Stronger (The University of Gatica #4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

talking to Ryan. Big deal."
    The walk to the exam room was the trial of the week. Chrissy was covered in a light sweat by the time she got there. Aileen, the new hurdler at school and Jani’s roommate, moved up and helped her take her seat, a smile on her friend’s face.
    "I was going to come by today if you weren't here. Jani and I have been texting all weekend. You doing okay?"
    "Yeah. I'm hanging in there. I hate that I'm going to flunk this dumb test, but what can you do?"
    "Study, that's what you can do." Richard, a nerdy guy to their left threw in his two cents.
    Chrissy rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, trying to recline her leg as much as possible. "We're going to The Red Coats tonight. Want to join us?"
    "Sounds good.” Aileen smiled, her sweet little shy smile that no one could resist. “I'll see what Tyler is up to tonight. We're still not official, but I'm hoping we move toward that. Keeping us under wraps sucks."
    "I bet. What is the deal with him?"
    "He's just concerned that if we make it official then he will spend more time focused on me than his sports. You know he’s now the starting quarterback for us in the Pinstripe Bowl this year?" She smiled brightly, the gesture reaching her eyes and making her more pretty than she already was. “It sucks for the other guy, but kinda cool for Tyler. Even if it means more stress.” She sighed. “And more practices.”
    "It’s exciting for him, but I think the situation sucks between you guys." Chrissy shrugged as the professor walked in and cleared his throat.
    "Let’s catch up tonight." Aileen patted Chrissy's arm and moved back down the aisle. Chrissy turned her attention toward the front, worry rising in her chest. She was going to flunk this test so bad.
     
     
     
    The walk home, hard as it was, actually relaxed Chrissy. It was cold and yet the snow had taken a break over the last few days so the sidewalks were clear and ice free. It was said to be the warmest winter New York had seen in a few years, but a jacket and scarf were still very much needed. Chrissy pulled her coat closer as she paused outside of her dorm building. Her eyes moved across the landscape before her, dead trees sitting against the dismal sky worked to pull her mood down. She shoved it off and made her way to her room.
    Elizabeth sat on her bed as Chrissy entered. She looked up and put the book down she was holding.
    "How’d it go?"
    "The exam?" Chrissy asked. "It sucked royally. I'm thinking a beer at The Red Coats might not be a bad idea at all tonight."
    "You're taking those pain meds. That crap doesn't mix well."
    "Then just one beer, but I need something to drown out the chanting choir in my head. They keep reminding me of what a failure I am." Chrissy shrugged and moved to her bed, carefully sitting down and taking a load off of her leg. She turned on the TV and sunk back into the comfort of her sheets.
    "I think I'll come with you tonight if you don't mind a tag-a-long."
    "We're going in about two hours, and I would love for you to come. Most of my friends should be there. I'd love to introduce you."
    "That’d be great. I tried out for the basketball team, which is required for some odd reason. My scholarship transferred here, so you would think it would be automatic, but it's not."
    "How did the try-outs go?"
    "Good, but I don't think the other girls much appreciated my talent."
    "Get a bunch of attitude?"
    "Attitude would have been great. I got a bunch of nothing. No one was interested in saying a word to me." She shrugged, the expression on her face pensive.
    "Oh no. That's awful. They'll warm up to you." Chrissy turned her head toward the TV. "They probably just feel threatened. My brother is acting like a jerk to the new hockey player that just got here from Boston."
    "Oh, I've seen him. I'm sure your brother and every other guy on campus are being asses toward him."
    "Why’s that?"
    "He's gorgeous. Dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. He has a goatee that