brunette’s bottom lip jutted out. “Tyrese just asked you to
wait for him and you told him ‘no’.”
“I
have a lot of homework.”
The
girl’s redheaded friend tossed her beautiful curls. “Girl, you are missing
out.”
Kazlyn
gave them an apologetic smile and followed the crowd out of the stadium into
the cold night air. Her homework had to come first, but she knew the teenagers
were right. She was missing out, missing out on more than she wanted to think
about.
Chapter Three
Kazlyn exited her
class and looked discreetly around for Ty. He’d said he would see her tomorrow.
She’d been watching for him all day, but this was the one place he knew she’d
be. Not spotting him anywhere, her shoulders rounded and she trudged toward the
exit. Thoughts of Ty and his teasing grin were the one bright spot with this
dreary weather and the fear of finals pressing in.
“Natalya.”
His deep voice carried through the building and Kazlyn’s entire body warmed.
She turned and waited as he jogged up to her. “Sorry,” he said. “I wanted to be
outside your classroom, but I got…detained.”
Even
though Kazlyn knew it was some admiring girl who probably detained him, she
didn’t mind, too much. At least he was here now. “I should’ve waited, but I
didn’t know if…” She glanced down. He didn’t say anything and when she looked
back up those dark eyes sparkled at her.
“I
told you I’d see you tomorrow. If I missed you here, I would’ve searched the
student center for the office you work in.”
“You
wouldn’t.”
“Don’t
wait for me on Monday and you’ll see.”
She
couldn’t help but smile, wishing it wasn’t Friday, so she could see him
tomorrow. She turned toward the door. “I’d better get to work.”
“I’ll
walk with you.” He reached over and relieved her of her heavy bag.
“Thanks.”
Ty’s smile, and the relief of not carrying her bag, made her feel like she was
floating.
They
exited the door and once again, he shielded her from the canyon breeze with his
body. It was such a simple gesture, but made her feel like he cared, like she
might be more to him than all the other girls vying for his attention.
They
didn’t say much as they hurried through the wind to the student center. Kazlyn
exhaled as they entered the warm building, pulling her gloves off and stuffing
them in her coat pocket. “I don’t mind the cold that much, but this wind is
vicious. I’d rather have it snow.”
“I’d
rather have it snow, too. I like the different seasons, where I’m from it’s
usually too warm.”
“Where
are you from?” She glanced up at him shyly.
“Alabama.
You?”
“Montana.”
He
responded kindly to some greetings, “Hey, Ty,” and “Great game,” then whirled
back to her. “Back up the bus,” he said.
Kazlyn
stared at him, confused.
He
wrapped his large hand around her smaller one and tugged her out of the flow of
people and into a semi-private corner of the large open area on the second
floor.
“You
just told me where you’re from, but you still won’t tell me your name.”
“It’s
not like you’re going to track me to Montana.” She smiled.
He
arched his eyebrows. “Try me.”
Kazlyn
looked down at their clasped hands, then back up at him.
His
grin grew. “You’re letting me hold your hand and still won’t tell me what your
name is.”
Kazlyn
didn’t deny it or pull away. She wanted to tell him her name, but she liked the
way he teased her too much to give in, yet. And she really liked the way
his hand felt around hers. “Maybe I’ll tell you my name Monday.”
“You’d
better,” he growled.
She
laughed.
“How
about letting me take you to dinner next weekend?” he asked.
“What’s
wrong with this weekend?” She couldn’t believe how much she wanted to go out
with Ty. The teenagers at the ballgame last night really made her stop and think;
she didn’t want to miss out. She wanted to get to know him—smile and
laugh and feel