Page 27 of The Game Plan

But it’s not me. Sullivan and I are two completely different people. Where he goes high, I go low. The only thing we have in common is we play for the same team, and even then, sometimes it’s iffy.

The back patio is packed with people. Fraternity guys wearing their letters, girls all over them. There’s a cluster of Kappa girls by the heat lamp, dancing in a circle. Sam isn’t part of them.

I wonder where she is.

I’m glad she came to see me after the game, even if it was the most awkward interaction in the history of the universe. My mom kept asking me about that nice blonde girl all through dinner. My dad clapped me on the back and said it was good I’m making friends.

Yes, I’m grateful to count Sam amongst my limited group of friends, but that’s not what I want from her.

The crowd parts and I spot her. She’s with her friend again, the bitchy one. Her hair is tied back in a braid. It’s longer than I thought, falling to the middle of her back. She’s wearing tight black jeans and a baggy grey top and I—

I can’t think straight. My cock reacts against my will. She’s across the room. She doesn’t even know I’m here. She’s not giving me the slightest hint she’s interested.

I don’t care. I want her. I want her so bad my hands shake and my palms itch and my stomach churns with anxiety over never getting a chance to be with her.

She turns and I catch sight of the berry color staining her lips. Her eyes are done up with dark shadow and thick, black lashes. Shit. Lust fogs my brain. My blood pounds in my ears. I feel dizzy.

From across the room, she catches my eye and grins. She tips her cup up to me in silent greeting.

I down half my beer in one hurried gulp. It doesn’t taste very good. I don’t care.

Sam says something to her friends and then she’s making her way through the party. Making her way to me. She stops about a foot in front of me, giving me some breathing room while still being close enough we don’t have to shout to be heard over the pounding, pulsating blast of music.

“Hey. I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

I take a hefty gulp of my beer, more for something to do than any real desire to drink it.

“Didn’t know I was coming.”

She smiles at me. “Are you having a good time?”

“Not my scene.”

Sam laughs. “Yeah, me neither. I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“Why’re you here? If you don’t want to be?”

She shrugs. “I kind of need to be. It’s a sorority thing.”

People jostle into us and she takes a step closer to me. I can smell the sweet cherry and vanilla of her perfume, rich and innocent.

“Do you want to dance?” She looks up at me guilelessly.

My face heats up. “I don’t dance.”

I’m too big. I get in the way. There’s no way I can do the grinding that’s going on in the living room.

Her cheeks are pink. “Oh. Okay then.”

“I think I’m going to head out.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder.

Her smile falls. “Oh.”

“This isn’t really my thing.”

“Mine, neither,” she admits again.

“Do you… do you want to come back to my place?”

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