Page 14 of Always Be My Baby

I barely made it to class on time the next day. I’d thought I hit snooze, but instead, I accidentally shut off my alarm. Running across the street, instead of crossing on the crosswalk, reminded me of Grayson and his comment about playing Frogger.

It put a smile on my face as I ran to class, but it quickly turned to a frown when I spotted the pledges that sang to me. Out of breath, I made it in the nick of time.

“Cammy. I almost went to your apartment. Are you okay?” Grayson diverted me to the very back row. He had his backpack and a book to save our seats.

“I nearly had a heart attack.” I dabbed the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and sank into the seat.

Grayson’s eyes widened.

I gently touched his arm. It felt so natural to place my hand there. No guilt. Just friendship. “Sorry. I don’t mean it literally.” I snorted.

I shoved my backpack under my seat after I took out number two pencils just as the tests were being passed out. Sixty questions. My palms became sweaty. Taking tests, whether I studied or not, always made me nervous and panicky.

When I felt Grayson’s eyes on me, I turned to him.

His cheeks pinched inward, his dimples deepened, and his stunning blue eyes beamed. “You might not want to eat that.” He took the pencil out of my mouth and handed it to me. “I promise to feed you after the test.”

“I-I tend to bite my pencil during tests or when I get nervous,” I confessed.

His eyebrows lifted and his lips spread wickedly. Leaning closer, his shoulder touched mine and his leg brushed my knee, and he whispered, “I think we’d go well together. I like to bite, too. I’d like to see what else you can do with your teeth.”

I had a sexier comeback remark, but I swallowed it down. The professor declared testing time, and we began.

Grayson finished first, but he kept the page open to the last page. When I closed my test, he closed his. After we both handed the test to one of the TAs, we went out together.

Grayson nudged me. “Not bad, right? Almost everything we reviewed was on the test, right?”

“Except for the last five questions.” I frowned.

“You’ve got this.” He sounded so encouraging, I almost hugged him. “Piece of cake, only if you read the last chapter of the textbook as I suggested.” His eyes narrowed playfully scolding. “Did you read the last chapter, Cams?”

“Cams? Is that my nickname, Gray?” I was glad to divert the attention because, too caught up with Lucas, I hadn’t read the textbook.

Grayson’s hard chest rose and fell with a chuckle, and then he frowned. “I’m not sure if I like Gray. Makes me sound so old. But whatever turns you on is fine with me.”

It was then I realized I knew nothing about him.

“I’m starving,” he continued. “Have you tried the Harper Grill by Harper building?”

“No.” My tone rose excitedly. “I’ve been wanting to go.”

Grayson’s face lit up. “Good. Then let me be the first one to take you. Follow me.”

As we strode along the walkway, the trees gave us shade, and the patches of vibrant spring flowers decorated the campus. The soft wind brushed against my ear until we passed groups of students heading to class on their bikes or sprinting to get to class on time.

“I have to say something.” I wrung a strand over my ear, peering to the left of me. Grayson matched my slow speed.

“You can tell me anything, Cams.” He didn’t sound alarmed, but calm.

“I recently broke up with my boyfriend. To make a long story short, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.” I braced myself, thinking he would leave me there or rant what a terrible person I was for not letting him know from the start, but...

Grayson placed a hand on my shoulder and we halted. “I have a confession to make.” He released a breath and stood with his legs apart, holding the strap of his backpack. “I’ve admired you from afar in Econ class, and I never approached you because I knew you had a boyfriend. I also found out you’re not with him anymore.”

My face heated. “How?” I glared, angry, not directed at him but at the situation.

“I have friends in Lambda, and I told them I found you attractive a while back. They told me what happened. Please don’t get mad at me.” He raised his hands to surrender. “I swear I’m not trying to make a move. I decided to eat at Commons, and when I saw you, I’d thought to ask you to join our study group. I didn’t think you would say yes, but to my surprise you did. I have to admit, I was very happy about it. We are friends, Cams.” He pointed to him and me. “I’m asking you to eat as friends, nothing more, unless you want more. I would never try to step in between a broken relationship. I’m not that kind of guy. In fact, I think you’ll find me charming and genuine.” He smirked. “Most girls fall for my dimples.” He pointed at them with a dorky grin. “But like I said I wanted to get to know you as friends, and if you don’t want to be my friend, I’ll understand.”

What could I say after that declaration? He told me the truth. He laid it all out. I had to admit, knowing he found me attractive had butterflies swarming in my belly.