Page 18 of Scoring the Player
“What’s up?” I ask, while taking a sip of my beer (fine, it’s number four) and tearing my gaze away from the back door where people continue to step outside to the party.
The guys chuckle. Okay, so I’m a little distracted. Did I mention I’m nervous? I’m never nervous about hanging out with girls, but it’s taken a lot of tries to get Dahlia to agree to go out with me.
“What time is yourdatesupposed to be here?” Brogan’s lips curve into a smug smile as he asks the question.
“It’s not a date,” I say, trying to play it cool. Dahlia said she and her friends were planning to get here around thirty minutes ago. I’m feeling all kinds of out of sorts as I wait for her to do just that.
What does it say about my chances with her that I had to basically offer myself up as a friendly bodyguard to get her to agree to spend time with me? I promised to keep people from saying shit, so I’m on edge, wondering who I’m going to have to hit first. I’ve already had a few people mention the video tonight. They’re just joking around, but if Dahlia had heard them, she would have jetted out of here so fast. Why can’t they all let it lie? The things she said weren’t that shocking. Trust me, chicks have said worse straight to my face.
I take a deep breath. This isn’t me. I don’t freak out over spending time with a girl. Truth be told, I’m still not positive she’ll even show up. And maybe that’s partly why I’m such a mess. Though she hasn’t texted to cancel, and she doesn’t strike me as the kind of person to be a no-show.
“I’ve never seen you sweat a girl so hard,” Lucas says. “You must be really into her.”
“Or really wanting to give into some hardcore hero worship fantasy.” Brogan’s joking, I think, but it annoys me that he and others might be thinking that.
“It’s not like that.” The truth is I was into Dahlia before I saw that video. Maybe not so into her that I was watching the door for her to show up to every party, and looking for her on campus between every class, but when I did run into her, I was always pumped. Maybe that’s not something out of Shakespeare or a Taylor Swift song, but I’ve never had to try all that hard to hookup.
I don’t give them any answers and Archer changes the subject. “Did you confront Bethany about the video? It had to be her, right?”
“She says she didn’t post it.”
“And you believe her?” Lucas scoffs. “The girl will say anything to get you back.”
“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter now anyway. It’s out there.”
“Bethany is straight crazy. Hot, but crazy.” Brogan’s eyes widen. “And she just walked in with Armstrong. Twelve o’clock. Damn, could that shirt get any smaller? Not that I’m complaining.”
I don’t want to look, but I do, then grind my back molars. Armstrong’s smile is all teeth, arm slung around Bethany’s shoulders, gaze locked on her tits. He’s dick over cleats and has no idea she’s using him. She’ll drop him as soon as she realizes that sleeping with my teammate isn’t going to get me back. I almost feel sorry for him. Then I remember he had sex with her in my bed.
They stop near a group of freshmen football players playing beer pong on the patio. Bethany turns her head and leans closer to Armstrong to say something. He hangs on her every word, then nods and removes his arm. He joins the guys, and she continues moving into the party, right in my direction. Fuck. I know what comes next. She does it at every party.
Bethany doesn’t make eye contact until she’s only a step away. Then, her big, brown eyes look up from thick lashes and widen in fake surprise. “Felix, hey.”
“Bethany.” I give her a tight-lipped smile. I’ve learned that showing any emotion eggs her on and flat-out ignoring her just makes her try harder to get my attention.
She stops and stands directly in front of me. Her gaze rakes over me and her hand reaches out like she’s going to touch my arm. I take a step back.
“You look good tonight,” she says, then inches her face closer. “Are you wearing cologne?”
When I don’t respond, she says, “Come on, don’t be like that.”
“Like what? We broke up months ago, and you’re sleeping with my teammate. We’re nothing. Less than nothing.”
“Armstrong? We’re just having a little fun. Don’t tell me you’re jealous? You hook up all the time.” There’s a bite in her tone as she says the last part.
“I’m not jealous,” I say honestly. “It’s none of my business. But he’s a decent guy. Don’t screw with his head to get to me because it won’t work, and it just makes you look petty as hell.”
As I give her my back, I hear her annoyed huff.
“Damn, she’s persistent,” Lucas says when she’s gone.
“And so, so hot. Why in the world did you ever break up with her?” Brogan stares after her.
Because she was vicious and cruel, and I didn’t see it until she was under my skin so deep that she left scars.
Archer elbows him.
“What?” Brogan gives me a sheepish smile. “I know, I know. She’s the worst. But wow.”
