Read Online The Recruiting Trip (The University of Gatica #1) by Lexy Timms - Free Book Online

had a boyfriend. I have. I just… I just wanted to focus on school and hurdles this year.” She didn’t feel the need to mention the last boy she dated had cheated on her. She had walked in on him making out with another girl from school at a party. Kind of embarrassing. She held her breath, not sure if she should ask him the same question. She bit her lower lip then blurted, “What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?” She was positive there were a million girls chasing after him.
    He sat up on his knees. “I had a girlfriend last year. It’s just hard. Between football and track.  Things went really well last year and there were some big expectations I needed to focus on. Then I won NCAAs last year, I wasn’t expecting that.”
    Aileen pictured some cheesy cheerleader with pompoms on her hips all mad because Tyler wasn’t giving her much attention. “You won some football thing last year too, right?”
    Tyler chuckled. “The Jim Thorpe Award? It was this year actually.”
    “Oops. Sorry. Congrats.”
    He smiled. “Thanks.” He squinted just passed her. “Is that your earring?” He pointed by the other row of plyo boxes.
    Aileen crawled over, not realizing that Tyler did the same thing. Their heads bonked into each other.
    “Shit! Are you alright?” Tyler reached for her forehead and rubbed it lightly.
    It hurt. It felt like the guy had a metal plate in his head and they’d barely hit each other. His fingers felt like magic against her skin. They were cool, slightly rough but gentle. “I’m okay.” She stayed on all fours not wanting to move away from his touch.
    A sparkle of light from the ground caught her attention. “My earring!” She had to lean toward Tyler to pick it up. His face was inches from hers. She could feel his warm breath brush against her face. Her fingers hesitated over her earrings as she met his gaze. She swallowed hard and her eyes flitted down to his soft lips before dropping down to the floor. If she leaned just a little bit closer… she could just brush her lips against his for just a moment…
    Taking a deep, slow breath, she forced the moment to pass. Her fingers curled around her earring. She was crazy to even think he might be interested in her, a silly recruit. “Found it!” She sat back and held up her earring.
    Tyler blinked and blinked again. “Does it have a backing?”
    She shook her head as she clipped the earring back in place. “It’s pierced with one of those bars that click into the other part. See?” She turned her head to show him the earrings.
    Silent, he reached out and touched her, letting his finger trail down her neck before dropping his hand suddenly and stood up. “If you’re, uh, finished, we should get going to Wavertree then.” He walked toward the junction of the room where the Olympic weights were. When he turned around his face was unreadable.
    A whirlwind of emotions ran through Aileen. She couldn’t believe how bad she wanted to kiss him. Thank goodness she hadn’t!
    She stood and grabbed her stuff. Suddenly the weight room seemed too hot, stuffy and small. She needed to get outside for some fresh air.
    She nearly stumbled as she realized she would be climbing into his car and sitting right beside him as they headed over to Wavertree. Her stomach felt like it was going to burst from the sudden storm of butterflies beating around inside of it.
     

Chapter 7
     
    Neither of them spoke as they stepped outside. The parking lot had a number of cars in it, though Aileen had only seen Tyler and James inside. Obviously there was more to the building than she had seen. She tried guessing which car might be Tyler’s.
    Tyler cut across the lot, heading towards a red sports car that stood out bright against the snow. She moved to go around to the passenger side and was surprised when he kept walking. She followed on the other side of the car, too embarrassed to say anything.
    Behind the red car was a black car which blended in with the