Chapter 14 - An indecent suggestion

                                    

                                          
Kat
I wait eagerly on Monday outside of my Basic Nutrition class. I arrived way too early, but I don't care. And I spent more time than usual on my appearance. I'm wearing a white summer dress covered in flowers, and I styled my hair into soft curls. I put more make-up on than usual, but not as much as I wore in Boston.
"Kat." For a moment, my heart jumps, but then I see Richard raise a hand as he approaches me.
"Hi, Richard," I say.
"Did you find that book you were looking for?"
For a moment my mind jumps to the latest romance book I got, but before I can say anything I luckily remember that I told him I was looking for a book on nutrition that someone had recommended as an additional resource.
"Oh. Yeah, I bought it online."
"Let me know if it's helpful. I might get a copy myself."
I nod and stare at the door across the small lounge area. He should be here.
"I will."
"Good." Richard lingers around me as a few more of the nursing students show up. "Do you want to sit?" He points at the couches that are slowly being filled.
"No, you go ahead. I'll stand."
He looks a bit sheepish at first, but then he takes a seat. Just as he does, Brick walks through the door. Relief washes over me and I smile as I walk up to him.
His eyes immediately find me, and he slows his step.
"Hi," I say.
He furrows his brow slightly.
"So what's your major?" I ask. I'm not put off by his silence. He was perfectly capable of holding a conversation in Boston.
"Nutrition."
Well, at least he's answering my questions.
"That's cool. Because of hockey?"
He nods. "Yeah, it seemed like a good idea."
His eyes are on me, and I'm getting no impression that he wants to get away from me.
"I suppose you have to watch what you eat when you're that active." I have no idea how much they train for their hockey games. Or how often they have games, but I do remember JD always being ravenous.
"I..." He clears his throat. "I like to cook."
"Really? My mom always wished I'd be more interested in cooking. I don't know. Maybe the problem was that she would demand I do everything her way and follow the recipes perfectly."
He nods at me. Then his eyes flicker to something behind me.
"I think someone is trying to catch your attention."
I turn around. Richard is staring at us. He waves and I wave back a little.
"That's just Richard. We're in the same class."
"Right."
He makes a move as if to leave, but I reach out and put my hand on his forearm. Instantly, his body stiffens, and he stops moving. He's wearing a dark t-shirt, so my hand is directly on his skin. The muscles underneath tense. It's now or never. Or later. Because I know what I want.
"I want to try again."
He gasps for air and refuses to look at me. "What?"
"I've been thinking about it. I want to do what we started in Boston."