Bo and I were about the only two guys unattached in our unit when we began, but by the end at least half, if not more, had divorced, broken up, or were cheated on. Grace had been more constant than any woman we knew. She was able to cut through all the bullshit and focus. I wanted that, and I wanted to be the object of her focus. There wasn’t any reason to sample anything. I knew a good thing when I found it.
Chapter Ten
Grace
When I got to the apartment, Lana greeted me. She was alone.
“How was Josh?”
“Good. He didn’t get hurt much in the game, and I got some cool photos. I think they want to frame one in the locker room.” I went into the bedroom and dropped my backpack on the bed. “By the way, thanks for calling Josh and ratting me out.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, completely unrepentant. She came in and helped carry my toiletries into the bathroom. “What’d he have to say?”
“He lectured me for all of two minutes and then the idea of his sister having sex turned his stomach, and we dropped the subject.”
“I can’t count on Josh for any help in this, can I?” Lana complained, but amusement was lurking in her voice.
“Nope,” I placed the now-empty bag into my closet, tossed the dirty clothes into my hamper, and went to stretch out on the bed next to where Lana had planted herself.
“Your desensitization plan didn’t work,” I told her and braced myself for a lecture on foolishness.
“I’m not surprised,” Lana sighed with resignation.
I turned to look at her. “What? No ‘don’t do this self destructive thing?”‘
“I don’t think anyone could withstand a guy like Noah,” Lana admitted. “And his steadiness says something about him. Like he’s really sorry, and he’s serious about winning you back. That’s pretty awesome.”
“I’m scared,” I told her quietly, almost afraid to say it, as if speaking it out loud gave my fear power.
“That’s normal,” Lana smiled wryly. “I’d be scared too.”
I lay back against my pillows and thought of Noah lying next to me on the bed. What scared me was that I wasn’t going to be enough for Noah. My limited bedroom experience was bound to show. Maybe we could start off slow and work up to actual sex. We hadn’t even kissed yet. I thought of the roughness of his slightly chapped lips against my fingers and suddenly felt very heated. Overly heated.
“God, it’s so hot in here. Do you have the air on?” I asked Lana.
“65 degrees,” Lana said, “but I don’t think it’s working.”
“Nope, not working,” I said. Lana had a light sheen on her forehead from the heat. I’m sure I didn’t look much better.
“What do you plan to do this afternoon?” she asked.
“I’m supposed to call Noah, but I’m wiped out. I think I drank too much last night. I need a nap.” I ran my hand over my forehead. I could feel a headache coming on, part hangover and part heat-induced.
“I’m going to the house,” Lana said, and she got up to escape to her presumably well air-conditioned sorority house.
I drifted off to sleep but woke what seemed like minutes later when the phone rang.
“Did you forget something?” I thought it might be Lana.
There was a pause and then a familiar low voice came on the line. “Missed you last night.”
Noah.
“What’re you doing right now?” he asked.
“Right now? I’m lying on my bed in an apartment where the laws of physics apparently demand that heat rises,” I complained.
“Heat and cold displace each other, actually. The cold sinks and the hot air rises, one molecule at a time.”
“I thought you were a finance major. Whatever, I feel like I’m in an uncooled attic. I don’t think the air conditioner they installed is powerful enough.”
“What if I told you I could solve your problem of being hot and miserable?” Noah cajoled.
“I didn’t say I was miserable.”
“I used my great deductive reasoning skills,” he said dryly.
“Fine. If you can solve my problem of being hot and miserable, I’ll give you—” I said, breaking off before I could blurt out something suggestive. I hurried to add, “I’ll bake you brownies.”
“Great, it’s a deal. I’ll collect you in twenty minutes, and you can deliver the payment after we make you cool and happy.” He didn’t mention if he’d have liked something else.
“Where are we going?” I asked, curiosity chasing away my headache.
“It’ll be a surprise, but get your swimsuit and a change of clothing,” Noah instructed and then hung up.