Page 21 of Game Changer
“Which is funny since I’veyetto see you around campus with another guy.”
My lips tilt into a grin. “Maybe I’m simply not interested in you. Have you ever consideredthat?”
I roll my eyes when he tosses his head back and laughs. He’s a confident, arrogant jock who couldn’t possibly fathom that a girl wouldn’t be interested in him. I’ve had my fair share ofXaviersand am more than pleased to say I’ve learned my lesson.
With tan skin and green eyes, he’s a walking wet dream, but he’s the kind of guy who flaunts his status around campus. Even now, he’s dressed in a whiteTEAM CAPTAINT-shirt with the school’s red and black bulldog logo and tight gray sweatpants that leave little to the imagination.
“Come on,” he urges. “I helped you move into your dorm. The least you can do is pay me back with a date.”
“Youwere the one flexing your muscles in front of half the student body, insisting you could carry my baskets with hardly any effort. You offered, and I already paid you back by allowing you to help me. Girls fawned over you the entire time, so I’m guessing you got your fair share ofpaybackthanks to me.”
His grin kicks up a notch—one I’m sure usually gets him what he wants. “Fair enough. I did get a lot of numbers that day. It won’t stop me from shooting a final shot with you, though. Go on a date with me, Garcia. Just one.”
A lump forms in my throat as he stares at me expectantly, awaiting my answer. College is supposed to be filled with hot mistakes like Xavier, but it doesn’t feel right to agree to a date, especially after Ethan and I seemed to have mended things last night. We decided to befriendsand return to our normal, flirtatious banter, but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a sliver of hope that something more than friendship could eventually transpire between us.
And I shouldn’t hold on to that hope when so many odds are stacked against us, but I can’t help how I feel around him. Can’t help it that—
As if fate wants to intervene, I round the corner and run smack dab into Ethan Davis. His eyes meet mine in confusion before they flick to the tall man beside me, an expression of annoyance crossing his face for a split second. He quickly feigns indifference when he says, “Hey. I didn’t expect to see—”
“I was supposed to meet you for coffee. I’m so sorry. Class ran over,” I finish, sending pleading eyes to my one and only savior. I’m not ready to go on a date with anyone, especially not Xavier, and I hate how well Ethan seems to know me, because he picks up on my reluctance regarding the basketball player all too quickly.
“Hey, man. I don’t think we’ve met.” Xavier sticks out a hand for him to shake, but Ethan doesn’t reciprocate the gesture.
“In passing. I vaguely remember you pulling on her ponytail the first day we moved in and calling herGarcia.” His jaw clenches as if he’s reliving the memory. “Or something along those lines.”
“Ah.” Xavier smiles wider. “The boyfriend, I’m assuming? My bad, man. I didn’t mean to overstep. She told me she was taken, but—”
I won’t let Ethan become an actor for a part he’s been desperate to play since we slept together. I’m not cruel, and I refuse to be a tease when I’m the reason for our falling out in the first place.
But before I can interject, Ethan takes a step closer and grabs my hand. It sends heat over every inch of skin, and my pulse skyrockets when he adds, “And yet you’re still here talking to her. Isnoa word you haven’t learned yet?” Then my pulse stops when he scans my face and asks, “Are you okay, baby?”
The nickname sends my heart into overdrive.
I’m comforted by the arm he wraps possessively around my waist. I lean into his touch and tug on my bottom lip when his fingers absently trail along the bare skin of my midriff exposed by my crop top, every nerve ending in my body seeming to short circuit in his presence.
Students headed for the next set of classes crowd the hallway, seemingly oblivious to the tension between the two men. Thankfully, Xavier throws his hands up placatingly while sporting an innocent smile. “You’re right. I apologize.” He gives Ethan a once-over before shifting his attention to me again. “See you around, Garcia.”
“Don’t count on it,” Ethan tosses over his shoulder when Xavier passes us.
When Xavier disappears from view, I selfishly allow Ethan’s touch to linger for a beat longer before I step out of his arms. “Thank you. He’s been trying to convince me to go out with him for weeks.”
“Seems like a dick.”
“Eh. He’s nice enough, but he’s the type of guy who does everything under the moon to score you, and then, as soon as he does, he leaves you high and dry.”
Ethan’s brow lifts, and I almost cringe when I replay the words I just spoke. In his eyes, I must be no better than Xavier. It’s what I did to him, and I’ve regretted it every day since.
But rather than embarrass me by calling me out, he stares down at his sneakers and asks, “So, you don’t want to go out with him?”
“Ugh,no. He’s not my type.”
Ethan chuckles. “Come on, Maya. That guy is exactly your type.”
“Usedto be.” Because ever since Ethan, my type has changed. The woman-eaters who chewed me up only to spit me out don’t compare to the guy who’s made my feelings his priority since day one. I’ve come to prefer the guy who loves basic sweatpants and hoodies over the jocks who flaunt their status and reputation. Down to earth, kindhearted, and shy are the qualities I find myself seeking now, but I always come up short. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, no matter how hard I search, I’ll always end up here—right in front ofhim.
Ethan’s baby blues bore into me, attempting to decipher the truth behind my words, but I won’t allow him to discover it. We agreed to befriends. Nothing more. Regardless of the physical and emotional pull I feel toward him, I have to fight it.
He clears his throat, sidestepping a guy who attempts to pass. “Well, I have to get to class, but we’ll talk later?”
