Page 2 of Scoring the Player
Here’s the thing about Felix. He’ssuuuperhot. No question about that. But it isn’t just that he’s a hot guy that throws me so off balance when he’s nearby. He remembers things, asks me personal questions, gives me the type of attention that most guys, hot or not, don’t really give me. I like his voice and the way he smiles at me like he’s happy I’m around. And I admire that he’s this successful football player with big dreams but still likes to kick back and have a good time.
He’s definitely not trying to get me naked, but he likes me well enough to carry a conversation (usually a one-sided one). It’s unnerving.
He isn’t the first guy to do this, though. It’s part of my curse, I’m afraid. Guys that can get past my whole shy and awkwardness, want to be my friend. I’m sporty and safe, and they get a sense right away that I’m not about the drama. Because I’m not.
Here’s the thing about all guys. They say they don’t like drama, but in the end, they always choose the girls that are all about the drama.
“Hey, Dahlia.” Felix’s deep voice wraps me up in a warm caress. “I’m glad you came.”
I open my mouth to reply. My lips form the word, but no sound comes out. I manage a small wave with an inaudible “hi,” which only makes my face flame hotter.
I tend to have two responses to uncomfortable situations: I freeze or I blurt out something embarrassing. I guess all things considered, freezing is the less horrifying option. If I told him all the things I’m thinking, I’d never be able to show my face again.
He smiles at me, despite my awkward silence. “Did you just get here?”
My chin dips in a nod.
“Do you need a drink?” he asks. His dark gaze does a slow sweep over my tank and shorts that show a lot of leg, and finally down to the very tall heels I’m precariously balancing on. When I still don’t respond, he looks to Jane and Vi, extending his drink invitation. “We’ve got beer, seltzer, and there was still some vodka and Wild Turkey last time I checked.”
“She’ll have a White Claw. Black cherry, if you have it. It’s her favorite,” Jane answers for me, and the way her voice emphasizes every word makes me wish the ground would swallow me up.
“All right. And you two?” He flicks his gaze quickly to my friends.
“Same,” Vi adds.
Jane nods.
“You got it.” Felix backs away from the group, still pointing that panty-melting smile at me. He returns before I can even relax without his presence. He hands a can to Violet and Jane then to me. The tips of his fingers brush against mine during the hand-off and I nearly drop the can.
“Oops. Fumble.” I laugh at my own joke. Then cringe. Felix’s smile just gets bigger.
I let out a shaky breath as he takes a half step away from me. He’s still too close. The seltzer can is cold, and if he weren’t watching, I’d love to press it to the back of my neck. It’s the closest thing to a cold shower available right now.
“Oh, I love this song,” Jane says as the music changes. She starts to move to the beat.
“Let’s dance,” I suggest.
“Really?” she asks, surprise clear on her face. I’m not usually one for hitting the dance floor this early in the night, but I’m all about putting some distance between me and the hottie QB.
“Really.” I try to communicate with my eyes that I need to get the hell out of here.
One side of her mouth quirks up like she’s totally onto me, but she agrees and then so does Violet. Daisy doesn’t look like she’s going to budge from her spot nuzzled up next to Jordan.
“Come dance with us. One dance?” Jane asks her and sticks out her bottom lip.
Daisy and Violet are both in serious relationships, which means we’ve seen a lot less of them lately. Last year, we attended all the first week parties together. This year, it’s mostly been me and Jane going to the parties together and hanging out with our friends and their boyfriends. Things are different, but one look at how happy they both are stops me from feeling too melancholy for old times.
The four of us head to the middle of the yard, where a small group of mostly girls are dancing. I pull my long hair over one shoulder and then do exactly what I wanted to do a few minutes ago—press the cold can to the back of my neck.
Daisy leans closer to me so I can hear her. “You look amazing. New shoes? I could have sworn you were wearing white sneakers when I left.”
“They’re Jane’s,” I reply.
“Ah.” She nods her understanding. Jane’s closet is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Even as a fashion designer, I can say with zero hesitation that her wardrobe is a dream. Top designers mixed with cheaper fun pieces. She has a great eye, and everything looks good on her. I appreciate all types of fashion, but I’m more casual—shorts, skirts, tanks, t-shirts, and sneakers.
We dance long enough that my body relaxes, and I mostly forget about Felix being here. I finish the seltzer at the same time that Jane says she needs to find the bathroom.
Daisy heads back to Jordan and Vi disappears to find Gavin, who texted that he was here. I go with Jane.
