Page 3 of Tempting the Player
Why does everyone think I need time to mull over my every decision? I know that I don’t want extra security and I know that I don’t want to perform at the annual Valley U Spring Fling.
I sigh as she disappears without taking no for an answer. My mom and Paris are far more exhausting than the photographers that sometimes camp outside my house waiting to take my picture.
I slip in my ear buds and pull out my laptop to work on an assignment for French class. I started college a year later than I could have because I was still floundering trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. I should be a junior but I’m a sophomore. It sucks being behind. I’m taking eighteen credit hours this semester in an attempt to catch up, and a few weeks in, I’m already questioning that decision. There’s so much homework and studying, and those have never been my favorite things.
I’m deep in concentration mode when a shadow falls over my table. I glance up, smiling when I see Cam in front of me. I recognize a few of his teammates standing back watching our interaction.
Cameron Payton is a baseball player that I’ve had a crush on since I arrived at Valley U. I have a type and he fits it. Tall, dark hair, built, and deliciously cocky. Cam didn’t pay a lot of attention to me until he found out I was Ivy, but neither did half the campus so I’m trying not to hold it against him.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says as I remove one ear bud.
My insides light up at the compliment. “Hey, Cam.”
He pulls out the chair across from me and then nods to his friends and lets them know he’ll catch up. When he’s seated, he leans forward on his elbows. “What are you working on?”
“An assignment for next week.”
“You’re working on an assignment that’s not due until next week?” Both brows rise toward the backward hat on his head.
“I’m trying to stay on top of assignments this semester,” I say and close my laptop. “How are you? How was your break?”
“It was chill. Good to see the family and all that, but I’m glad to be back.” He sits back in his chair. He has this confidence and ease in his every movement. “I thought about you while I was gone.”
“You did?” A surprised smile curls my lips.
He nods. “Yeah, I was kicking myself for that time we were supposed to hang out and I didn’t make it.”
What he means is the night he told me he’d see me at a Theta party and then didn’t show. It was days later when I ran into him on campus that he finally apologized and said he’d gotten roped into going out with some of his teammates and then couldn’t find a sober ride to get to the party later. As excuses go, it was pretty average for guys my age, but I appreciated that he owned up to it.
And I’m even more pleased now that he’s still regretting that decision. “Serves you right. I’m a great time.”
“I bet you are.” His blue eyes take on a mischievous glint. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I don’t have any plans,” I say before I remember I should probably play it cool. I’ve never been good at that. When I like someone, they know it.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Umm...excuse me?“You’ll pick me up for what?”
“To hang out, of course.” He smirks.
“Like a date?” I ask, slowly dragging out each word.
He gives his head a small shake like he doesn’t think he needs to explain his intentions.
“Sorry. I just assumed I’d know if someone was asking me out.”
“You’re funny,” he says. “Go out with me tonight.”
It’s still not really a question, but I’m not going to keep berating him until he changes his mind. “Okay. Yeah, that sounds amazing.”
“Perfect.” He stands and hits me with a wink. “See you tonight, beautiful.”
Once he’s out of sight, I finally let out a quiet little squeal of excitement. I know there won’t be any studying happening now, so I pack up my stuff and hurry down the steps of the library. My friends are all busy, but I fire off a text anyway because Ineedto tell someone.
My nose is buried in my phone as I push through the doors and step back out into the rain. I glance up seconds before I collide with a girl carrying a large umbrella and coming straight at me. I move to the side at the same time she brings the umbrella down, swatting me with it unintentionally.
The bump throws me off balance and then I slip on the wet sidewalk. I feel my feet go out from underneath me and squeeze my eyes shut as I brace for impact on the ground.
