Page 1 of Sweet Girl
Chapter One
Kylah
If someone calls me ‘a sweet girl’one more time, I’m liable to throat punch them. Not even kidding.
This boring description has been pinned to me since childhood – albeit fairly accurate. But now that I’m nearly nineteen and a freshman in college, it’s not who I am, nor who I want to be. Unfortunately, it’s still how I get viewed. I’m the sweet little sister of Cade Griffin – college basketball player extraordinaire.
I’ve tried to change my image over the first few months of college, and now that I’m back home on fall break, I’m hoping others will see I’m not the same girl I was before I left. All I want to do over the next week is let loose a bit and have fun. Enjoy my time back home – away from the stress of schoolwork, classes, and deadlines - spend time with my dad, my brother and his new girlfriend, Ainsley, and hang out at Cade’s apartment with his roommates and friends.
Which is where I am right now. Sitting on the couch in Cade’s living room, watching an episode ofGame of Throneswith my brother’s roommate, Lance, and their teammate Van. The guys, along with my brother, all play basketball for ASU. I’ve been sitting here the last hour, waiting for Cade and Ainsley to return from a shopping trip they had to run. They’d invited me along, but I told them I wanted to get caught up with GoT.
Truthfully, I really just want to hang out with Van. I’ve kind of developed a little crush, even though I know he’s completely off limits and out of my league. And the fact that he has a girlfriend. Which really sucks for me.
“Holy fuck!” Lance shouts, his body jumping off the couch in a herky-jerky motion, arms flailing over his head like the house is on fire. My head spins toward him, my cheeks flush in embarrassment that I may have been caught staring at the beauty of Van.
Lance’s expression displays his state of horror, not over my obvious infatuation, but over something that happened on the show. I’m not exactly sure what I missed, but it must be a big deal. Since I’ve been lost in my own world and not really paying any attention to the TV, I have no idea what’s got him so excited.
“I can’t believe they killed him off! Un-fucking-believable!”
I look away from Lance and down at Van, who is sitting on the floor with his back up against the couch, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wow...I definitely didn’t see that coming. They’re always killing off the characters you’d least expect.”
My attention swerves back to the TV, trying to clue into what’s happening so I don’t look like an idiot. Who could fault me, though? I’m sitting inches from one of the hottest guys I’ve ever met. I covertly glance over at Van underneath the protection of my bangs and the large-framed glasses I’m wearing today. I have contacts, but don’t always put them in.
Van is sitting on the floor by my feet. His dark, shiny hair is pulled back in a low-man-bun, a black headband secured at his temple to hold back stray pieces. I’m not super into guys with long hair, or man-buns, for that matter, but it’s a really good look on Van. My current location gives me the perfect vantage point to check him out without him knowing it. Unless he has eyes on the back of his head.
As the younger sister of a college basketball stud, I’ve been around my fair share of Cade’s good-looking friends for as long as I can remember. Always watching from the proverbial courtside seats – invisible to them all. Sure, his friends and teammates tease me unmercifully over my “sweet” and “cute” looks or gawky tendencies – I’m used to that. I’ve been known to trip over my own feet from time to time. But Van’s attention these last few days has made me feel special.
Getting to know Van has been an entirely different experience. He’s treated me like an equal, not the younger, bratty sister of his friend. He’s asked me about my interests, my favorite classes at school, my intended major and listened to me talk about some of the issues I’ve been dealing with during my first semester away. Like the high level of anxiety over expectations, as well as my constant cloud of homesickness. He’s so easy to open up to that I forget to be my usual Nervous-Nelly around him. He’s even cajoled me into regaling some of the embarrassing moments I’ve had and related to me on the same level, which I find adorable.
And his sexy, gray-blue eyes – so dark they look like I’ve fallen into the deep ocean - seem to have taken notice of me as a woman, not some little girl. Unless it’s my overactive imagination at work, I think there may be a mutual attraction.
That attraction I have toward him has turned me into an idiot who can’t keep a single thought in my brain when I’m around him. Or apparently, pay attention to really interesting storylines on my favorite show.
The only problem?
Van is taken.
He has a girlfriend.
The only guy I’ve ever connected with and feel like I can be myself around is in a long-term relationship with his high school sweetheart. The only reason I know this is because Cade and the guys constantly give Van shit about his “ball and chain” and say that he’s crazy to be “locked down” when he could be getting tons of action from all the hoops hunnies that throw themselves at basketball players.
And believe me, I can see why they would. I’m not a girl who flaunts it or even knows how to flirt, but with Van, I’m inclined to try.
“Earth to Kylah.” Van’s smooth voice once again reminds me to get out of my own head. My body jolts at the mention of my name and my eyes flick up to his. He’s now standing facing me and I have to crane my neck because he’s so frigging tall. He’s even taller than my six-foot-five brother.
“Uh, what?” I ask hesitantly, because I have no idea what he just said or asked me. Space cadet, much?
Van’s low chuckle sends crazy vibrations through my nerve endings.
“I asked if you wanted something to drink. I’m going to run to the store and grab some beers and stuff. The fridge is nearly empty.” He eyes me curiously when I don’t say anything. “Or, would you like to get out of the house and come with me?”
My gaze darts around the room, trying to figure out what’s going on. Apparently I’d been zoning out longer than I thought because the show is over and Lance is no longer sitting next to me. He’s off in his bedroom, leaving Van and me together. Alone.
I swallow the lump in my throat, the massive ball of indecision bubbling up inside my chest. Yes, of course I want to go with him. I’d be crazy not to. I look down at the flip-flops I’m wearing, like they have the answer. I’m nervous – nothing new there. Being alone with Van has me questioning my sensibilities. He’s giving me a look now that says he’s probably questioning his own decision to ask me along. I probably should say no. But I don’t.
“Um...yeah...sure.” I stammer, sounding like a complete loser.
Pull yourself together, woman.
