Page 26 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

“Kinesiology, right?” Brody, who’s sitting next to the dark-haired girl, asks.

“Uh yeah, but I’m double majoring in English.”

“Double major? But like, doesn’t that mean all you do is study?” the dark-haired girl asks.

I shrug. “I like books more than I like people.” Now is one of those times when blunt honesty does not work to my advantage.

They snicker and turn their attention back to each other.

“How’s Essie? She happy to be back in Toronto?” Brody asks.

Both the girls stop talking to focus on us.

“Who’s Essie?” Chase asks, suddenly interested. Maybe I should have mentioned that Brody and I grew up in the same town.

“My older sister,” I explain. “She misses things about Vancouver, but she missed being away from her bestie more. And it’s definitely easier for her to be here, especially with the wedding and all.”

“What wedding?” the girl beside Brody asks.

Brody doesn’t so much as look their way when he answers. “My brother’s.” He drums on the table, maybe a little agitated since so many people are now focused on us. I relate. “Especially since Ess is Rix’s maid of honor.”

“Yeah. It made sense.”

“Do you two know each other?” Chase asks, glancing between us.

Before I can answer, I’m cut off.

“Wait, isn’t Tristan marrying Flip Madden’s sister? Do you know the Maddens?” One of the girls beside Brody is suddenly super interested in me.

Which is one of the reasons I never mention the several-people-removed connection.

“Indirectly. My sister is friends with his sister,” I explain.

“Did you ever go over to the Maddens’ though? Or did Flip come to your house?” they press. “He’s superhot. And apparently a freak in the sheets.”

I’ve heard all about Flip Madden’s reputation. And Tristan’s, but who knows what’s true and what’s fiction.

“Phillip is like eight years older than Cammie; he would have been her babysitter if anything,” Brody says with a roll of his eyes.

“Oh, right.” The girls go back to ignoring me, and Brody changes the subject.

Someone else jumps in, allowing me to sink into my embarrassment.

Chase and his friends laugh and joke, and I sit there feeling less and less like I belong. And like Essie’s popularity is still something I can’t get out from under. I don’t fit in with these people. His friends seem nice enough, but it’s clear the girls don’t want me here and when we’re back in the dorms, they’ll go right back to looking through me like they always have. Chase keeps his arm around me, but I don’t know any of the people they’re talking about, and he doesn’t explain who they are so I can be in on the jokes.

After half an hour of listening to conversations happen around me, I decide I’ve had enough of being social. These people probably believe I’m just Chase’s current hookup. There’s a good chance I am. I know at least three girls who have made out with him in our dorm alone.

I push my chair back and Chase retracts his arm, still engaged in conversation with his teammates. It isn’t until I standthat his attention shifts my way. His gaze moves over me on an appreciative sweep. “Where you going?”

My heart thunders in my chest as I thumb over my shoulder. “I have a couple assignments I need to tackle.”

He frowns. “Want me to come back up with you?”

I wave a hand around. “Nah, it’s cool. I need the quiet. You stay here and hang with your friends.”

He tips his head, like he’s trying to decide if he believes me. “I’ll give you a little time then?”

I give him two thumbs-up.Cool, Cammie, cool—not weird at all.

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