Page 12 of Weak Side

I bit my tongue because I didn’t want to admit that we’d been together for far too long for him to 1) not want to live together, and 2) say something like I needed to make sure another guy knew I wasn’t single. Not once in the last several years had I ever given Chad a reason not to trust me or, better yet, given him a reason to think I’d ever be a distraction to his studies. I knew how important academics were to him. They were to me too.

My hand was on the doorknob when Theo posed another question. “He looks familiar to me. What is his major?”

I knew, without doubt, that he had never seen Chad a day in his life. Chad wouldn’t be caught dead near the hockey rink, and there was no way they took any of the same classes.

“I doubt you’ve ever seen him before. He is in some of the hardest classes that Bexley U offers.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

There was an edge to Theo’s voice, and I apparently struck a chord. I peeked over my shoulder again, and his golden-boy looks had been replaced with something much harsher—probably the same expression he wore on the ice.

I knew of his campus nickname. During his games, he wasn’t the golden boy who offered to help me carry my boxes up to my dorm. He was known asthe wolf. He attacked his opponents like they were mere scraps of food.

“It’s just—”

“A little judgmental, yeah?”

My lips parted, and he put his back to me. “Not all jocks are stupid, Claire. You should remember that.”

A second later, I walked out the door and into the men’s hallway and cursed under my breath when I saw that several eyes were set on me. Not only did I have to live with a guy who was beginning to dislike me as much as I made it seem like I disliked him, but I was going to have an audience every single time I left my room.

Great.

7

Theo

Things weren’t offto a good start.

It all started with her snarky little comments and the way the room smelled girlish and soft. Claire and I were on completely different wavelengths. I went to bed early, and she didn’t. Each morning, since freshman year, I ran the school quad before coming back, showering, and getting ready for classes and practice. She was the opposite. She stayed up entirely too late, creeping back into our room after midnight with her freshly showered self, and sat at her desk to study or whatever the hell she was doing, and cursed me with her sleepy voice when my alarm would go off at 4:30 a.m.

The sun had just barely begun to peak as I banged my open palm against our door. Sweat trickled down my back, and I knew Claire was going to be irritated with me. Not that it mattered. She was gone most of the time anyway, probably avoiding the awkward situation we found ourselves in. “Bryant,” I bellowed. “Open the door.”

“Use your key!” she rasped, half-yelling. A few doors had opened down the hall, and each guy glared at me as they shuffled down the hall with their morning wood. A few others were already up and at ‘em because the one thing about athletes? We liked our regimen. When we were on, we were on. Athletes were dedicated. Most of us were, at least. Landon wasn’t a fan of being up early. Morning conditioning made him grumble under his breath as he chugged an energy drink before crumpling the can and throwing on his skates.

“I forgot my key. Open up.” I leaned my head against the door and banged my hand several more times before the door finally flew open, and Claire stood back in not nearly enough clothing with the tiniest little scowl on her face.

“I’ve had it, Theo! This isn’t going to work.”

I pushed her aside and shut the door, annoyed that guys werestilltrying to catch a glimpse of her. The rumors were running rampant around campus, and every time I proved the rumor wrong, a puck bunny would pop up like Whack-A-Mole, ready to spread their legs for me. So far, none have snuck back into my room to lie naked in my bed. And to my surprise, Claire hadn’t walked in on me getting a favor yet, either. It would probably only make her hate me more.

Because she did hate me.

It seemed like it, anyway. She avoided me, but that was fine.

“This was the first time I’ve forgotten my key.Relax.” I pulled my sweaty shirt over my head and wiped my neck with it, sneaking a glance at her.

She quickly averted her eyes from my bare chest and stomped her foot. “Some of us like to sleep!” Her bare legs snagged my attention for a brief second. They were toned and smooth, with the remnants of a summer glow on them. I understood the attention she got from the other guys on the floor. I did. I just wasn’t as weak as them. My priorities were straight. Theirs were not.

The question popped up out of nowhere as I ignored her hissy fit. “Why are you in the athletic dorms?” I turned to face her, and her lips were set in a straight line. I didn’t hide my attempt to check her out, running my eyes down her slender frame, trying to figure out what sport she played. The only students in Dorothy Hall were athletes. I snapped my fingers, and she looked at me like she was seconds from ripping my head off. “Volleyball?” I took my finger and spun it in the air. “Turn around. Let me see.”

A bubble of excitement started to creep up my throat when the apples of her cheeks turned pink. “Excuse me?”

I furrowed my brow. “Volleyball players have a pretty decent ass. Let me see.”

Her jaw dropped, and I threw my head back and laughed. “I’m kidding, Bryant. Will you lighten up?” I snapped my fingers again, the relaxation halting for a second. “I’ve got it. You’re a dancer, I bet. And not the cheerleading type of dancer. You’re in…ballet?”

The sun began to shine through the window as the words left my mouth, and there was a slight glimmer that put her in the spotlight. Her sleepy eyes narrowed, and I grinned. “I’m right, aren’t I? That makes sense.”

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