It took me a few extra seconds too long to realize he’d spoken. “Hi.” Breathe. It’s all the one syllable word managed to be, and yet I felt completely breathless.

My first romantic relationship.

My first boyfriend.

My first love.

What a sap I turned out to be.

“Turn down the sexual energy, will you? I feel pregnant just looking at you two.”

“Willow!”

I had no reason to be surprised. Willow usually said exactly what came to mind. Her attitude was as flamboyant as her dress code.

She rolled her eyes at my shock. “I’m off to the land of the nerds. I bought a fresh can of Lysol. Please be sure to clean every surface after use. You know… ‘cause people gotta eat on ‘em.”

Willow quickly retreated, her laughter trailing behind her. I looked over to Keiran, who was noticeably holding in his own.

“Don’t encourage her.”

He regarded me with hooded eyes, letting the heat in them consume me. “Would you rather I didn’t fuck you on every surface?”

Oh. My. Fuck.

“Then stop staring at me like you want to be fucked.”

“So how should I look at you?”

He chuckled and finally moved to touch me. “As much as I want to,” he fingered my hair, “a responsible man feeds his woman first.”

“Fine time for you to be chivalrous.”

His smile only widened at my quip. “Maybe I want to be better for you.” He lifted his hand, palm up for mine to take. It took longer than necessary for me to oblige. I was lost in the sincere emotion in his eyes.

Hand in hand, he made me show him to the nearest dining facility. Unfortunately, Brady Hall was the closest. I didn’t like eating there because it was jock haven, but I figured Keiran would fit right in. The guys were always rambunctious and rude. Willow and I had been subjected to many catcalls and lewd suggestions.

On second thought…

“Babe?”

“Yeah?” He was pulling the door open and waiting for me to go in.

“I’m not very hungry.”

He looked at me suspiciously and then cracked a smile. “Nice try,” he said, thinking I was seeking a shortcut to sex. He pulled me inside by my wrist, and we made our way to the cashier where I swiped my meal card and Keiran paid cash. As we grabbed food, I prayed the jocks had already come and gone. We had a game tomorrow, which was when they were usually the rowdiest.

As we made our way to a table, I realized my prayers had gone unanswered. Why, why, why would I pick this stupid cafeteria? There were two more on campus, yet I had to pick this one.

“Baby, if I have to call your name again, you might just get my hands on your ass, but not in the way you had imagined.”

“Huh? Oh… what?”

“What’s up? Why are you so tense?”

“Oh, nothing.”

His jaw clenched, and I knew my lie hadn’t gone unnoticed. He usually read me like an open book.

“You don’t lie to me. Ever. You keep looking around like you’re waiting for someone to jump out at you.” If it were possible, his jaw seemed to clench even more. “Has someone been fucking with you?” It was his turn to look around as if he knew who the culprit would be. When his gaze landed on the tables full of football players, his eyes narrowed. I should have known he would know. “Have they?” His voice was full of grit and fire as he nodded at the table of players.

“I don’t understand your question.” It was another lie. I understood him—just as I knew what would happen next if I confirmed his suspicions. Keiran was thousands of miles away from home in Arizona. He was alone, and there were too many of them for him to take. Jocks stuck together—right or wrong. I was sure Keiran knew that considering he was a jock, but the way his chest heaved, I knew defending my honor would be more important.

“Lake, I would never let anyone hurt you. Do you believe me?”

“I do, Keiran, but that’s what scares me. It’s okay to walk away sometimes.”

As soon as the words left my lips, the school’s quarterback planted himself in the seat next to me.

“Hot girl.”

I rolled my eyes at his obnoxious greeting. Don’t get me wrong. He’s asked me for my name many times, but I’d always denied him. The last thing he needed was encouragement to be an even bigger asshole.

“When are you going to let me have that date?”

“Would you like to take her out before or after I break your neck?”

Oh, shit.