Page 40 of Scrimmage

“You fucking asked me to come here,” I growl. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s got some big test in another class. It’s not like she needs to be here. She knows everything anyways.”

My mood immediately plummets. “Why am I here instead of at the gym?”

“I figured we could get some coffee and study. Ya know, fresh autumn air?”

I roll my eyes. He’s so happy-go-lucky that it makes me want to hit him sometimes. I readjust the strap of my backpack. “Fine.”

We start across the quad and Alexi chatters away about shit that I don’t care about. He loves gossip and telling him not to talk about it makes him talk about it more. It shouldn’t have taken me so long to learn that, considering he’s my own brother. Alexi’s specialty is stirring the pot.

Once we reach The Roost I’m in my own head, trying to figure out how many more yards I need to throw to beat my last record.

“Ashland Bradshaw.” Alexi is standing over my pink haired mortal enemy with that goofy ass grin on his face. “Fancy finding you here.”

“Not really,” she huffs, not looking up from her sketchpad.

I wanted to fuck with her for a few moments, not this.

“Penny.” Alexi slides in next to her. “The girl I was forced to buy a mimosa for.”

“Forced?” she giggles.

“It took literally no coercion,” Ashland mutters.

Penny rolls her eyes at Ashland. “It was Alexi, right?”

She seems sweet. Way nicer than Ashland. She has shining copper hair that’s in two french braids and a heart shaped face. There’s a gold cross necklace resting on her chest. Penny is beautiful in the same unique way that Ashland is. Hazel eyes flick to me, warm and welcoming. There are several pencils organized across the table and she has once in her hand, drawing something in a large sketchpad.

“The very same.” He takes her outstretched hand and kisses her knuckles. I can't help but to roll my eyes.

“Ya know, people who don’t want to talk typically pretend not to see each other in public.” Ashland slams her own sketchpad shut and glares at him.

“Would it kill you to be nice?” Penny asks. Wow, she must know Ashland well because her head is still on her body.

“It might,” Ashland growls.

“Don’t worry about it. I think I’m growing on her.” Alexi winks at her, and she gives him the middle finger. Her signature.

“Now that you have invaded yet another portion of my life, can you leave?” she asks.

“You should stay. Study with us,” Penny offers. “Unless you have class.”

He sits back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Nowhere to be. This is my brother, Koda. He’s gonna join us. You probably don’t remember him, Ashy, but you’ve briefly met before.”

Ashland’s bright teal gaze slides to me in slow motion. I expect her to look surprised or perturbed, but she’s neither. This bitch acts like we’ve never met before.

“Chance, was it?” she asks sweetly. I immediately want to slap her all over again. She knows my fucking name is Koda. Alexi just said it. I made her moan it, and I’m not going to back down that easily.

“Is this seat taken?” I shove her bag out of it without waiting for permission and sit directly next to her. Still no fucking reaction. I can’t help it. I stare at her. I see my hand around her neck in my mind’s eye, and I’m in a fight for my life against my dick.

“So what are you drawing?” Alexi asks Penny. “Unless that’s a weird question. Ashy always gets mad.”

Ashland glares. “I told you. Don’t call me that.”

“This?” Penny ignores her. “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m in a sculpting class this semester so I’m planning my final,” she frets.

“Are you an art major?” I ask.

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