When You Least Expect It

25

Ten days have passed since the night Whitney called me crying, she's living here with me at this point. It's been a little challenging but overall ok. She's finally getting ready to go back to class, her arm is doing much better now and she doesn't seem as upset or afraid of Travis. Things have finally settled into some kind of normal.

I'm in the middle of my second class for the day when Jason asks if I want to go back to the gym tonight. I respond telling him to let me know when. I figure I'd better text Whitney so she will know that I'll be a little later coming in tonight. A few minutes later my phone buzzes, she's pissed.

Whitney: Are you seriously blowing me off to go to the gym again?

"Babe I'm not blowing you off. I'll just be gone for an extra hour, hour and a half at most. Then we can go have dinner ok?"

Whitney: Derek I had some extra special plans for us tonight though...

My phone dings again, a topless picture of her in my bed. Shaking my head I type back, "Look I promise if you're feeling up to it I am 100% down for whatever you have planned for me. I will hurry home, ok? Just an hour, maybe I can talk them into a quick run instead."

She ignores my message so I stick my phone back in my pocket trying to focus back in on the lecture. Half an hour later the bell rings, I pack up my stuff and head out. I run into Katie leaving her class, I haven't seen much of her with all the chaos that's been going on lately. She hugs me, "Hey stranger how is everything?"

I kiss her cheek, "Oh you know. Finally slowing back down. Haven't seen much of you around though, how have you been?"

"Eh, I'm good. I've been talking to you know who again. I don't know why though, he's really an asshole." She laughs.

"Well, don't let him be a dick to you. There are plenty of fish in the sea especially when the bait is so tempting." I bump her shoulder with mine and she rolls her eyes smiling.

"I'd love to stay and chat but I've got to get to my next class. We should hang out soon though. Maybe grab a coffee or dinner or something."

I nod, "For sure. Let me know when you're free. Or I'll come see you, I know where you live."

She laughs and waves as she walks away. Exiting the building I turn to head towards the coffee shop, a little midday pick me up before I have to head to my last class for the day. I spot her before she sees me. Whitney is sitting on a brick planter scanning the crowd. Blending in I make my way toward her, I sneak up behind her and whisper "Boo" in her ear. She nearly jumps out of her skin. "Derek, you scared the hell out of me!"

She smacks my arm as I sit down beside her. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I thought I'd meet you between classes since you're abandoning me to hang out with the guys." She juts that bottom lip out at me and I have to resist the urge to kiss it.

"Put your lip away, I'm not abandoning you. I promise I'll make it up to you."

She lays her head on my shoulder still trying to butter me up. "You better. I've been looking forward to getting you alone all day."

I laugh, "I'm looking forward to it too babe, it's been too long. I swear, I just need to make sure I don't get a gut. I did a lot of eating over the break."

"Oh poo Der. Besides, I can work you out and feed you..."

She leaves the end of her sentence hanging in the air, biting her bottom lip. My mind starts to wander and I have to shake the thought out of my head to remind myself I still have one more class. "Don't you have another class to get to?"