Without You (Page 54)

Meet new people, Alex. Make new friends. Have fun and experience new things.

“Both. I have a huge test in calculus and another in chemistry.”

When he smiled, I found myself smiling back. He opened the door to the Littlefield Patio Café and motioned for me to go inside. I did, and he followed behind me.

“You’re in luck. I aced both classes last year, and I’m hungry.”

I laughed. “Well, would you like to join me for lunch then?”

He winked. “I thought you’d never ask.”

We made our way over to a corner table.

I went to sit down. “Wait—I still don’t even know your name.”

The way his eyes moved across my body made me both nervous and excited. He set my books down and held out his hand. I reached for it, and he shook it.

“Blake Turner.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blake Turner. Alex Mathews.”

He pulled my hand up and kissed the back of it. “The pleasure is all mine.”

His eyes danced with passion, and I knew I should immediately tell him about Will. Instead, I pulled my hand away and sat down.

The waitress came over and glared at me before she turned to Blake. “Hey, Blake. How are you?”

Blake looked up and smiled. “Hey, Chrissie. I’m doing good. How are you?”

She glanced over to me quickly before looking back at Blake. “Just got here for my shift and already looking forward to getting off.”

Blake smiled and nodded his head. “Alex, you know what you’d like?”

I grinned and said, “I’ll take a grilled chicken salad and Diet Coke, please.”

“I’ll have a grilled chicken wrap and iced tea, Chrissie.”

Chrissie winked at Blake. “Sure thing. I’ll go get your drinks.”

He looked back at me. “How are you liking UT?”

I shrugged. “It’s okay. Kind of big for this small-town country girl.”

“Where are you from?”

“Mason.”

I smiled up at Chrissie as she set my Diet Coke and Blake’s tea down.

“You need anything else, Blake?” she asked.

The way she was eye-fucking him was unreal. I smiled and looked at Blake.

He smiled at her and said, “No, thanks.”

I bit down on my lower lip as I looked at his lips. They looked so soft.

I bet he’s a good kisser.

Oh. My. God. Alexandra, stop this now!

“You, um…free this evening, Blake?” Chrissie asked.

I snapped my head at her.

How does she know we aren’t on a date or something? How rude.

Blake looked at me and then back to her. “Sorry, Chrissie, I’m not free.”

She nodded her head and turned to leave. Blake watched her walk away and then looked back at me.

I busted out laughing. “Wow.”

“I’m sorry. We went out a few times last year.”

I held up my hands. “Please, you don’t owe me any explanations. If she had done that to my boyfriend though, I would have been pissed.”

Blake’s smile faded some. “You have a boyfriend, huh?”

Well, I guess I just took care of letting Blake know about Will.

I smiled. “I do. His name is Will. He goes to A&M.”

Blake smiled slightly. “Why did you not go to A&M with him?”

I began chewing on my bottom lip. “Well, um…”

He reached across the table and pulled my lower lip from my teeth. My body instantly came to attention. His touch didn’t affect me like Will’s, but it certainly did something.

“That is a bad habit, Alex. Now, what were you saying?”

Shit. What was I saying?

He smiled bigger. He knew he had just flustered me with his touch, and he was enjoying watching me struggle. I didn’t know if I should be pissed off or not. The only thing I knew was that I was incredibly turned-on right now.

I shook my head and felt my phone go off.

Will’s text. I’m just all hot and bothered by it, and that’s why I’m behaving like this.

“My father went to UT. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps, experience life in the big city, meet new people, blah, blah, blah.”

Blake started laughing, and I smiled. I pulled out my phone and saw that I had a new text from Will. I couldn’t help but let a smile grow across my face. I missed him so much.

“Excuse me just one moment. I have to answer this text.”

Blake nodded. “Have at it.”

Will: Hey, did you get my last text? You went MIA on me.