Worth the Chance (Watertown University #2)

16. Eliza

Chapter 16

Eliza

Y esterday was something. I’m still reeling from our interaction before the game. Did he mean what he said or was he just trying to make sure I didn’t back out of coming to the game? I would never, even if it meant wearing sweats or freezing. There was something about the way his eyes shone when I told him I’d be there that makes me want to go to every game. I don’t think it has to do with me exactly but just that someone is going there for him.

Even if we ended this tomorrow I think I’d still go to the games just to see that shine plus something about seeing him glide across the ice, slapping the puck into the net does something to me. I mean, he is a ridiculously hot six foot three hockey center heading to the NHL… who wouldn’t he do something to?

Garrett has been simply amazing this past week. If he did do the relationship thing he’d be a great partner. With his schedule being busier than mine I had fallen into more of the cooking but that shifted while I was recovering from my gluten exposure. Even though he has practice and games he prepared a bunch of food for me. Including making a big serving of chicken and rice soup after I told him things that were bland and simple ingredients helped in my healing process. Plus, one night I ran out of Tylenol and the next morning I woke up to a new bottle of medication with a note on the kitchen counter. I don’t even know how he noticed so fast.

“Earth to Eliza.” Mia waves her hands in front of my face, drawing me out of my Garrett induced haze.

“Sorry. What’s up?”

“Still thinking about yesterday?” Mia laughs from across our table in the library. It’s a Saturday but I’m falling behind in my freaking accounting class so Mia agreed to come study with me and hold me accountable today.

“Maybe.” I take a sip of my latte from The Blue Bean.

“So nothing happened when you guys got home after the game?”

“Nope, we talked about his game on the way home and then he just said he was tired and went to bed.” I was expecting something more but he just ignored our encounter like it never happened. “I mean maybe it really wasn’t a big deal at all to him. He probably says stuff like that to girls all the time.” I watch as Mia visibly cringes at my words. “What is it?”

“Um, nothing.” She shakes her head quickly, her long blonde pony tail whipping back and forth.

“Mi’s.”

“Sooo, apparently Alexa’s sister has hooked up with Garrett.” My jaw drops. I figured he’s hooked up with girls on campus but wasn’t expecting it to be one I’ve become acquaintances with.

“You’re kidding.”

“No. Unfortunately I’m not. It was weird she didn’t say anything about it until last night. After the game she asked how serious you guys were and then told me her sister, Bella, hooked up with him last year. Bella wouldn’t stop bragging about it I guess. Said it was the best ever.” I can’t help but laugh even though there’s a slight pang of jealousy that hits my heart.

“I mean I guess that’s good.”

“It is if you choose to go down that path…”

“I don’t know. It’ll probably just complicate things.” More for myself than for him. I’m sure he doesn’t have a problem detaching feelings from his physical relationships.

“Yeah, probably.” We both dive back into our studying or I try to at least. Accounting is not for the weak.

On the way back home my mind can’t help but drift to Garrett, again. Would I be able to separate my feelings from sex? He could be the perfect person to test the theory on if he’s down for that, since there’s no worries about him getting attached. The only worries are on my end but my brothers would absolutely lose it if they found out I had feelings for him so that could help me remember there’s no use in falling. Plus, I could use a positive experience in that department.

As I open the door to my house, I push my inappropriate thoughts of my roommate aside. I succeed for all of thirty seconds because when I ascend the stairs, at the top exiting a fogged up bathroom is a shirtless Garrett with a towel hung loosely around his waist. My feet stop working and my eyes track his sculpted body. From his ankles, up to his chiseled abs, then further up to his strong jawline dusted in his signature coating of facial hair.

He clears his throat, causing my eyes to shoot up the rest of the way to meet his. Those chocolate eyes holding a hint of amusement.

“Like what you see?” He asks with a cocky smile on his face.

“I do.” Instead of letting my embarrassment for my actions show, I decide to own it and I can see the apples of his cheeks turn a light pink like he didn’t expect that to be my answer .

“Anyways…” He clears his throat again. “We’re going out tonight.”

“What do you mean we’re going out?”

“I mean, we’re going out to eat, cupcake.”

A wave of anxiety hits me. My last incident has definitely made me more wary to go out for food. He watches me closely, noting my anxiety, he reaches out one hand to grab my elbow. “It’s a fully gluten free place.”

“Really? I don’t think there’s any around here Gar.”

“It’s in the city. It’s only about thirty minutes away. ”

“In Boston?” There are a good amount of gluten free places in the city, it’s just annoying trying to get in and out of it.

“Yeah.” He nods. “It’s new, it just opened up the other day.”

“So, why are we going?”

“Just want to.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal that he went out of the way to find a safe place for me to eat. Like we go out to eat together all the time. I stand there, stunned, trying to process the information I’ve just received.

“Go, get ready, El.” Garrett removes his hand from my arm and moves around me into his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Still slightly dazed, I move past Garretts room and into my bedroom. Pulling out my phone to text Mia.

Me

Garretts taking me to dinner tonight… he found a fully gluten free place

Mia

OMG. Maybe he’s buttering you up for something * wink wink *

Wear something cute.

I chuckle at Mia’s text. Maybe she’s right. Maybe not. Nevertheless, I will be dressing up because who doesn’t love an excuse to look cute?

I rifle through my closet trying to find the perfect outfit to wear. The weather recently has been sunny but there’s a chill in the air now that we’re a few weeks into October. After a few minutes of shuffling through my clothes I land on a black skirt, with sheer black tights and a white sweater on top. I also grab my black boots with a pair of white socks that have a ruffle at the top and will peek out from my shoe.

I sit down at my vanity to refresh my curls from the other day and add some makeup to my face. I tend to keep it minimal for class but I do love to play around with different makeup products. My eyebrows and mascara are already on as well as some concealer so I add on a hint of some strawberry blush, a light gold highlight and some brown eyeliner. Finishing the look with a glossy pink lip.

In my full length mirror, I take one last look at myself. I look cute. I don’t feel this way often so I smile to myself at the feeling. There’s a light knock on my door and when I open it I find Garrett leaning against the frame. He’s wearing black jeans and a light blue sweater with a collared shirt underneath.

“You look beautiful.” The words are barely above a whisper but they send a shiver down my spine all the same.

“So do you.” The words leave my mouth before I have time to think. He smirks at my confession.

“Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” For some reason I still feel breathless looking at him. I mentally shake my head. Delusional Eliza that’s what you are, I think to myself.

“Just need this.” I grab my red shoulder bag off my bed. “Ready.”

“Ladies first.” He motions for me to exit my room.

Garrett drives us over to the train station in town that will bring us right into the city. I kind of forgot this existed but it’s nice to have the option since driving into the city is a nightmare in my opinion.

I find a couple of open seats and sit down in the dimly lit cart. Garrett takes the seat right beside me, stretching his left arm around me like a teenager at the movie theaters with his crush. I send him a sideways glance that he doesn’t seem to catch on to or chooses to ignore. Whatever, I won’t admit it out loud but it feels nice to have his touch on me in some way. It feels comforting.

Fifteen minutes into our thirty minute ride Garrett’s hand moves to my thigh and he starts toying with the hem of my skirt. When I look at him to see what he’s doing our gazes collide and the look in his eyes causes a sharp intake of breath. I don’t know how to describe the look as anything besides desire. That is until his eyes quickly flick over to the other end of the cart. My eyes follow his and that’s where I see Sam sitting next to Ivy. Sam looks mad almost, which can’t be right but he’s staring at us with a rigid posture.

Either way it makes sense now why Garrett is acting so flirty in public and why he wanted to go out tonight. He must have found out Sam would be here and wanted to prove something. I should be thankful, really, that he wants to keep up this charade for me. To stick it to my ex but for some reason it just makes me feel sad. I wanted that look to be real. Maybe what happened yesterday was just fake too.

I let Garrett continue to play with my clothing the rest of the ride, I even let him intertwine our fingers together when we get off the train and head down the street. Once I see Sam and Ivy head in the other direction and around the corner I extricate my hand from his with a huff, pausing in the middle of a busy sidewalk.

“El what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head, feeling slightly insane. It’s fake Eliza. It’s fake. This is a show for him .

“Cupcake.” He says softly.

“Did you just want to come out tonight to rub it in Sam's face? I know that’s the goal or whatever but we could have just done something on campus we didn’t have to come all the way out here.” The words come tumbling out of my mouth.

“No, El. That’s not it.” People continue to walk around us. Probably not the best place to have this conversation but we’re here now so it is what it is.

“You know, actually Garrett, maybe we should call it because I’m confused. Yesterday you came into my room saying all these things and then today you act like this.” I gesture up and down like that means anything. Garrett pulls me into an ally, putting my back against a brick building clad with ivy running up and down it. He stands in front of me like a shield from the crowd. “And that look, I just thought, well, never mind, it doesn't matter.”

Garrett throws his head back and runs his hand through his short hair. “God you have no idea do you?” I look at him with confusion in my eyes because what do I have no idea about. “You’re going to be the death of me cupcake.” Before I have the chance to ask what he means his lips slam into mine. I’m frozen for a second but my body and mind quickly catch on, kissing him back.

He snakes one arm to the back of my head, twisting his hand in my loose curls, the other rests lightly on my hip. The touch and feel of him is intoxicating. He deepens the kiss, his tongue swirling around mine and then suddenly he’s gone. Leaving me gaping at him in the middle of the sidewalk.

“This wasn’t just about Sam. I wanted to take you out and find somewhere safe for you to eat El.” He removes his hands from my waist and I miss the contact immediately. “Sam was waiting for me at the arena yesterday questioning if this was real. So, I did see where he was going to be tonight so we could prove to him it was real. I don’t care about rubbing it in his face but I hate that asshole. If you want to call it we can call it but just know I'll be here to punch him either way if needed.”