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“I look and feel like shit today,” I explain, gesturing at my outfit. “Mandi woke me up early with her stupid aerobic workout bullshit, and I was up late studying. I need coffee. Desperately.”
“Forget the cafeteria coffee. Have you been to Chaseton’s Bakery?” he asks. “It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from this side of campus.”
“No,” I say, frowning. “Is it right in town? I’ve never seen it.”
“They only recently opened. Come on, we have to go. You need to try their coffee. And their pastries are to die for. They give you a lot more for your money, too. What do you say? I’ve got an hour and a half to kill before hockey practice. Let’s do this.”
Did he really just ask me to go out for coffee with him? I pick up my knapsack and sling it over my shoulder as I try to process what he’s just said.
“Um, that’s okay. The cafeteria coffee will do just fine, thanks.” I slide past the other desks in our row and head for the exit.
Eli follows and falls into step beside me. He opens the door and gestures for me to go through. “You’re really missing out.”
“I’m sure I am.” I glance over at him as I turn right and head in the direction of the cafeteria. “But I’ll manage.”
“Will you?” he asks, making a face. “You’d really give up the heavenly taste of rich, dark brew and a freshly baked croissant for the weak-ass brown water they call coffee in the cafeteria? Are you feeling okay?”
“It’s cheaper, and it’s closer.” I pick up the pace as the cafeteria comes into view. “If I don’t get caffeine into me in the next two minutes, I’m going to hit the floor.”
To my surprise, he follows me through the doors of the cafeteria, then gets into line behind me.
I turn around and give him a curious look. “Seriously? You’re going to betray your delicate palette with the food of the peasants instead of trotting off to your beloved café?”
He flashes a grin, then brushes a lock of dark black hair away from his face. “Sure. I’m not a snob. Still think you’re crazy, though.”
“Maybe,” I reply, turning back around. After snagging a huge chocolate brownie from the dessert cart, I order an extra-large coffee. Eli grabs an apple and a bottle of water.
When I pull out my wallet to pay, he sidles up next to me and slaps a twenty-dollar bill down on the counter. “I’ve got this,” he tells the woman at the cash register.
“Uh, what are you doing?”
“My good deed for the day.” He flashes me another grin.
Unfortunately, those fucking dimples are working their magic on me, and I go just a little bit melty at the sight of his sexy smile.
Dammit.
Okay, this needs to stop.Now.
“Thanks,” I mutter through clenched teeth.
Just what exactly is his angle? What does he want from me?
I grab my brownie and coffee, then hurry over to an empty table by the window where I drape my knapsack over my chair and sit down. Removing the lid from my coffee, I inhale the scent with a happy sigh, then dump two sugars and a splash of creamer into the steaming to-go cup.
Eli sits down across from me and takes a bite of his apple, obviously intent on carrying out his mission—whatever that happens to be.
I glance around the crowded cafeteria, only to find half of the women staring longingly at my table partner, and the other half shooting me eye-daggers of doom.
I guess this means I’ve come up in the world. At least until he’s done with his snack, anyway.
“So, Mandi’s still driving you crazy, huh?”
“Is it a day that ends in Y?” I ask, then take a small sip of my coffee.
He snickers. “Why don’t you just ask for a new room assignment? There might be some people willing to switch.”
“I don’t know. I probably should,” I admit. “The thought of moving all my shit to a different room stops me, though. I’m lazy. Besides, there’s no guarantee I’d like a new roommate any better.”
