disappeared from view as he leaned half inside it.

  Jani inched toward the kitchen entrance, ready to nip upstairs and put her clothes back on. There was no way she was staying here for the day. The condo suddenly felt crowded.

  Wayne’s head popped up from behind the fridge door. “Nice meeting you Jani. It’s very cool you jump.”

  “Thanks.” She moved passed Carter and nearly squealed when his hand touched her derriere as she made her way to the stairs. It surprised her enough to make her jump, almost hitting the low hanging hall light.

  Wayne whistled. “How high do you jump?”

  Jani debated about pretending she hadn’t heard him, except his loud voice couldn’t be missed. “Six foot three.”

  “Is that with a pole?”

  “No, just my legs.” It wasn’t the first time she had been asked that question.

  Carter glanced appreciatively at her slender, muscular legs. “They work pretty well.”

  She wasn’t sure if he was complimenting her on last night or on her jumping ability. “I’m going to, uh, change. I should get going now.” She took a few steps up the stairs and then paused to check if Carter was following her. He wasn’t. He had moved into the kitchen to talk to Wayne. She hurried up the stairs, disappointed he hadn’t come.

  She slipped on her skirt and grabbed everything else she had left in his room. There wasn’t much, just her purse. She used the bathroom while upstairs and snagged some mouthwash. She tried fixing her hair with her fingers and when the cowlick that never wanted to listen wouldn’t listen, she wet it and then redid her ponytail. She wanted to go home and shower. Plus, there was that paper to write.

  Carter was still downstairs when she came out of the bathroom. She licked her lips wishing she had lip gloss, she’d have even settled for chapstick. Carter and Wayne stood talking in the living room. Jani waited a few minutes not wanting to interrupt them. She finally had to clear her throat when she felt like an invisible person in the room. She hated that feeling. “I need to get going.”

  “You do?” Carter’s eyebrows popped up in surprise.

  “Yeah. I have a paper due tomorrow I need to finish.”

  Carter reached up onto the stereo cabinet and retrieved his keys. He nodded at Wayne, who stood there with a big smirk on his face that Jani would have loved to wipe off. Thank goodness he didn’t say anything.

  Jani forced a quick smile. “Bye, Wayne.” She turned and headed for the front door. It wasn’t until
she stepped outside that she realized Carter had grabbed his truck keys. She stopped on the small set of stairs leading off the tiny front porch.

  Carter bumped into the back of her and instantly wrapped his arms around her to keep her from falling. “You forget something inside?”

  She loved the strength behind his lengthy arms. “Not inside.” She slowly moved forward to free herself from him. She leaned against the bumper of his truck. “My car’s parked around the corner.”

  He stared at her blankly a moment before saying, “Oh! You don’t need me to drive you home then.”

  “I guess I don’t.” Alone with him now, she kind of wished she hadn’t said she had to go while Wayne was there and Carter was acting all macho-manly. She liked him now, just the two of them.

  “Bummer.” One side of his mouth sucked inward and he made a slight pouty face as his nose scrunched.

  Jani sighed inwardly. Way too sexy.

  “Do you want me to walk you to your car then?”

  She straightened and pushed off the bumper. “Sure!”

  He slipped his fingers in between hers as she started to walk toward where she had parked the car for last night’s party. She had purposely parked around Carter’s house so she would have to pass it on her way over. It had worked out perfect because Carter had been outside and called out to her as she had passed him.

  “I wonder how Zach’s doing. I meant to text him before.” Carter pulled his phone out of his back pocket and checked it.

  “I didn’t hear back from Aileen either.”

  Carter glanced sideways at her and they both burst out laughing. “She so scored last night.”

  “I was kind of thinking the same thing.” Jani didn’t mean it in a bad way. The thought of Carter thinking she was gossiping about her roommate didn’t sit well in her mind. “I mean, good for her. She’s awesome and so is Tyler. I hope they make something from it.”

  “Like a baby?”

  She squeezed his hand as tight as she could. He didn’t even flinch. “I meant; for a relationship or something.”

  Carter pulled her tight beside him, using their hand holding as the anchor. “I know. I was only messing.”

  “Aileen is very sweet. I don’t want some dumb nut trying to take advantage of her. I don’t think Tyler’s that kind of guy.”

  Carter didn’t say anything and it made Jani’s radar pop up.

  “Do you know something about Tyler?”

  He shrugged. “No. The guy hasn’t dated anyone seriously while he’s been here. He had a girl, but it barely lasted. He’s going places, prominent places. I can’t see him deciding to have a serious relationship this year.”

  “Hasn’t he got one more year?” Charity thought Tyler had one more year of eligibility.

  “He won’t stay. He’s going to get drafted this year. He’ll be one of the top picks. Women will be flocking that pretty boy like moths to a flame.”

  Carter had a good point. Aileen was a freshman. No senior would wait around another three or four years, especially someone playing in the NFL. She hoped Aileen had considered that. For some reason, she couldn’t see Aileen as the flirty, I’m-not-looking-for-a-relationship-type.

  They crossed the condo road to the other side and turned the corner. Her car was parked in the visitor parking.

  “So I can’t talk you into staying?” Carter leaned against the driver’s door so she couldn’t unlock or open it.

  “I’d like to, but I should head back. Aileen’s going to wonder where I am.”

  “I doubt she’s worried about you.”

  She laughed. “You’re probably right, but still I should get going.”

  “What about hanging out later tonight then? I could come by your place. Maybe go for a drive, or something?”

  Yes! “I have to work on my paper. I could text you when I finish it if you want.”

  “Sure. I’ll come by. Even if it’s late. Tomorrow night, too. You free tomorrow evening as well?”

  She stared at him, unsure if he was kidding.

  Carter’s arms wrapped around her waist and he tugged her gently to him. “I finally get a chance to spend time with you and I don’t want to miss any of it. I was an idiot to listen to Linda. Now I’m trying to make up for it.” He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. “Whatdya say?”

  Her eyes had closed when his mouth met hers. Score another one for Mr. Hotness. “I’ll text you after. If it’s too late, we could hang out tomorrow night.”

  He groaned and dropped his knees slightly. “You’re killin’ me, girl!” He did move over so she could open the car.

  Inside she reached for her seatbelt and Carter kissed her again. His cologne tormented her nostrils and she opened her mouth to feel his tongue. She pictured them in her little car, trying to fool around. Probably a bit too cozy for comfort.

  When he finally moved back and straightened, Jani had to try and catch her breath.

  Carter tapped the roof of her car. “Get going and start working on your homework right away. I’m coming over later.” He winked at her and turned to go, whistling as he walked away.

  Jani stared at his muscular ass, enjoying the full view and happy to gawk without being rude. Or was it; happy to goggle without getting caught? She ran her tongue over her rough-kissed lips. He was a temptation she did not want to resist.

  Chapter 4

  “You have to tell me what’s going on with you and Tyler.” Jani sat down beside Aileen on the couch, a bowl of Cheerios in her hand. She took a spoonful and spoke as she chewed, “You can’t stop smiling.”

  Aileen tucked her feet under her and sat cross-legged facing Jani. She grinned and stole a Cheerio out of Jani’s bowl. “I’m not smiling.” Her lips pressed into a flat line, only to start curling at the corners a moment later. “I’m not sure what’s going on.” She jumped off the couch. “I want cereal too.” She disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later with a bowl. She dropped down to the same position she had been sitting in a moment earlier. “This is so good. I’m starving.”

  Jani nudged her knee against her roommate. “Why’re you so hungry? Did you work up an appetite?”

  “Maybe.” Aileen stuffed a huge bite in her mouth so she wouldn’t have to say more.

  They ate a few minutes in comfortable silence. She had driven back from Carter’s just before lunch. Afternoon had turned into a lazy napping afternoon and now cereal had become their dinner meal. Jani had to get working on her paper, but chatting with Aileen seemed more important. Aileen hadn’t come out of her room till about an hour ago. “So, what did you and Tyler do yesterday? Before the party?”

  Aileen blushed slightly. “We hung out. Had some food, talked. He taught me how to drive Lizzy.”

  Jani raised her eyebrows. She’d never heard a boy’s bit referred to as a female name. “Lizzy? Dare I ask you why Tyler calls—”

  “No!” Aileen looked mortified. “Lizzy is his car. It’s standard. Not automatic. Whatever you call it. He taught me how to drive her.”

  “Ahh! That makes sense then.” She took another bite. “I thought Tyler babied his car. He must really like you to let you drive it, let alone learn how to drive stick in it.” She shot Aileen a sly glance, her eyelids half closed. She turned her head slightly to watch her from the corner of her eye, trying to appear dramatic and funny at the same time. “How did he feel with your hands all over his stick? Did it rev his engine?”

  Aileen threw a Cheerio at Jani. It landed perfectly on Jani’s forehead and stuck there. They burst out laughing.

  When they managed to calm down, Jani went and set her empty bowl on the floor beside the couch. “So you hung out with him for the afternoon, messed around before the party…” She paused when Aileen pursed her lips but didn’t disagree. Jani didn’t need any more detail than that confession. “Then to the party for all of two minutes. Did Tyler come here last night? What happened to Zach?”

  “His nose is broken. His hand’s also sprained.
Guess it’s not so good. Tyler said his eyes were pretty swollen when they left. Dr. Bennet – do you remember him?” When Jani nodded, Aileen continued, “LOL, who wouldn’t remember that hot doctor? Anyway, Tyler said that Dr. Bennet fixed his nose and X-rayed his wrist. The football coach, I think his name is Coach Philip’s, was there when they got out of X-rays. Guess he’s pretty ticked.”

  “That sucks. Big time. Who’s going to play quarterback while Zach heals?” Jani tried to remember who the backup quarterback was. She thought Zach had started out as this year’s back up.”

  “Tyler said it’s all crazy. He thinks Coach Philip’s wants him to play quarterback.”

  “Really?” Jani shrugged. “It doesn’t surprise me, to be honest. I think Tyler could play anywhere and be a star.”

  “It’s a lot of pressure. Tyler said he never thought this year would be this nuts. I feel sorry for him.”

  “Tyler said?” Jani couldn’t resist teasing. “Does that mean Tyler came back here last night?”

  Aileen seemed ready to argue but shrugged instead and then grinned. “Yeah, he did. When you didn’t come home, I wanted to send a search party out for you. I called Tyler to borrow his car.”

  “You didn’t!” Jani hadn’t even thought to call or tell Aileen she hadn’t planned to come back home. She should have. Her freshman roommate had probably been worried sick. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” Aileen rolled her eyes. “I was kidding. From the way you were googly-eying that swimmer, I figured you wouldn’t be coming home if you could help it.”

  Sly girl. Aileen was no dummy. “I guess I was kind of obvious.”

  “Only to me.” Aileen winked and then hesitated before admitting, “Tyler came back after he dropped Zach off at their place, but he had to leave early this morning. He had to go back, grab Zach and see Coach Philips. Then he had to watch films or something and go over plays. Footbally stuff.”

  “Their schedule is pretty nuts. I have no idea how those guys manage school work during the season.”