Free The Recruiting Trip (The University of Gatica #1) by Lexy Timms

grinned. “She told you.” His phone vibrated against his hand. “I’m leaving early with a couple of the guys to set everything up. Once we’re inside here, I don’t know what Coach Maves or Anderson has all planned for you so if I don’t see you before I go…” He hesitated. His eyebrows pressed together as he looked at her uncertainly. “You are coming to it, right?”
    “Whatever Jani wants to do, I’ll tag along.” He wanted her to come. Why she had the sudden urge to stamp her feet really fast and scream with excitement, she had no idea. It was a totally new feeling to her.
    “Jani’s coming. She wouldn’t miss it.”
    Neither would I. “Then it looks like I’ll be there—.”
    “Tyler!!” A large voice boomed. “Get in here!” A solid, had to be shot-putter or hammer thrower stood at the entrance to the indoor track. “Bring your tiny, cute friend along too.”
    Tyler rolled his eyes. “Jason, this is Aileen. She’s here on a recruiting trip.”
    “Sweet.” Jason clapped his hands and chalking white powder floated into the air. “You coming tonight?” He gave her a bone crushing hug.
    Definitely a shot putter. Aileen couldn’t talk, let alone breathe. He finally put her down after he’d carried her inside the field house. The indoor track was full of life. She forgot about answering Jason as she got lost in the moment. The sixty-meter sprints were in progress. Running through what she remembered of the schedule, she realized that the hurdle races would be next.
    “Let’s get a good seat to watch the finish,” Tyler touched her elbow and steered her in front of several rows of bleachers. “By the way, I’ll make sure Jani keeps you away from Jason. The big guy is awesome, but he has this thing about lifting people.”
    Aileen laughed. “I thought he was going to smother me.”
    Their progress to Tyler’s chosen spot slowed. People on the bleachers called out Tyler’s name and Aileen swore every other person wanted to talk to him.
    At the third set of stands, Coach Maves appeared. “Perfect timing. Let me take you infield so you can watch the races close up.”
    “Okay” The worst thing in the world for Aileen was being at a track meet watching her event and being unable to compete. She itched to be at that starting line, getting ready in the blocks when the hurdle race started. She turned to say good-bye to Tyler but three girls from another school were now standing between them. It was more than a roadblock. It was a wake-up call. She was wasting her time. If she thought he was cute, so did probably ninety-nine per cent of the population. What was she thinking? She didn’t stand a chance. No chance at all.
     

Chapter 8
     
    The meet continued on through the day. Coach Anderson spoke to her towards the end of the meet and told her he would pick her up for breakfast the next morning at nine. Her flight was scheduled for the late afternoon. He wanted to talk about what the school and track program had to offer her before she left.
    Jani won the high jump. The loud speakers told Aileen that Jani had qualified for nationals with a six foot jump. She had no experience with high jump, but it seemed pretty high to her.
    On a high from the competition, Jani came bouncing over to where Aileen sat. “You ready to get out of here?”
    Aileen nodded and grabbed her backpack.
    “My car’s parked by the student union. The party starts in like two hours. Do you want to go shower, get ready and then go eat? Or do you want to eat, then go get ready?”
    Her stomach rumbled.
    Jani laughed. “I guess that means you want to eat first?”
    “I had lunch forever ago. I’m more of a grazer, I like to eat constantly.”
    Jani put her arm around Aileen’s shoulders. “You’re a girl after my own heart. Pizza sound good? There’s an awesome place in Campus Corner that makes awesome brick oven pizza. It’s so good.” Jani’s midsection growled.
    Aileen burst out laughing. “My grandmother