I can't stop sniffing.

I hadn't even realized I was still wrapped in Tariq's jacket when I had entered my Early Literacy class. It was so warm and cozy that I didn't even take it off. Instead, I had pulled my scarf off and buried my nose down into it without even thinking and breathed in his scent.

After a whole class of being surrounded by it, I have finally figured it out.

Ginger tea.

That's what he smells like.

Like a steaming mug of ginger tea that opens up your sinuses and fills you with a weird kind of warmth.

What is wrong with me?

What doesn't help is that Early Classroom Organization and Management is moving even slower than Early Literacy had. I'm so bored that my mind keeps wandering back to Tariq and his commanding eyes, then out of instinct I inhale like a coke addict.

His jacket though is like a protective barrier, shielding me. No one has asked about my eye. I definitely get stared at but then their attention weirdly drifts to the jacket, and I don't get asked about my eye.

I get asked something else entirely.

The girl sitting next to me gives me an odd look and then leans in whispering, "How do you know Tariq?"

There it is.

Apparently, everyone knows this jacket just as much as they know the owner and it's not like it's a Letterman jacket.

When she sees my puzzled look she whispers again, "You're wearing his jacket."

Is his name on this thing or something?

"Um, well, I don't really. I met him yesterday." I answer.

"And he's letting you wear his jacket and giving you a ride?"

I don't know what to say to that, so I mumble out, "Yeah I guess."

It's not like I can say: Oh no, don't misunderstand. A football crashed through Alpha Tau Sigma's window that I just so happened to be standing by and it hit me right in the face, which is how I got this shiner and he's only being nice because he wants me to be a narc.

Nope.

She huffs and gives her back to me like I'm an annoying bug. I have no idea what to make of the situation I find myself in.

I'm getting an A in confusion today.

I need to end this so I can continue my college life in peace because obviously these girls think I mean something to Tariq. Most of them want to dig their manicured claws into my neck and strangle me.

After lunch I'll go to his place, which I still have to figure out where it is. I doubt he lives in the dorms. My guess is a house around campus, maybe even off.

Heather probably knows.

I'll leave his jacket (that I'm still wearing) on something outside with a note explaining why I can't go to the dean and be done with it.

As soon as class is over, I pack up my bag and walk out with people whispering all around me.

Seriously?

Is his name on this thing?

I twist around looking for one. When I don't find it, I head toward the glass doors ready to meet Heather for lunch. My hand pushes on the lever and a hoard of people come rushing behind me. I take a step out into the cool windy day and do the polite thing and hold the door open for people with my body as they zoom past.

I end up being the doorman for pretty much every single human being in the building. Every time I decide to try and walk away, an image of the door smacking someone in the face makes me awkwardly go back to holding it.

Once everyone has piled out, I slide my body off the door but notice a straggler running to the now closing door. She's not paying attention to anything but the phone in her hand.

Face plant emergency!

Go! Go! GO!

I put my foot out as a stopper before the door has the possible opportunity to hit her in the face. I slide a little, probably looking like I'm trying to do a weird split move and I start to topple.

A strong arm catches me before I fall. My question as to who it belongs to is answered when a tattooed hand comes out of nowhere catching the door for me.

The girl rushes out not even looking up from her phone, mumbling a quick thank you, oblivious to that fact she almost face planted with the door.

Tariq helps me out of my split. "You've been holding this door open for everyone for the past five minutes. It's been hard to watch."

His heat engulfs me, making my skin prickle and my heart stop.

I'm officially in no man's land.

Why is he here?

And why am I not saying anything?

Slowly, I put my hand up, opting for a small wave. "Hi again."

Seriously?!

You're waving at him when he's literally looking down right at you?

His eyes shine with amusement. "Hi."

Snapping out of it, I figure now is a good time to give him back his jacket. I go to tell him, but someone calls out his name and he looks away from me.

A guy comes running over to us and once he's at a good distance I recognize him immediately.

Conner Knight.

The most popular guy from my high school.

Football linebacker with looks and charm that could get any teacher to write down a pretty A on every assignment and test of his. I had no idea we were even going to the same university and I'm a sophomore now.

How did I not know this?

"Hey man, is it true you guys are looking for a new roomie?" Connor asks once he reaches us.

He's as good looking as ever but it's oddly weird seeing him next to Tariq. He seems boyish and smaller, not as intimidating. Tariq holds himself more seriously than Connor and gives off a no-nonsense air.

Tariq crosses his arms over his chest. "Yeah, Birch moved out. You interested?"

Connor gives a sheepish smile. "Heck yeah! But I know you guys probably have teammates interested." His brilliant blue eyes land on me. "Whoa girl, that's a real shiner you've got there. Hey wait... I know you. You went to my high school. You're Kenny's weird singing girl, uh, um..." he does that weird snapping thing people do when they're trying to remember something. "Elianna, right?! How's Kenny? You two still going strong?"

It's stupid but I don't correct my name first. "No, we broke up like two years ago."

"Oh, yeah? I knew that. Sorry." He gives me an awkward smile. "I should've remembered. He came with us on our trip celebrating the start of college last year and had been locking lips with Laura the whole time."

My nose does that weird twitch it does when I'm annoyed. That tiny muscle just can't help itself. "Good for him."

"It's Elodie." Tariq's deep voice rolls over me with a hint of annoyance.

Black brows pulled tight, lips pressed in a firm line and the muscles in his jaw twitching.

Yep, he's ticked.

Never in all of high school was Connor ever intimidated by another dude. All that swagger, golden boy testosterone is snuffed out by the man, who for some odd reason, is irritated on my behalf.

Connor's face turns ashen white, like he's about to be sick, and his eyes widen in panic. I start sweating along with him from the tension rolling off Tariq. It makes me realize we aren't in high school anymore and Connor is no longer king.

All in all, Tariq is the alpha male, the one of authority, whereas Connor is a simple jock with a loudmouth who talks too much.

The two stare at each other and I take the opportunity to compare them. Connor has all that conventional handsomeness. Shaved square jaw, blond locks cut in a pristine style and brilliant blue eyes that shine with his jokester persona.

Then there's Tariq who has a very exotic bold beauty. Rolled up sleeves displaying rippling muscles against rich olive skin. Chiseled broad shoulders that make his stance dominating. Black hair hidden away under his cap and those eyes, challenging, as he stares down Connor.

Connor's eyes dart back and forth between us. "Wait? Are you guys..."

"No!" I weirdly sing slash laugh out.

Tariq's arm wraps around my shoulder pulling me into his hold right under his arm. "Blue, here, is my new bestie."

"Blue?" Connor asks with lifted brows.

Smoothly, Tariq slides my backpack off my shoulder. It drops. My body tenses as thickly roped arms wrap around my stomach pressing my back into a chest, so broad and solid, while a chin plops right on top of my frizzy head.

Oh, his beard is so going to be itchy.

The muscles in his stomach tighten and roll while his arms trap me in his wonderful scent, and I've never been more tightly wound up in my life.

"You don't get to call her that." His low voice makes my head vibrate and I have no idea what kind of look he's giving Conner, but it makes him back up a little.

"Uh, right, sorry. I guess keep me posted about the roomie situation." He books it away from us and my breath is shaky as Tariq doesn't let me go. A tremor shoots through me as people walk by with curious expressions but Tariq doesn't move.

"Um..."

He buries his face into my hair. "Your hair is so fluffy and soft, like a puppy."

Being in his arms is doing more to me than kissing Kenny ever did and that scares me.

"Yoooou can let go now."

"One more minute," He orders. "It's like hugging a life-size beanie baby. Curious what your tag says about you." His hold breaks and he pushes my hair back looking back and forth from ear to ear.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for one."

I can't help it.

I laugh.

I push his handsome face away. "How do you know about beanie babies?"

He puts his arm on my head and leans on it like I'm a railing while looking at me with a cocky smirk. "My grandma collected them. My little sister has them now and let's just say they are all in pristine condition and I've had many teatime dates with Princess Diana, Patti, Claude and Valentino."

The image of big, tattooed Tariq, playing teatime with his sister surrounded by beanie babies makes me laugh so hard it hurts.

"That... is... the cutest—"

Dark, almost pitch-black eyes swirl with some kind of gleam. "Don't you dare finish that sentence Blue. Guys don't like to be called cute. Sexy, yes. Hot stuff, absolutely. Greek God, one hundred percent. But not cute. I'm also holding you to secrecy here. Not a word to anyone. You'll ruin my reputation."

I point at him and do an odd jig, singing out in a manly voice. "I've got power over you."

A harsh gust of wind makes me stop, squeaking and clutching the hem of my dress so it doesn't fly up. I pull his massive jacket around me tighter and with that action, I take it off, looking for an answer to the question I've had since this morning.

Tariq steps back his eyes following my every movement as I hold it up in the air examining it.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm seeing if you have your name stitched on this thing. Do hockey players have leather jackets and not Letterman ones?"

I shouldn't allow it, but a fluttering feeling grows in my stomach as Tariq stands there. His eyes go from his jacket to me with his hands shoved in his pockets and a wide grin etched on his ridiculously handsome face as he shakes his head.

"Then how does everyone know it's yours?"

"I don't know. I wear it all the time."

At that confession, I hold it out for him. He looks down then back up at me and I shake it at him. "Here."

"Put it back on."

I jerk back a little. "What? Why? You have to be freezing in just your thin shirt. My sweater is fine really. I'm so warm in it that my pits are sweating."

What did you just say?!

His head cocks back and he roars with laughter. "I never know what's going to come out of that mouth."

He walks until there's barely any space between us and people walking by glance in our direction. "Keep it for now. I'll grab it from you when I need it."

I cock a brow. "You're not giving me a choice, are you?"

His lips twitch. "Nope."

I narrow my eyes in suspicion.

Well.

One eye.

"Why?"

"Think of it as a token of our friendship."

"No," I retort with a shake of my head. "I think this is your weird way of making it easy for you to track me down and use your charm to get me to go to the dean and rat."

Those never-ending pools of dark eyes narrow. "Nah, I won't try that until our friendship is cemented to bestie status."

I gasp in mock pain, putting my hand over my chest. "But you already said I was your bestie."

He tilts his head with a wicked grin crossing his face. "I think of you as my bestie, but I know it's not the same for you."

"Got that right." I snark with a lift of my chin.

"You're going to meet Heather for lunch, right? Come on." He bends down, grabbing my backpack for me. "I'll walk with ya." He points his head in the direction of the dining commons and I follow in step with him.

As we walk, I can't help but think being around him is kinda fun. He's not weirded out by my quirkiness and random outbursts of singing, at least he doesn't show it, and most of all...

He makes me forget.

Maybe I had been wrong about him?

Maybe... Tariq Araneo is the perfect distraction I need.

My babies are starting to bond :) Maybe Tariq isn't as bad as he seems ;)

If you all want to continue reading Elodie and Tariq's story and see the drama that will come to unfold just hit that little star :)

Much Love,

~LivingRed