I could see guilt written all over his face, and it surprised me. Why would he be so worried about seeing to it that a random girl he had just met made it home safely? “It’s not a problem, really. Jess and I walked home right after. No bad guys jumped out of the shadows and snatched us up, or anything like that,” I joked to try and bring back the light-hearted mood from earlier.
He nodded, but something told me it was just for show—but he was willing to drop the subject and I was fine with that. After a minute, I turned back toward the doors, but before I could pull one open, his voice stopped me.
“Hey, let me at least get your lunch to make up for that night, all right?” he asked, and pulled one of the doors open so we could both enter. As soon as my eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting in the caf, I immediately spot Jessi. She also had some company at the table with her in the form of Landon.
“Well, seeing as we are more than likely going to be sitting at the same table today”—I nodded in the couple’s direction—“I guess I’ll take you up on that.” I smiled at him, pulling my long hair over one of my shoulders, and watch his eyes as they glance down at my now exposed neck, but he quickly jerks them away and begins looking around the room.
An odd feeling forms in the pit of my stomach from the way he was looking at my neck, but I write it off to being completely famished.
We made our way around the various different foods being offered that day. As hungry as I was, everything sounded and smelled remarkably good. I finally decided on a nice, juicy, greasy, burger and fries and called out my order to the cafeteria lady. I stepped back, giving Kane room to make his order. When he didn’t proceed to tell her what he wanted, I looked over at him and see him just staring at me—mouth slightly open, just staring away.
I started feeling a little uncomfortable and finally bark at him, “What?! Do I have something on my face—in my hair—in my teeth?! What is it?! Why are you looking at me like that?”
He shook his head slightly, almost as though he was trying to bring himself out of a daze, and then grabbed his stomach and laughed. His laughter did nothing to help with the fear that I did in fact have some kind of gunk somewhere on my body. Immediately, one of my hands went to my hair and I started running my fingers through it, making sure to smooth it down and feel for whatever filth must have been stuck in there—the other began rubbing at my face, trying to wipe away whatever had him howling with laughter.
When his laughter finally halted, he slowly reached over and took my hand into his. “First, there is nothing in your silky hair, on your beautiful face, or in your perfectly straight teeth.” Bringing my hand away from my head, he dropped our arms, but didn’t let go just yet. “I was simply in a state of shock from your order. And before you go and get all self-conscious, I don’t mean that in the way you are thinking. Usually when you offer to buy girls lunch, they get nervous about what they eat in front of you. So they order a green salad just because they think that will make them look skinnier or some shit, when really, all they want is that cheeseburger”—he winked at me—“So, you skipping over the bullshit is really refreshing.” He let go of my hand, and the cool air hitting it made me miss the warmth of his.
“You ask to buy me lunch right? Well, that’s exactly what you’re going to do. Grass doesn’t really constitute as a meal, in my opinion. If I’m going to eat, then damn it I want some meat in there.” My belly growled further proving I say exactly what I mean.
“Well then, beautiful, let’s get that food and get some seats before you go all ravenous beast on me over that burger, huh?” he laughed.
I realized then that I love his laugh. He had one of those contagious laughs that you couldn’t help but smile when you heard it. It was so deep and full, like he always means it when he laughs about something. Means it when he laughs? Really Kelsey? What does that even mean? Being close with Kane was going to make me question my sanity. I had the most idiotic thoughts whenever he was near.
We got our food and headed over to the table that Jessi and Landon were already seated at. The table had quite a few more people seated at it than what it had when we first came in, but there were still two empty seats saved directly across from Jess and Landon. We walked to the seats, and before I could set my tray down, Kane was pulling my chair out for me. You never see men pull chairs out for women these days and you definitely wouldn’t expect it from someone who looks like Kane. With his facial piercing and tattoos, he looks more like a person who would be jerking the chair away as you went to sit so that your ass would hit the floor.
I gently sat down in my chair and cast quick glances in his direction as he gave the chair a little push in toward the table. I watched as he grabbed his chair and spun it around backward before straddling it, and going about separating the ginormous amount of food he had piled on his tray. When I finally pulled my eyes away from Kane, I saw Jessi staring at me with a questioning smile on her face. She ever so slightly tilted her head in Kane’s direction, and I gave her leg a swift kick under the table.
“Ow! Shit! What the hell?” Landon let out a wail, and reached under the table to rub his leg.
Oops. So much for kicking Jessi’s leg. I was mortally embarrassed and didn’t know how I was going to explain that one. Luckily for me, I had a kickass best friend who was fast to swoop in and cover for me.
“I’m so sorry! That was me. I had a little cramp and went to stretch and I guess reflexes kicked in and bam! Shin kick.” She batted her eyes, and the look on his face clearly showed that he was so infatuated with what she was saying—he didn’t really care what his shin felt like anymore. “This is my friend, Kelsey, by the way.”
Only then did he take his eyes off her and turn them toward me. I gave him a slight wave and smile that he returned and I watched his eyes shift between Kane and me for a split second before coming back to rest on me. Kane’s body went ridged beside me, and I pulled my eyes away from Landon to look at him. He was glaring at Landon, but when he caught me looking acted as if nothing had happened and continued to eat his food.
“So, how were classes this morning, Kels? Is college everything you ever dreamed it would be?” Jess sarcastically clasped her hands together and pulled them up to her neck, fluttering her eyelashes as she did so.
Knowing Jessi’s playful nature, I played right back, throwing both hands against my heart before sighing, “Oh you wouldn’t believe it, Jessica! There are so many new things to learn here! My goodness, I didn’t believe such a place existed!” I drawled in my best Scarlett O'Hara accent. We both laughed and I shrugged. “No seriously, classes were okay. The professors are trying to play hard asses but I think I can handle it.” I dipped my fry into some ketchup and popped it into my mouth.