Tom's tutoring session was set for six o'clock Monday evening and I decided to go for a short run at four thirty.
"Anyone ever tell you that you run like a girl?"
Tom had pulled up beside me, in tennis shorts and a football jersey cut off midriff. He was grinning at me.
"Kiss my ass, Braddock," I snorted.
"I'd love to, it's all I can think about."
His eyes were dancing with laughter.
"You may be a big shot quarterback but there was a time when I could run your ass into the ground. I won state finals in track back home."
"Your knee and ankle?"
"Yeah, I have to be careful now. It was almost a year before I could even run."
"That's why I'm taking it easy with you," he laughed. "I'm okay jogging at your pace, snail. The coach put us through our paces this afternoon but he cut us loose early. I showered and came over only to find you out running."
"And now you're getting sweaty again."
"I've hardly broken a sweat and you know it. Neither have you."
"I'm used to it."
"So am I, sexy buns."
"Got something on your mind?"
"You. Naked."
I arched my eyebrows at him and laughed. He took my arm and we jogged over to some high bushes next to a sorority house. He shoved me through them until my back was against the wall. Then he pushed himself onto me and his mouth covered mine. He kissed me until I could barely breathe and my lips felt bruised.
"I've wanted to do that since Saturday," he panted. "You're taking over my life, Lucas, and you're all I can think about now."
We heard female voices as they exited the building and Tom became guarded. He pushed through the bushes and laughed.
"Sorry girls, I needed to take a little break in the bushes."
"So you pissed on the Alpha Gam house, Tom?"
They were laughing.
"Actually I didn't hit the building. I don't know about Lucas though."
I came through the bushes trying hard not to blush, laughing too.
"Lucas Blake, you handsome devil! What are you doing hanging out in the bushes with this reprobate Tom Braddock?"
It was Emily Carroll, a math major and friend of mine. I recognized the other two girls but didn't know their names.
"The call of nature was too much for me."
"So what are you guys up to?"
"I'm taking him to the Pizza Hut down the street for supper before we go back to his place and hit the books. Lucas is my math tutor and he's a slave driver. You girls want to join us?"
"We'd like to but we've got other plans," Emily said.
"Too bad," Tom answered. "Well, have fun whatever you're doing. Come on, Lucas, I don't have all night."
We walked the rest of the way to the Pizza Hut.
"That was a close call," I said quietly.
"Don't worry about it. There's no way they could see in those bushes. I'm going to catch hell from Sandy, though. Margaret Sanderson's probably already on her cell phone calling her to tell her that I'm going out to supper with you instead of her."
"You don't have to take me out to supper, Tom. I don't want to cause trouble for you."
"Don't worry about it. I told you before, no one owns me and if I want to go to supper with my tutor I will. Anyone who doesn't like it can go to hell and that includes Sandy."
He talked tough but I could tell there was a difference in behavior. Almost getting caught kissing another man shook him up. We didn't say much else until we got to the restaurant and were seated.
"What kind of pizza do you want?" he asked.
"I'm okay with pepperoni."
