In Dreams (3 page)

“To be fair, I was just staring at
you
,” he informed her with a smirk.

Her legs started to shake. She wondered why he made her so nervous. She was around attractive guys all the time in Southern California, why was this one throwing her all out of whack? His voice interrupted her self questioning.

“Where are you from anyway? I mean, no offense, it’s just that you don’t seem like you’re from around here.”

She found herself mesmerized by the curves of his mouth. “California. What gave it away?” she questioned.

“The accent, first of all,” he chuckled.

“I do not have an accent. You guys have the accent, not me!” She tried so hard to act normal, but he threw her off balance. Her eyes lingered on his lips and she wondered what it would be like to kiss them.

Kylie and Taylor watched the interaction from the other room. “He looks like a nice guy,” Taylor said out loud.

“A nice,
hot as hell
, guy,” Kylie answered. “Enough with watching this romance blossom. What about us, Tay? Who will be my victim tonight?” Kylie looked around with intent.

“I’m sure anyone you choose would be more than happy to oblige.”

“How can you say no to this body?” Kylie waved her hands up and down.

“You’d have to be blind,” Taylor agreed before glancing back at Katherine.

“So, California, how do you like living out here?” Cooper asked with genuine interest.

Before she could answer, a vivacious brunette bounced in between them and wrapped her arms around Cooper. “Hi, Cooper. What do you say we ditch this party and go somewhere else?”

Cooper unwrapped the girls arms from around his neck and placed them firmly back at her side before saying, “Let’s not. I’m in the middle of a conversation and you’re being very rude.”

The girl glared at Katherine before huffing out some comment and storming off. “Happen to you often?” she wondered.

“Sort of,” his jaw unclenched, “I’m sorry. I hate it when girls act like that.” He took a breath to regain his composure. “Anyway, back to the question. How do you like it out here?”

“I love it so far. I mean, it’s not winter yet, so I’ll probably cry when it snows, but so far, it’s been amazing.”

“I won’t let you cry when it snows,” he told her with a smile.

“Oh, is that so?”

She could feel the connection between them. It wasn’t as intense as what she felt for the guy from her dream, but there was something unexplainable between her and Cooper Donovan. There was a quiet spark of recognition that burned inside her. It was as if she already knew him on some level, but that didn’t make any sense to her.

“Yep. I’ll have you loving the snow by the time it’s gone,” he informed her.

His confidence was a turn-on. It made her wonder if he ever questioned or wasn’t sure of anything in his life. “So, what about you?” Katherine asked.

“What about me, what? Do I enjoy going to college a mere three hours away from my parents’ house?”

“Sure, I guess.”

“It’s nice, actually. It’s far enough away that they can’t just pop over unannounced, but it’s close enough that they can come to my games if they want to.”

“Games?” she asked hesitantly, but assumed what came next.

“I’m on the hockey team,” he said with such pride that she couldn’t help but feel proud of him herself.

“Of course you are,” she laughed.

“What’s wrong with hockey?” he shot back.

“Nothing. I don’t know anything about the sport. But my roommate Taylor is completely obsessed with it.”

“Oh, maybe I should be talking to her then,” he joked.

“Sure, if you’re into perfectly gorgeous girls with amazing personalities, then go for it. I understand.”

“You’re funny, California.”

Katherine smiled at him before glancing around the crowded party. “I’d better go find my friends.” She couldn’t see Taylor and Kylie any more and that made her uneasy.

“I think your roommate—Taylor, right? She’s with my buddy Danny. They’re talking in the corner outside over there.” He pointed in their direction. “Do you see them?”

Katherine spotted Taylor with a tall, muscular boy with really dark hair. The guy towered over Taylor’s 5-foot-4-inch frame. She happened to glance up as Kat looked in her direction and gave a wave that let her know all was well.

“Hockey player?” Katherine asked.

“Yep. He’s damn good too.”

“Well, Taylor will be pleased.” Cooper smiled and she realized how perfect his teeth were. “I thought hockey players were supposed to have messed up teeth or something? Don’t you get hit in the face a lot?”

“If you don’t get out of the way. But I actually like my face, so I don’t want it all smashed up. Because then pretty girls like you wouldn’t talk to me.”

Katherine’s heart raced against her ribcage. He thought she was pretty? She understood cute, but pretty? She was so busy talking herself out of the compliment that she almost forgot to thank him. “Uh, thanks,” she fumbled, “for…saying I was pretty.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank your parents.”

“Oh my gosh, really?” she laughed.

“What? It’s not my fault that you can’t see what I see.” His eyes softened as he looked into hers.

Katherine’s pulse raced. “Do you see Kylie anywhere?”

“Your other friend, right? The other blonde? I’m sure she’s here somewhere. She looked like she was on a mission.”

“I’d feel better if I just knew where she was. Do you mind?” Katherine turned to walk away.

“Of course not. But I’m coming with you.” He hurried beside her.

They walked together searching for Kylie. It was the first time that Katherine wasn’t completely consumed by thoughts of her dream guy. Although she wasn’t sure why, being around Cooper made her feel completely safe.

They finally found Kylie making out with some guy and Katherine breathed a sigh of relief.

“You worry a lot, don’t you?” Cooper asked.

“Don’t make fun. I’m not a worrywart or anything. I just like to know that the people I came to a strange party with are safe and not missing or anything. Don’t be a jerk.” She hit him in the arm playfully.

“I’m not. It’s sweet. And smart. So I’ll just remember that you’re the smart one when it comes to your friends.”

They shared a glance and she sighed, “Your eyes are gorgeous. I love the little speckle thing you have in this eye.”

She touched the side of his face and flinched as electricity jolted through her entire body. Her pulse raced and she got entirely too sweaty for a girl. All she could think about was how nervous he made her and how it felt like her heart was trying to escape.

“Which eye is it? This one?” He pressed her hand tightly against his face.

“Yeah,” was about all she could muster. She found herself memorizing his eyes. She took in the exact color of green...and how they changed to almost yellow at the pupil. She thought it looked like a sunflower but didn’t want to tell a guy he had sunflowers in his eyes.

“What the hell are you two doing?” Danny bounced up with Taylor close behind.

“Seriously, you two. Get a room. That’s embarrassing!” Taylor teased.

“Shut up. I was just looking at the speck in his eye. And...ah, never mind,” Katherine stopped trying to explain.

“Kat, this is Danny. Danny, this is my roommate, Kat.” She turned to Cooper and said, “I’m Taylor. What’s your name, eye speck?”

“Cute. Cooper.”

“Cool name! Hockey?” Taylor spoke quickly, but he kept up.

“Yep. But I’m way better than your boy, Danny, here.”

“Funny, Coop,” Danny whined.

“Let’s be clear…he’s NOT my boy,” Taylor snapped and shot Danny a glance.

“YET!” Danny shouted at her.

“Dream on, kid,” Taylor teased, “Where’s Kylie?”

“Last time we saw her she was upstairs kissing some guy. I assume she’s still there?”

“We should get her and head home. This party is about to get broken up anyway. It’s out of control and way too loud.” Taylor grabbed Katherine’s hand and pulled her up the stairs, while Cooper and Danny watched them go, smiles plastered on both their faces.

Katherine wasn’t sure how Taylor knew when a party was and wasn’t out of control, but it turned out she was right. As they dragged Kylie away from her boyfriend for the night, campus police rounded the corner.

“You’re just going to leave without saying goodbye?” Cooper shouted toward her.

Katherine noticed everyone staring at her, so she refused to respond. Her eyes darted from Cooper to the crowd of gawkers and then back to him again. Cooper looked around and quickly jogged to her side.

He slid his arm around her waist and she felt her throat catch. “At least let me walk you home?” He practically begged, but Katherine couldn’t take any more heart-pounding or throat catching.

She wiggled her body free from his hand and relished the air she could once again breathe. “I think we’re fine. Right?” She looked at the girls who shook their heads in unison. “See, we’re fine. I’ll see you in class, Coopertown.”

“Bye, Danny-boy,” Taylor shouted back at him as she walked away.

That night before Katherine fell asleep; she wondered if she would see her dream guy again. She wasn’t quite sure why, after the night she’d just had with Cooper, she was even thinking about him at all. She wondered if she associated him with sleep, but knew instinctively it was more than that.
“What are you sighing about?” Taylor asked her through a yawn.

Katherine looked down from her bed and noticed that Kylie was already fast asleep. “Just wondering if my dream guy will make another appearance tonight.”

“Already leaving Cooper in the dust for some guy you don’t even know? You’re one serious heartbreaker, Katherine Johns. But not for nothing, if you do dream about this boy again—that would be pretty awesome!”

“I know! Not very realistic though, right?”

“Who cares about reality, Kat? Geez, you’re such a downer.”

Katherine snickered, “Goodnight, Taylor.”

“Goodnight, downer-face!”

Katherine lay her head on her pillow and promptly fell asleep. She awoke the next morning to the sound of Kylie rushing out of the dorm room.

“Bye, girls! Had a blast! See you soon!” Kylie yelled and then slammed the door.

“So? Did we have any appearances last night?” Taylor asked, as she walked out of the bathroom.

“Yeah, your dad,” Katherine replied sarcastically.

“Oh, you’re hilarious.”

“I think so,” Katherine quipped. “But seriously, no dreams at all last night,” she added with a hint of disappointment.

Taylor crooked her head, “I’m sorry. Are you sad?”

Katherine nodded, “I know it probably sounds dumb, but yeah. A little. I just thought...I don’t know what I thought.”

“That you’d see him again?” Taylor asked softly.

“Yeah. At least I hoped,” Katherine admitted.

“Well, there’s always Cooper. You think he knows he’s playing backup to a dream guy?”

“Taylor. Be real.”

“I am. Cooper is totally number two in this relationship and Dream Guy is clearly number one. Just saying you should give the poor guy some warning before he goes falling head over heels for you.”

The very thought of it all made Katherine dizzy. Did she want a relationship with Cooper? She barely knew him. Was she willing to give up on Dream Guy because that’s what sane people would do? You can’t hold on the idea of some random guy from a dream your whole life. But then she reminded herself that that was no ordinary dream. Feelings and emotions that intense don’t just happen all the time. It all had to mean something.

“Hello?” Taylor waved her hand in front of Kat’s face, “I just meant that he clearly likes you and if...”

Katherine cut her off mid-sentence, “I get it, Tay.”

“Oh hey, don’t get mad. I’m just playing.”

“No, no, I’m sorry. It’s just that this is all too weird for me. And everything about both guys is really intense, really fast, and it’s just all kind of crazy, no?”

“In all honesty, yeah. I mean it is crazy. And it is fast. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Are you even interested in Cooper? I mean, is he your type?”

Katherine remained silent while she stared at Taylor.

“I’m only asking because I don’t really know what your type is?” Taylor quipped.

“No, I know. I was just thinking,” Katherine responded.

“Oh, well continue thinking then,” Taylor smiled.

“I’m definitely attracted to him. And I don’t really know him that well, but from what I do know, I love that he’s an athlete because it means he has to do well in school and that he has some sort of work ethic, sense of responsibility and drive,” Katherine paused before continuing.

“I really respect people who have passion for things. He seems really nice and funny. I mean, yeah...he definitely doesn’t lack any qualities that I like in a guy. But he also kind of scares me,” she added.

“What do you mean? Scares you how?” Taylor wondered.

“He makes me super nervous whenever I see him…and he makes me all sorts of sweaty just when he’s around me. No guy has ever had that kind of effect on me before.”

Taylor laughed, “Dummy. That just means you’re attracted to him. Think you’re the only one who sweats when a hot guy gets close? It’s called chemistry.”
“Well then, we’ve got it in buckets ’cause let me tell you…” Katherine started to laugh. “Thanks for making me feel less stupid about sweating around a hot guy.”

“Oh please! That’s what happens. It’s normal. I mean, normal if you’re attracted to him. And really, how could you not be?”

“He is ridiculously good looking, right?”

“Pretty much. So what’s stopping you from giving him a chance? I mean, he sounds perfect,” Taylor asked sincerely.

“In all honesty? I sorta can’t get past the guy from my dream. It’s hard to let go of those feelings once you’ve experienced them.” She took a deep breath, “I feel like if I give Cooper a shot, then I’m giving up on my dream guy. And I’m just not ready to do that yet.”

“Fair enough,” Taylor agreed.

“You don’t think I’m being stupid?” Katherine looked up at her with eyes that said it all. She wanted—no, needed—Taylor to be on her side with this.

“I don’t. I saw you that morning. And I hear the way you talk about him. I wouldn’t give up on him either if it were me.”