The Only Exception

CHAPTER 8

After working on my project, and watching a few hours of reality TV, I finally fell asleep. I went to bed early only to wake up the next morning to face Trey in class. I couldn’t pretend like our massive make out session didn’t happen, especially when he walked into class and just grinned at me like he had a secret.

“Is there something I can help you with?” I asked as he took his seat next to me, folding his hands on the desk.

“You can help me with our assignment. You see, Miss Remy, my partner has been ignoring me, so I could really use some help on getting my side of the project started.”‘

Damn, he smelled amazing. Even better than usual. Maybe he just put more cologne on, or maybe it was because I was trying not to notice him and failed miserably when all I could do is think about what cologne he was wearing.

“Well, you should maybe talk to Dr. Westerfield about switching partners. It sounds like this girl is a real bitch,” I said with a smirk, pulling my laptop out of my bag.

Trey leaned in so close I couldn’t help but stare at his lips. The lips that were on mine just a couple of days before. I could almost still taste them. “I’d say she’s just the opposite. And she’s a really great kisser.”

I could feel the heat crawl up my neck and to my face. He said it softly enough so that no one would notice, but just hearing Trey say that about me made my whole body feel like it was on fire.

I cleared my throat, trying to get my head back in the game. “Well, then, you should probably just leave her alone. Those types of girls are always trouble.”

“I’m always up for a challenge, Miss Remy.” He ran his finger down the length of my arm from where my sleeve met my skin and down to my wrist. It sent a warm chill down my arm where his fingers grazed, and it took everything I had not to react to it. “So how about it, Monica? Will you stop rejecting me and just let me take you on a proper date?”

I glanced up and saw the professor walking in. At the risk of being called out again for flirting, I turned my attention to my laptop and opened a word document. “I’m going to have to decline again, Mr. Chapman.”

He looked over his shoulder just as Dr. Westerfield set her bag down on her desk. Then he faced the front of the room. I thought our conversation was over when he pulled out a notebook and pen, but after writing down something quickly he slid the notebook over to the side of the desk.

I glanced over to see a simple question written out.

Why not?

I shook my head and reached into my messenger bag, pulling out a small notebook I kept around to take notes in case my computer ever died. I grabbed a pen and quickly scribbled on the notebook, placing it at the end of my desk.

Because I don’t date Republicans.

I thought it would be a good enough response and he would actually pay attention in class, but no such luck.

He quickly crossed out his first sentence and wrote a new one. I’ll make an exception for you, if you make one for me.

I let out a puff of air and then scribbled the previous one, shoving it at his desk.

No.

All I needed was the two letter word. I hoped that gave him the hint.

It seemed to do the trick because he didn’t bother me throughout the rest of class, though he was pretty busy arguing the points with others on our readings about local government sanctions. I hated to admit it, but there was something incredibly sexy about the way he argued. Every point he made was followed by silence, as if he was actually listening intently to what the other person would say. Then he would slam them down with another political answer that would have that person scrambling for a rebuttal. He really would make a good politician. And an incredibly sexy one.

***

After classes I was finally able to head back to my apartment. Sam was out, and she hadn’t lit up the place yet. I almost regretted allowing her to smoke in the apartment, but if it was just going to be in her room it wouldn’t be that bad. I tried to fool myself into saying that I just agreed because Trey was close by, and I needed to work on the project with him. When in all reality part of me wanted him to come over more often. Even after looking at the picture with the Kappa girls and thinking how much I hated his dad. Maybe he wasn’t like him, but I wasn’t just going to let a guy in that easy.

All summer I tried to put the past behind me. I saw a counselor twice a week, did Pilates, and even tried some forgiveness techniques that involved sage, candles, and pictures. None of them worked. If any guy even looked at me, I usually ran away. My counselor said I couldn’t let my mind control my heart, but I had been doing it for so long that it became second nature until the moment I saw Trey Chapman. Now I was afraid of what would happen if I let my heart win.

Quickly, I shook the thoughts of Trey and his white dress shirts out of my head and went into the bathroom, turning on the bath water. It had become my new routine to unwind for the day, and I didn’t like to miss it. I poured in some bath salts and then put my hair into a bun before slowly creeping into the warm water. Bach crooned from my iPod, and I could almost forget about the day and everything Trey. Almost.

The thought of his dimpled smile combined with the hot water of the bath, sent a whole new set of electricity below my belly button. I gripped the bathtub and mentally shook my head. I couldn’t think of Trey that way or how much he made every part of my body long for him. He wasn’t just another guy; he was a conservative bastard. His father publicly opposed all forms of contraception, gay marriage, and tax breaks for the middle class. Those were my three big hot-button issues and anyone that wasn’t for them, I figured I was against. But maybe Trey wasn’t like his father. I knew I didn’t share all of the same political views as my dad on every issue.

I tried to put politics in the back of my head and just enjoy my bath, but then I heard a loud knock at the door, followed by another. I could have just let it go, but whoever it was kept knocking. I groaned, sliding out of my nice, warm bath and quickly pulled on my bathrobe.

“I’m coming!” I yelled, wiping water droplets from my legs and walking into the living room. The knocking still continued. Whoever it was, they were going to get a mouthful when I got to them.

I threw open the door to be greeted by a giant bouquet of roses. “What the French toast?”

The roses slid down, and there was Trey’s smiling face. “Are you inviting me in for French toast? Because I’m sure that will go great with these flowers.”

I rolled my eyes, taking the flowers from him, moving into the kitchen, and setting them on the counter. “No, it’s just an expression.”

I tried to look away from the flowers, but they smelled wonderful. The entire kitchen was filled with their amazing aroma. They were all fully bloomed like a big, red ray of sunshine. No guy had ever bought me flowers, but I didn’t want to make a big deal of it in front of Trey. I would gush over them when he left.

“Was I interrupting something?” I turned and saw that he was now standing behind me in the kitchen; a small smile on his face while his eyes trailed down to my robe.

I pulled the top closure tight against my chest and felt my pulse quicken. I prayed he wouldn’t try anything. He never gave me the vibe of being the type of guy that would, but looks could be deceiving. “Yes, I was taking a bath.”

I thought he would be the slimy guy that would ask to join me, but he didn’t. His eyes even stopped scaling my robe and instead they were looking right into mine. “I came over to see if you would reconsider my offer to take you to dinner.”

My throat felt dry, like I had been in the desert for weeks. Between the roses, his dimpled smile, and the way he looked at me like I was the most interesting person in the world, it was hard to resist.

“I…I…I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”

He took a step closer to me, his hands in his pockets. “Monica, I know we may not see eye-to-eye politically, but there is something about you that fascinates me. I love our conversations, and I can’t deny how much I enjoyed having you on my couch the other night.”

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks just thinking about our kiss. He took another step forward; the mix of his cologne and the flowers was enough to send my hormones into over-drive. I wanted to jump him right there and forget all about politics. But instead I just swallowed.

“Look, I like you. I don’t say that to most girls,” he said, moving one of his hands out of his pocket and onto the counter.

I took a few steps backward until I was against the wall. “You seem like a really nice guy, Trey, but do you think this is what would be best for us?”

“I’m not saying that we have to get married. I’m just asking you for one night out and then I’ll never ask again.” He put both his hands on the wall, on either side of my face. My lips trembled, watching his face move just inches form mine. “I usually don’t have to beg, but there is something about you that makes me forget everything else, so I will ask you out every single day until you say yes.”

He leaned in closer, his words breathing onto my mouth. I wanted to kiss his soft lips so bad. There was no way I could refuse. “Okay,” I whispered.

“Really?” His smile lit up his whole face, from his dimples and up to the adorable freckles.

I bit my lip and nodded to keep from throwing myself on him and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

“Great.” He moved his hands off the wall and stepped backward. “I’ll pick you up here tomorrow? Does six sound good, or is that your usual bath time?” He raised an eyebrow.

My face felt like it was a million degrees. “Um, no six works. I’ll postpone my bath.” Or I would possibly need a cold shower.

He took a few more steps back and put his hand on the doorknob. “I look forward to it, Miss Remy.”

He winked and was out the door before I could respond.

One minute I was hating the guy and the next I agreed to go on a date with him. It was like my heart was torn in two different directions, and the horny part was winning out.

I covered my face with my hands and let out a slight giggle. I hadn’t been on a date in a long time, and I couldn’t help but be giddy. I removed my hands and walked over to the flowers, inhaling a large whiff of their beautiful scent. A date with Trey could be dangerous, but then again, it could also be just what I needed.