Page 6 of Dangerous Play

She was Ander’s ex. What was to say he didn’t set her up for this to distract me from this season. It was such a laughable idea to fake-date someone, that it could easily come from Ander. He wasn’t the brightest.

“Thanks for the offer, but no thank you.” I flashed her a smile. “I’m good with my own alibi, and I don’t have an image that needs improving or any other reasons you pointed out.”

Ivy’s shoulders slumped and she grabbed my arm, stopping me from standing. “Can you at least think about it?”

“I thought about it, and my answer is no. I’m really sorry your sister and your ex did this to you. But I have no interest in playing this game with you. I have a career to focus on.”

She nodded. “I understand… I guess, I thought you hated him as much as he hates you.”

I shrugged. “I don’t like him because I think he is a shitty human being. But I don’t hate him. I wouldn’t waste my energy on him like that. And you shouldn’t either. There are hundreds of nice guys at Westpoint, I’m sure you will be able to find yourself one who will happily fake-date you.”

“It’s not that easy.” She scoffed. “I’m his ex. No one wants to date the girl he dumped for her sister. I’m damaged goods.”

I almost laughed how dramatic she sounded over such a small thing, but I restrained myself.

“As I said, there are hundreds of students who don’t care about Ander. You just need to stop looking in his group and step outside of the soccer-obsessed bubble.”

“Have you met our school?” She raised her voice, frustration rolling off her in waves. “Everyone is soccer obsessed.”

She could find anyone, but she wanted me. Because that would guarantee his attention.

“A word of advice?” I stretched out my sore legs. “You’re better off without him. I doubt he was a Prince Charming boyfriend, and soon, your sister will realize that too. Maybe make your sister realize she is wasting her time with him.”

“She is a freshman,” Ivy muttered. “She is not going to listen to me when she has the most popular guy of Westpoint showering her with attention.”

Clearly, my idea of showering someone with attention was different than what I witnessed inside, but if girls these days wanted to be ignored, I understood why I was still single.

“Good luck with your quest, then.”

”I was so convinced you would go for it.” Ivy shook her head, disappointed.

“Another word of advice?” I offered. “If you are going after someone to get them to do something for you, next time, do your research and don’t base your decision on rumors. Play the man, not the game.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck,” I nodded to her spilling my beer into the close by bush and without looking back I made my way to the car park. I didn’t have to throw a glance over my shoulder to see Ivy’s disappointed gaze following me, I felt the back of my neck burning from it.

I resisted the urge to turn around and give her the smallest ounce of hope of reconsidering her offer.

Because if freshman year taught me anything, it was that girls went to crazy lengths to get their way and Ivy almost got under my skin tonight.

Almost.

CHAPTER TWO

IVY

Last night was a colossal failure.Not only did Maximilian Aarons shut me down, but I had to watch Daisy’s desperate attempts to get Ander’s attention. It hurt watching my baby sister make the same mistakes I did. I knew how shitty the narcissistic bastard could make me feel after he lost a game. The way he would talk down to others to lift himself up, especially to his girlfriend that he believed was his property.

“Come on, sleepyhead.” Kaia, my roommate, pulled the blanket off me and shook me awake. “We need to get in our run before class.”

I groaned and pushed my face into the pillow. Running was my thing way before Ander, but when we started dating, he always got mad that my endurance was better or that I was running faster than him. Eventually, he sucked the fun out of running and only now over the summer, I started dipping my toes back into it. Pushing my body to its limits and understanding I couldn’t expect myself to pick up where I left off after two years. My ego was bruised especially after thefailed half-marathon over the summer when I thought I could just run it easy, like it once was. Time didn’t stop while I was in relationship. My friends faded into the background as Ander demanded to be the main character in my life. If it wasn’t for Kaia, I would have been alone.

“Not in the mood,” I muttered.

“Get up!” Kaia clapped her hands together, and the loud noise of the curtains moving pierced my ears. “You made me promise I won’t ever let you miss a run. Plus, operation Maximilian Aarons is moving into phase 2.”

“Phase 1 failed.” Annoyed, I pushed myself into a sitting position. I was still wearing the oversized Westpoint hoodie but discarded my shorts. “He refused.”

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