Did you get hurt in practice again?" Mel dropped her backpack on the coffee table. So Mel was speaking to her today. "Yeah. It didn't hurt much at the time, but it started bleeding all over, and that's when I felt it." "Nice bandage job. Did you go to the clinic?" She sat down on the couch and inspected Robyn's propped up leg. "No, Chris.... did that." "Huh." "He's a pre-med major, sports medicine. After he hurt his knee, he decided he wanted to help other athletes." "So he can play doctor." "Yeah, well, he's pretty good at it." Wait, that didn't come out right. Mel snorted. "He brought me home and told me to put my leg up for a while." "He didn't stay to give you some special treatment?" She leaned back on the overstuffed chair surrounded by pillows, with her knee propped up on the coffee table. That counted. "He got me settled and warmed up some leftovers for me, but he had to go home and study." "That nigga studies? For what?" "Here it comes. "For an Anatomy exam." Mel's eyebrows quirked. "Yeah, I know. He should be an expert." "I'm sure he's tired of hearing that joke." "Yeah, probably." Mel stood and picked up her backpack. "Do you need anything?" Robyn looked around. Chris had put everything she might need within reach. She'd claimed that he spoiled her, but with a charming smile, he'd insisted that he wanted to. She could get used to that. "No. I think I'm good." "Okay. I'm going to my room to study. Yell if you need anything." "How was your day?" Robyn missed talking to her. "Fine." Mel sat down again. "Good, actually. I got an A on my paper." "Cool." Mel sat there for couple of minutes. "Are you going out with him again?" Oh boy. "After his exam is over, but we haven't made any plans yet." "I see." Neither of them said anything for a while, so Robyn picked up the TV remote and started flipping through the channels, not paying attention to anything. Then she put it down and looked at Mel. "I know you're just looking out for me, and I appreciate that." Mel nodded. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." "I am too. I won't invite him over here again if you don't want me to." "No, that's okay. Just let me know when, so I don't have to be here." "Okay." Silence. Channel flipping. Mel sighed and picked up her backpack. "Goodnight." "Goodnight." Robyn shifted in her comfortable chair, adjusting the pillows. Was it selfish being happy when Mel obviously wasn't? She shouldn't be having fun with her friend miserable. She picked up the remote. Oh, why not? She threw the remote on the couch, out of her reach. Is it my fault Mel doesn't like Chris? Mel had made her choice. Robyn chose to be happy, and she refused to feel guilty about it. -- Robyn spotted him leaving the lab as she was heading toward the library, but decided Chris was much more interesting than any book she needed. He waved to her, and she fell into step beside him. "How was your test?" "Shit, I'm glad that its over." "That bad, huh?" Chris put his arm around her shoulders and pressed his lips to her hair. "It was hard, but I think I did all right." "That's good." "How's your knee?" "Better. It doesn't hurt much when I walk on it." "Good." He touched his lips to her ear. "Did it wake you up throbbing?" She gave him an seductive smile. "No, something else did." He groaned. "Robyn, you can't do that shit to me when we're in public." "Sorry." She giggled. "No, you're not." "Okay, I'm not." She wanted to kiss him but too many people crowded the sidewalk, and they didn't need an audience for what she had in mind. "So what are your plans for tonight?" "Mike and I are going out for burgers. Wanna come?" "I don't want to intrude." "Are you kidding? He's been begging me to have you over." "Oh." Wow. A guy is begging for my company? Nice. "Okay, if you're sure he won't mind." "He won't mind, trust me. But no flirting. It's not fair." "Not fair to him or to you?" "Yes." He grunted, then grinned and kissed her. She followed him to his car. Rocky's Diner specialized in american food and beer. they served beer from all over the world. Robyn had once tried to count all the beer signs on the walls, but she'd given up. More signs and logos covered the walls on the second floor, where the pool tables attracted the campus students by the dozens. When they arrived, Mike was already sitting at one of the dark wood tables, chatting up a pretty waitress. Chris said they practically lived there, and the waitresses knew them well. They knew Mike didn't drink, and that Chris did. They also knew that both of them liked to flirt, and they all loved flirting back. "Hey, Robyn, nice to see you." Mike stood up and pulled out a chair. "Hi, Mike, how are you?" "Can't complain." Chris slid his chair next to Robyn and ordered a couple of beers and another Coke for Mike. "Ready for the game this weekend?" "You bet. I've been looking forward to it." "Me too. Revenge games are always tough." Robyn picked up a menu. "Is this the game against State?" "Yeah, we beat them in overtime last year." Chris read the entrée list over her shoulder. "They were not happy," Mike said. "You scored the winning touchdown." Robyn turned to Mike, remembering that game. Mel had gone with her, and even though she didn't like football, she'd kept her eyes on Mike all night. "That's right." "I faked a pass and handed it off to Mike," He said. "The defense had no idea what was happening." "No one knew I had the ball. I had an open lane to the end zone." "We won't be able to pull that off again." The waitress put their drinks on the table and smiled at Chris. He didn't seem to notice. "We'll figure something out." Mike winked at the waitress, but she waited for a response from Chris. "Maybe we should recruit Robyn." Chris slid his chair closer, rubbing her thigh under the table. The waitress grumbled and left. "You're joking." Robyn nearly choked on her beer. Mike shook his head. "Not at all. You've got speed and great legs.." Robyn's knee was suddenly throbbing. Chris touched her injured knee, and she pulled her leg away. "Coach says it makes us tougher." "Ouch," Mike cringed. "And I thought our coach was mean," Chris said. "He is," grumbled Mike. "Think your dad will be there?" Chris' face darkened. "You know what I think." "Your dad goes to your games?" Robyn moved her leg closer to Chris, hoping he would touch her again. He took the bait, stroking her thigh as if he needed comfort. "He says he'll be at every game." "We make bets on whether or not the nigga shows up." Mike took a drink of his Coke. "I always bet no." Chris kept rubbing. "I win more often than he does." "I'm sorry." Robyn rubbed her sore knee against Chris' leg, knowing he hurt more than she did. He didn't show it. "He always has some excuse, some drama. I stopped counting on him a long time ago. Let's get something to eat. I'm starving." Chris signaled the waitress and she bounced over to their table. Robyn rolled her eyes and looked at Mike, laughing at the spectacle. Did all women bounce around Chris? God, she hoped she didn't start bouncing. "What can I do for you?" The waitress's gaze moved over the football star, leaving no doubt about what she wanted to do for him. They ordered burgers and fries, and the waitress left, not bouncing anymore, because it was obvious that all Chris wanted was food and Robyn. Mike finished off his Coke. "So, Robyn, how did you get interested in track?" "My dad thought doing sports would be good for me, so he encouraged me to run track and play basketball. I was at practice more than home, which was probably better for me than anything else. It drove my mama crazy." "Your mom hates sports?" "Her mom hates anything fun." Chris' hand slid up around her waist, sneaking under her sweater to caress bare skin as he leaned in close and nibbled her ear. Robyn gasped and caught his hand. "Now I know she wouldn't like you." He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. "As long as you like me, I don't give a fuck what she thinks." She giggled and moved back to her chair, but let his hand continue wandering. She glanced at Mike and suddenly remembered their conversation. "My mom thought I should spend all my time studying." Mike shrugged. "Nothing wrong with that." "No—all my time studying." "I see. No, that's not good." "So I stood up to her, and my dad supported me. I told her she couldn't run my life. She told me I was a stubborn and willful child, but I joined the track team anyway." Mike looked at Chris. "Wow. You could learn a thing or two from her." He jerked his knee to one side, leaving Chris to kick the table. "Ow! Damn it!" Chris rubbed his shin. Robyn didn't know what that was all about. "Anyway, at first I ran just to defy her, but I got to be pretty good at it, so I ran all through high school and college." "And your mom never approved?" "No, but I'm used to that. She still dont want me to do anything fun, and sometimes I still feel guilty when I do." "You have to get over that," said Chris. "I thought you told her she couldn't run your life." "I did." "Then why is she?" "She doesn't anymore." "She still tells you to spend all your time studying." "I know, but the last time she called me, I told her I could get good grades and have fun too. And then I went out with you again." "Good choice." Robyn giggled and cuddled closer to him. "No, that makes me a bad gyal." "I'll make you a bad guh." He kissed her and dragged her onto his lap again. Mike interrupted. "When are you two gonna figure out you're good for each other?" Two sets of puzzled eyes turned on Mike. "Did I say that out loud?" Chris and Robyn laughed and kissed while the waitress brought their food. She ignored them. Actually, she ignored Robyn. "Let me know if you need anything else," she purred to Chris. "Wow, she doesn't give up." Robyn moved back to her seat and picked up the ketchup bottle, beating it harder than she needed to. "Give up what?" Chris stole one of her fries. "Flirting with you. You didn't notice?" "Nope." "Does this happen every time he goes out?" She asked mike. "Pretty much." Mike rescued the helpless ketchup bottle from her. "You'll get used to it." "No." Chris frowned. "She shouldn't have to get used to it. That's just rude. I'm with Robyn. I'm not interested in anyone else." Mike raised his eyebrows. "Whoa. Seriously?" He'd said exactly what Robyn had been thinking. She decided not to say anything yet. "I don't do two girls at a time." "Just that once." This time he didn't move fast enough, and Chris' kick landed square on his shin. "Yeah, seriously. I'm with Robyn now. She's all I want." He leaned over and kissed her and stole another one of her fries. She wanted to believe him, hoping that he only wanted her, not just for now but for.... The word forever didn't seem to fit, but she would take him as long as he wanted her. She grabbed his hand. "Don't think I don't see what you're doing." "Hmm?" Oh, those must be the innocent brown eyes that charmed his mother and sisters and every other woman he ever met. Not going to work on me. "Stealing my fries." Damn it, they worked. She took his hand away from her plate and put it on her leg. "Keep your hands to yourself." He laughed. "I couldn't if I wanted to." His hand slid up her thigh while he nibbled on her ear. Mike suddenly got very interested in his food. "Mmm... good fries." "Sorry, Kiwi," Chris whispered. "But Tonight I will not keep my hands off you." "Don't apologize." It would be so easy to fall for him. She should really be more careful, but her brain wasn't listening. "Are you gonna eat those?" Mike pulled Chris' plate across the table. "Hell yeah, I am, damn it." Chris grabbed his plate back. "Maybe we should behave while Mike is here," Robyn whispered to Chris. "Maybe we should make Mike go away." "I heard that." "Good." Chris pressed his lips to her ear. "I don't want to behave. Do you?" His hand slid between her thighs. She shook her head. He tried to kiss her, but she pulled back, glancing at Mike. "Just ignore me." "Alright, I'll be good... for now." Chris leaned close one more time. "But as soon as I have you all to myself...." He didn't need to finish that sentence. Under the table, his hands told her everything. "Um—" Robyn stood up. "I'll be back." She disappeared toward the restrooms. "Scared her off already?" Mike laughed. "She'll be back. You need to get the fuck outta here." "Yeah, I know. Soon as I finish my fries." "Don't come back till...." "Till when?" "I don't know. Just don't come back." "What am I supposed to do all night?" "I'm sure Taylor will think of something." "True." Mike reached for Chris' plate again. "Seriously, are you gonna eat those fries?" "Take them." Chris pushed the plate across the table as if that would get rid of him faster. He kept watching for Robyn. "You're humming again." "I don't hum." Mike laughed. "Whatever." He finished Chris' fries and stood up. "Have a good night." "No doubt. " Chris' smile left no doubt that he planned on having a great night. Mike headed toward the door then doubled back, looking concerned. "Chris." "Do I have to throw you out?" He seemed to hesitate. "Robyn.. She isn't like all your other girls. And she's definitely not like Ashley." "I know. What does that mean?" "I could tell you, but I think you need to figure it out on your own. Be good to her. Real shit." "I will." Mike nodded and left. Robyn washed her hands and splashed cool water on her face, but her skin stayed hot. Her body ached and she felt a little lightheaded. Was she coming down with something? Yes, idiot, but it's not a virus. There was no escaping him. She sighed deeply, leaning on the bathroom counter. Okay, get over your nerves. She knew it wouldn't be awkward with him. A hot shiver ran down her spine upon remembering how she'd learned that. She took a deep breath, trying to convince herself this was right. She wanted this. She wanted him. Uh-oh. Which bra and panties am I wearing? She peeked down the front of her shirt. Pink and black lace from Victoria secret. She felt good in those. Her reflection stared back from the mirror—eyes bright, cheeks flushed.... Ready. A mostly confident but slightly scared smile curved her lips. "Are you ready for me?" Mike had disappeared by the time she got back to the table. "We got ditched." Chris pulled a chair back and beckoned her. "I'm sure he has better things to do." He slid his arm across the back of her chair, caressing her shoulder. "So do we." "I can imagine." She leaned into him and her hand fell to his thigh. "Can you? Have you?" Her body said one thing, but her brain might say something else. He didn't want to risk going too far too soon. "I have." He would explore her imagination later. Right now, he wanted to tell her his evil plans for the rest of the evening. "Do you want to come home with me tonight?" She nodded. "you know what that means?" She looked into his eyes and nodded again. "Say it." "Yes." That was enough for him. He nearly got a speeding ticket on the way home, but once they got to his apartment, he decided he didn't want to rush. They had all night, and he wanted to savor every minute of it.
