“Not at all.” He smiled. “Hi, can I have, er, what was it again?” He looked at me sheepishly.
I sighed, rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Can we have two grande double chocolate chip fraps please?”
“And two blueberry muffins,” Jack added, looking down at me. I blushed slightly, and he slid his hand round so it was holding my waist. The barista stole glances at him as she prepared our drinks. It was all I could do not to roll my eyes again. We took our drinks, and Jack payed.
“Is it always like this for you?” I asked as we sat down.
“Like what?”
“Girls staring at you.”
“Who was staring?”
“The barista. Did you not notice?”
He shrugged one shoulder carelessly. “I don't pay much attention to it. If they're good enough to catch my eye then I'll pay them attention.”
“Oh, I feel so privileged,” I said sarcastically.
“Hey.” He raised his eyebrows. “I'm on a date with you, so you're not just good enough, Sandra. In fact, you're probably too good.”
I sipped my drink and picked a piece of muffin off, popping it into my mouth. “So why are you here then? If I'm too good.”
“Because I'll never know unless I try, right?” he asked. “Like this coffee. I never knew how good it was until I tried it. I'll never know if I'm good enough for you unless I try.”
Wow. Jack wants in my pants. Bad.
“You win that one.” I smiled.
“And Carl has his eye on you. I don't do well with competition.”
“Ah, so that's what yesterday was about.” They were fighting over me?
Neanderthals.
“There's a slim chance of you bein' right there, beautiful.”
“I'd say there's a really good chance.” I sighed. “You really were fighting over me? Me? Wow.” I shook my head.
“Don't sound so shocked, Maddie. We're not the only guys in that house that have an interest in you,” he admitted.
“You just thought you'd get in there first?” I commented wryly.
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean. Fuck." He groaned. "This is so not the way I wanted this to go.”
I raised my eyebrows and glanced at the clock.
“Yes. I thought I'd get in there first, but only because I'd get stupidly jealous if I saw you with one of those guys.”
“Right,” I said. “We need to get to class. It starts in five minutes.”
Jack sighed, and we both stood. I wrapped my hands round the take out cup and back out of the door. We walked back towards the main campus in silence, and I almost wished we didn't have class together. This no talking thing was tense, even if I do hate the guy.
“Sandra,” he said, pulling me aside before we walked into the room. “That wasn't supposed to go like that. I'm sorry.”
I looked towards the open class door. “It's no big deal, Jack. I mean, you don't date, right? Now you know for sure you don't.”
He reached forward and tucked my hair behind my ear. “It is a big deal, to me it is. Let me try again. Please?”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at him. “Are you asking me for a second date?”
“Yeah,” he said in a soft voice. “I am askin' you for a second date.”
“I'll think about it, and then I'll call you.”
“You don't have my number.” He gave me a small smile.
I walked towards the classroom and looked back at him when I reached the door. He was still standing by the side, watching me with that same smile playing on his lips.
“Then I guess you'll just have to wait, won't you?” I smirked and Maggie rounded the corner. Her eyes shot between both of us.
“How long?” Jack asked.
“However long I feel like making you wait.” My smirk changed to a grin. “Come on, you'll be late for class.”
I walked through the door with Maggie, and we slid into our seats.
“Second date?” she whispered in my ear.
“Yep,” I replied. “He just doesn't know that yet."
