A Love Like This (Book 1) (10 page)
Read A Love Like This (Book 1) Online
Authors: Kimberly Lane
Chapter 5
I stop at the student union
on my way back to the dorms.
I will be done with al
l of my classes soon so
I seriously
need to find an internship.
I
’
ve been procrastinating because I
’
m not sure what aspect of architecture I want to specialize in.
But
I guess that
’
s the point of an
internship, to help me
hone my
skills and
decide what best suits my
interests.
I
’
ve also been procrastinating because starting an
internship
in the Bay area would mean staying away from home for a very long time.
I
’
m not sure if I
’
m ready to make that type of
commitment.
The only thing I
’
ve done consistently besides school work is
volunteer
at Room for Growth.
I contacted Joan a few days after we met.
She emailed me all the forms I
needed to complete to become a volunteer.
I faxed them back
and
started right away.
I absolutely love working with the people there and Joan is probably one of the kindest women
I
’
ve ever met.
I
’
m looking through flyers about
internships in San Francisco when I
feel a
hand on the small of my back.
I spin around and
I
’
m standing nose to chest with Mike.
He looks like he
just
walked out of an ad for custom made suits.
He
’
s always so polished.
He takes the pamphlet from my hand and looks it over.
“
You should intern for my company
. I’ll make a few calls
.
”
“
Do you even know what my major is?
”
His hand is still on my back.
I look into his eyes and I know that what I feel for Mike is strictly lust.
But I push it aside and replace it with
annoyance.
He scratches his head and smiles,
“
um.
”
“
That
’
s what I thought,
”
I say and start towards the door.
He reaches for my hand.
“
Of course I know you
’
re major. Tucker minored in urban design and that
’
s the only class he
’
s teaching this semester.
Which means
your major must be architecture
.
He crosses his arms pleased with himself.
“
Haven
’
t seen you around lately where have you been hiding,
”
He says flashing a charming smile.
“
Really, I see you all the time.
I saw you with
Kira
yesterday, with the tall blond with the pointy nose last week and with Lisa with the gimpy leg the week before that.
”
He raises an
eyebrow
,
“
It
’
s a cast, she broke her leg and what can I say I
’
m a popular guy.
I think it
’
s pretty cool that you
’
re keeping an eye on me.
Let
’
s go have coffee so that we can further discuss my love life.
”
“
Nope
I
’
ll pass,
”
I say and start for the door again.
“
Just coffee, just friends,
”
he tilts his head and bites his bottom lip.
I cross my arms over my chest,
“
just coffee.
”
“
Unless you unable to
control yourself and we end up butt naked in the middle of the quad,
”
he says laughing
at his own joke.
We walk across campus towards the Coffee Hut.
“
So what
’
s up with you and my boy?
”
he asks.
“
You really asked me
out
for coffee to talk about Tucker?
”
“
I just want to make sure you
’
re free before I make you my woman.
”
I laugh,
“
Does that line ever work?
”
Everything about Mike is smooth.
From the way he walks with his head erect like a proud peacock to the way he raises one
eyebrow
and tilts his head slightly when
he talks.
He oozes confidence and his playful nature makes him likable even though it
’
s crystal clear that his aim is to bone.
This beautiful hunk of chocolate wants nothing more than to get in my pants.
The problem is the way I
’
ve been feeling lately I might be inclined to let him do
just that.
“
You have no idea how often it works,
”
he says as we approach the Coffee Hut.
The place is filled with students and teachers looking for their afternoon caffeine fix.
Mike orders a Mocha Late
’
and I order peppermint tea. He pays for the drinks and we sit at a booth near the window.
“
Didn
’
t you graduate awhile
ago?
”
I ask suspiciously?
“
Business major, magna cum laude,
”
he says.
“
So you hang out on campus waiting to trick unsuspecting freshmen into falling for your charming lines.
”
“
You think you know me so well,
”
Mike says looking serious for the first time since I met him.
I narrow my eyes at him.
“
I know you,
”
I say.
“
Oh yeah, why don
’
t you tell me about myself,
”
he says crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.
“
You
’
re handsome, smart, charming and women almost always do what you want.
”
“
You
’
re right so far,
”
he says his smile returning.
“
I
’
m sure you
’
re probably a nice guy deep
deep
down but I
’
m just not interested in being one of your conquests.
”
I stare at him and wait for a reaction.
There
’
s a pregnant pause.
“
You know Berkeley has a mentoring program for under privilege youth.
”
I shake my head not liking where this is going.
“
Kids from Oakland and Richmond come here every week for tutoring.
It helps them learn about all the options available to them,
college,
and trade
school whatever.
I come here after work twice a week to tutor and mentor the kids.
”
I
hold his gaze as I sip my tea.
It
’
s possible that
I
’
ve
judged him too quickly.
Maybe
I
’
m
wrong about Mike.
“
All the girls on campus are just a bonus,
”
he says
interrupting my thoughts.
I shake my head.
“
You
’
re a mess,
”
I say.
“
I should head back to school.
I have a project due in a few days.
”
“
I
’
ll walk you back,
”
he says standing and opening the door for me.
“
Do you have plans for tonight?
”
“
Just studying,
”
I say.
“
Do you like Italian food?
I know this great place called Giorgio
’
s in the Sunset District.
Let me take you out to dinner.
”
I comb my brain for an excuse but find none.
“
Just as friends,
”
I say looking over at those sexy lips.
He rolls his eyes,
“
If you insist,
”
he says.
I saunter towards the dorm engrossed in my thoughts.
I
’
m not sure why I agreed to go out with Mike when
I can
’
t stop thinking about Tucker.
I open the door and Sarah is laying on her bed fully dressed listening to her iPod.
I tap her leg and she sits up.
“
I can
’
t believe you
’
re home on a Friday,
”
I say.
“
Yeah it looks like someone had a knife fight in my underwear.
”
“
Sarah we don
’
t have to share everything.
Do you need me to get you anything?
”
“
No, I just took a couple of pills it
’
ll be all good in a few minutes. I
’
ll stay in with you tonight.
We can put on our
jammies, have chocolate cake and talk about boys.
Well I
’
ll talk about boys and you
’
ll talk about Tucker.
”
She says grasping her stomach and grimacing.
