Page 14 of The Trade

He blinks in confusion. “Huh?”

“You promised to show me yours.”

A slow, cocky smile stretches across his face. “I did, didn’t I?”

I narrow my eyes. “It’s only fair play.”

“Alright.” He sighs, collecting his thoughts. “When you asked me about declaring for the draft ... Well, that’s a touchy subject for me right now. Coach won’t let me declare early. I approached him about it multiple times last term, and he wouldn’t even entertain the idea.”

“Why would you want to declare early? I mean, I’m sure you’re a decent player, but don’t you want to graduate?”

A shrug of his broad shoulders, a brief flicker of bitterness in his eyes. “School’s never really been my thing.”

“Wow,” I sigh, understanding dawning on me. “That’s a tough break.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say, shrugging in turn. “Were you expecting me to say something else?”

“Just figured ...you know, I might get another lecture about the importance of finishing my degree, especially from a girl like you.”

“A girl like me, huh?”

“Oh, come on.” His smirk returns in full force. “You’re a good girl. Aren’t you, Jade? Studious. Straight-laced. Serious.”

An amused snort escapes me, eyes rolling at his stereotype. “I don’t think you actually know a thing about me.”

“Maybe not.” He leans in, a challenge simmering in his gaze. “But maybe I’d like to.”

An unpleasant snort squeaks out of me. “Yeah, those lines don’t work on me.”

“You think that’s a line?”

“Oh, come on.” I huff, exasperation lacing my tone. “You’re not a good guy. Are you, Theo?”

“You could find out.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.” I shake my head, pulling out my phone to check the time. “And maybe you’ve overstayed your welcome. I came here to study. Is there some other reason why you’re here?”

He stands, tapping the back of my chair twice with his knuckles. “Just to study. So, I’m going to go do that now. See you around, Jade.”

I wave him off, a mild twinge of amusement tugging at my lips. “See you.”

Despite myself, my gaze lingers on him as he saunters away, an unexpected flutter stirring in my chest. Okay, so he may not be the world’s biggest jerk, but that cockiness of his could certainly do with a reality check. It’s unfortunate—and somewhat frustrating—how he seems utterly convinced of his own self-importance.

And as I watch him disappear into the crowd, I force myself to shake my head, brushing off the inexplicable warmth that’s somehow crept its way into my cheeks.

5

WEST

Well,fucking hell.

That sure looks like another failing grade to me. I turned in my first-ever English Lit paper on Monday, and I’ve already fumbled the bag. I thought this tutor bullshit was supposed to be helping, but clearly, I need to bump up my efforts here.

With a resigned sigh, I sling my backpack over my shoulder, scrambling up to the front as my classmates shuffle out of the lecture hall.

“Professor, I was wondering if you had a spare minute?”

---