Page 37 of The Trade

As the night presses on, thoughts of West play on a never-ending loop. His smile, his laugh, the way he looked at me today in the library. It’s all too much, too soon. And though I hate to admit it, I do have a crush on him.

It’s too bad that a guy like West could undoubtedly turn my life upside down. I’m not sure I’m ready for it, but at the same time, I know I’m done with all thenice guys.

The guys who take me on sweet little dates and always say the right things. The guys who are supposedly generous in bed but have no fucking clue how to actually pay attention. The guys who are more than happy to take up space in my life but never in my mind, my body, or my heart.

11

WEST

For three solid days,there’s been this gnawing thought inside my brain, this incessant drumming beat that’s given me a headache. It may be ridiculous, but I’ve been wanting to kiss the shit out of Jade.

I know the idea is messed up, convoluted in a way.

Why did she have to throw that curveball at me in the library? It was mostly a joke. A comeback to my own proposition or some weird kind of “congratulations kiss.” Whatever the hell that means. But did she have to smile like that when she said it?

“If you want something from me, then why don’t you just ask for it?”

The girl knows how to use my own words against me, twisting them just to screw with my head.

Truthfully, I only said all that because I was feeling guilty. She called me out on my shady tactics, and she was fucking right about them. I’ve been manipulating the situation, tricking her into getting what I want.

And now, this Trade bullshit is grinding on my nerves, especially because I’m not sure if it’s what I want anymore.

I mean, all this to win some silly competition? Yeah, sure, it’s tradition. I remember, in painstaking detail, those long nights spent cleaning the seniors’ sweaty practice gear. And I would love nothing more than to reap that reward for myself.

But what’s the true cost-benefit analysis of this scenario? The costs: acting like a dick and keeping my distance from Jade. The benefits: free labor next season and a potential night spent with Shannon.

Is that what I really want?

Yeah, Shannon’s smoking hot. Beautiful face, amazing body, and a personality that’s just as sweet as she is pretty. Plus, I’ve been lusting after her ever since my first football game here at Dayton U.

I was running on an adrenaline high, and there she was—with her perfectly curled, honey-red hair, those faint little freckles, and that emerald-green cheer uniform. She was a breath of fresh air in a sea of unfamiliar faces. So, that night, I made it my mission to talk to her.

But then, in what would be the first of many drunken mistakes, I ended up with some random jersey chaser in my bed. Yeah, I’ve been a lust-driven fool since freshman year. I’m well aware.

But before now, if I’m being brutally honest, I didn’t really care who got my dick wet. I was solely focused on getting drafted and finally going pro. Now, I want to get drafted, and I want to kiss the shit out of Jade.

So much so that I’ve spent the last few days avoiding her.

I’ve dropped off her coffee each morning but never stuck around to chat. I think she could tell something was up, especially when I stopped firing off snarky comments and downright ignored her attempts to rile me up.

“Thank you so much, Teddy,” she said this morning, her last-ditch effort to get me to crack. I mean, seriously? Fucking Teddy? Of all the convoluted nicknames to call me, Teddy is what she comes up with.

I much prefer Theo.

But I simply flashed her a fleeting grin, handed over her iced latte, and turned on my heel. Today was the last day of our deal anyway, so I guess things just got easier for me.

Except ...she and Shan are coming to our house tomorrow night. Because, like the clown I am, I invited them over to watch the UFC fight. And now, I have to spend my time setting up my roommate with the girl I can’t stop thinking about.

There’s something seriously wrong with me, isn’t there?

* * *

The next night,I’m running on a live wire by the time Jade and Shannon finally arrive. The fight is already cued up on the flat-screen while a dozen of my teammates cram around our living room couch.

Thankfully, the ratio is somewhat evened out by a few of their girlfriends who came along. Not perfect, but it’ll do.

“Ladies, come on in.” Cam’s booming voice greets them at the front door.

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