I rolled onto my side, facing the phone. “I wish you could be here too.”

“The next time I will be.”

Warmth blossomed in my chest at his assurance, even as doubt tried to creep in. Derrick was a football player. This could be his usual pre-practice ritual. It wouldn’t be the first time an athlete wanted to use me for his own needs.

A yawn escaped as I pulled my blanket up to my chin. Exhaustion, and multiple orgasms, made my eyelids droop, but I wasn’t ready to let go yet.

Derrick must have felt the same way, despite the threat of being late to practice. “When can I see you again?”

“Besides our class in two days?” Anticipation made my pulse jack up again. My stupid body couldn’t seem to be reasonable when it came to him.

“Yes, smartass. What are you doing tomorrow?”

It took me a second to orient myself, but when I remembered that tomorrow was Tuesday, the excitement deflated.

“I’m working at the community center. You could come by considering you still owe me a day of volunteering.”

“Hmm, I don’t know. You didn’t finish with my day.”

“Pretty sure I just did.”

Derrick laughed, sending a thrill through me. Oh, I was in so much trouble with him. “That’s fair. How long are you there tomorrow?”

“I’m closing, so nine.”

“I can make time. How’s seven-thirty? I’ll stay and walk you home.”

“How do you know I walk? I could have a car.”

“Em, you told me over lunch you were waiting to get a car until after you graduated because it seemed like a waste when everything was within walking distance.”

How was I supposed to be reasonable about a man that remembered my rambling? I let out a quiet sigh. I liked him. A lot. More than I probably should considering how little time we’d spent together.

“Okay. You can walk me home.”

He laughed again. “No pressure, Em. I’m happy with a chaste kiss at the door.”

I couldn’t resist teasing him. “Oh, you are, huh? After this, you’ll be okay with a single kiss?”

“The choice is yours, always, but I’ve been dreaming of you for weeks. As long as you’re willing, I have no intention of keeping my hands—or my mouth—to myself.”

I was willing, so very willing, but I’d been down this road before. A much younger and stupider me had fallen for the false interest of a sports star. This time, I was determined to keep things simple. No promises, no expectations, just spending time with a guy I liked more and more each day.

7

DERRICK