Free Chasing Jenna by Micki Fredricks Page B

struggled to take in a breath. I grasped at my stomach and rolled over on my back. He got up and stood with one foot on either side of me, looking down at me with a silly smirk. He grabbed my hands, pulling me to me feet.
    “It’s not that funny. We need to get to class.” I fell against his hard chest and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. As soon as the laughter stopped, tears started flowing down my cheeks. Even I was surprised by the sudden change. I lifted my hands and covered my face.
    “What’s the matter with you?” he asked in a joking tone. He tried to pull my hands away from my face but I wouldn’t let him. “Wait, are you really crying now?”
    I continued covering my face, trying not to sob out loud. He pulled me in close, rubbing little circles on my back.
    “Is this some sort of monthly issue?”
    I slapped him on the chest without letting him see my face.
    “What? I don’t have sisters and if you were a girlfriend, I would’ve already been avoiding you during this time, so I’m a little out of my comfort zone.”
    I took a deep rattled breath and stepped away from him. “Cale doesn’t want to date me.” I said in a little voice.
    “Are you kidding me? That’s what these tears are for?” I looked up at him and his face tightened like he was in pain. He was really struggling with this emotional stuff.
    I nodded my head and more tears filled my vision. He reached out and started rubbing my arms up and down.
    “Okay, umm, just quit crying, little one. You’re killing me. How do you know he doesn’t want to date you? He’s with you all the time and he talks about you like, constantly and …”
    “He asked if he could sponsor me.”
    His face softened. He pulled me to him once more and held me tight, obviously understanding what that meant.
    “That’s bad isn’t it?” I questioned. I just wanted to hear what I already knew.
    “Well, no. I mean – there’s a very strict policy about not dating the girls that are sponsored.”
    I took a deep breath and turned my head to the side, listening to his heartbeat, letting the truth of what he was saying calm me. At least now I knew.
    “But hey,” he pushed me away, not letting go of my arms. “He’s Cale Davis. If anyone is allowed to break the rules, it would be him.” I smiled and pulled away, wiping tears and heading for the door.
    “So, cheer up buttercup.”
    “Don’t call me that.” I said as I reached for my bag.
    “Sugar pie?”
    “Worse.” He followed behind me as we stepped out into the hallway. I pointed back toward the door.
    “You’d better get that wrapper or Katie will kill you. He rushed back into the room and from inside he yelled, “Honey Boo.”
    “Stop! You are terrible at this. No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend.” I yelled as I pushed the elevator button.
    ~~~
    “Okay, spill it. What do you know about being sponsored by one of the brothers in the house?” I frantically asked Ryan as we left our last class. I hadn’t brought it up again since lunch but I was dying not knowing what this sponsoring was all about. This was my last chance before meeting Cale and I planned to get as much information as I could before I walked into that library.
    “Well,” he said as we walked along. “I know it’s an honor to get asked, especially by someone with Cale’s bloodline.” He was serious all of a sudden and choosing his words carefully.
    “What do you mean bloodlines, what are we talking about here, dogs?”
    “Jenna, these are questions that you need to be asking Cale.” His voice was strained.
    “I just need to know what to expect. I feel like I’m walking into a world where I don’t belong. I just need a little info. Please?”
    Obviously waging some sort of internal war with himself, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and began. Butterflies took over in my stomach as I noticed how muscular his arms were. I couldn’t lie, he was beautiful. Nothing like an ogre.
    “Bloodline refers