Page 24 of Triple Play
Fuck.
Bryce is the one who smirked at me. He’s grinning now as he slides into the seat next to mine, bringing the smell of expensive cologne and entitlement with him.
“Well, well.” He sets his bag down, taking up more space than necessary. “Lucky me.”
I don’t respond. I open my laptop and pretend he’s not there.
“So.” He leans closer. Too close. “You know Grant Wilder personally?”
The emphasis on “personally” makes my skin crawl.
“We’ve met.” I keep my voice flat and bored.
“That’s not what I heard.”
“Then you heard wrong.”
“Did I?” His grin widens. “Because word is you two have history. The interesting kind.”
My jaw tightens. “Word is wrong.”
“Sure it is.” He stretches, his arm coming dangerously close to my side of the desk. “Must be weird, though. Living with your ex.”
“He’s not my ex.”
“No? What would you call him, then?”
“My brother’s friend. My roommate. None of your business.”
Dr. Richardson starts lecturing, but Bryce doesn’t shut up.
“Grant’s a legend, you know.” He’s whispering now, forcing me to lean in to hear. “On and off the ice. Girls can’t get enough.”
I pull back, focusing on my notes, trying to tune him out.
He doesn’t take the hint.
“He never dates the same girl twice, though. Has this whole thing about not getting attached.” Bryce is watching my face, looking for a reaction. “Smart guy.”
My pen digs into the paper, the letter ‘A’ I’m writing turning into a gouge.
“You know what they say about him?” Bryce’s voice drops lower—intimate, gross. “Best fuck on campus. Doesn’t do feelings, but he’ll make you forget your name.”
My stomach turns. I shouldn’t care. I don’t care. It’s been two years.
But hearing it laid out like that—Grant’s reputation, his revolving door, the way he’s apparently legendary for being emotionally unavailable—hits differently than I want it to.
“Are you done?” I don’t look at him.
“Just making conversation.”
“Make it with someone else.”
“Aw, come on.” He nudges my arm with his elbow. I flinch away. “We’re partners. We should get to know each other.”
“We should pay attention to the lecture.”
“I can multitask.”
