The Dixon Rule (Campus Diaries, #2)

by Elle Kennedy

Being a homeowner is exhausting.

DIY plumbing is not my friend.

I hate fish. If I had the choice, I would not be a fish owner. This horrible task was foisted on me by my dead aunt, who bequeathed her prized, unhelpful goldfish to me in her last will and testament.

I suppose it’s my fault, since I said we could remain friends after the breakup. Here’s some advice: never offer to stay friends if you don’t mean it. It’s a recipe for disaster.

You were brought here from hell, personally delivered by the cold hands of Satan. Be honest—did he send you up here to torment me?” “Meow,” she says smugly. Unblinking. My jaw drops. Bitch basically just confirmed it!

“Don’t worry, we didn’t see a thing.” The reassurance comes from the boy-next-door face of Will Larsen. “I saw your tits and one butt cheek,” Beckett Dunne says helpfully. I don’t know whether to laugh or groan.

he’s making up for lost time. But that sounds like a whole bunch of excuses, and I don’t think you need to make excuses for fuckboys. They’re just born with that gene.

“Everyone knows about your crush.” I snort. “I think the only one who has a crush on you is you.”

“You can stare as long as you want, but I promise, the towel isn’t slipping down again.” “Well, if it does, I’d prefer not to miss it.”

Diana and I have a love-hate relationship. As in, she hates me, and I love to annoy her.

Don’t have sex in the pool.” “What about blowjobs in the pool?” “Look, I don’t care who you want to suck off, Lindley. Just don’t do it in the pool.”

“I think the most important thing for you to remember is, we are not friends.” “Lovers, then?” I wink at her. “We are neither friends nor lovers.

World traveler over here. And stop doing things backward, will you? Elopement, Italian honeymoon, and then wedding? Who taught you life?”

I don’t want to fuck random girls anymore. I want to fuck the girl.

“It’s rude to stare at people’s hickeys,” I inform Tatiana. “We only stare at their pimples.”

What if you mix all the ingredients wrong and accidentally create a biological weapon?” Maryanne thinks it over for a beat. “Then I guess we kill everyone at camp.” “Wow. Kid. That’s dark.” Laughing, I shake off the fact that my little sister might be a psychopath.

they give us these little pickaxes we can use to dig.” “I’m sorry, what? They’re giving children pickaxes?” “So?” Maryanne challenges. “So that seems aggressively irresponsible.” Dad howls with laughter.

But lemme ask the wife. If she wants to go, I’ll go. BECKETT: Wow. RYDER: Wow what? BECKETT: That woman owns you now. You realize that, right, mate? RYDER: Yes and?

Then I realize what’s happening and almost gag in revulsion. Oh my God. I was admiring Shane Lindley’s body. I need an intervention.

“By the way, that wasn’t cool,” I grumble. “Banishing me from the group chat.” “That wasn’t me,” she lies, then smiles smugly and takes Fatima’s hand. “Babe, let’s go dance.” “I saw it was you!” I growl at her retreating back. “Stop gaslighting me!”

I don’t know what the hell is going on right now, but I want more. I want to know how every inch of her tastes.

“I swear, this guy is obsessed with me.” “You wish,” Shane growls. “And don’t forget who kissed who.” “Don’t forget whose penis got hard and whose vagina got dry.” “You were wetter than the Atlantic,” he shoots back. “Dryer than the Sahara.

“Stay on your side of the bed or you’ll lose sleepover privileges forever.” “I won’t even breathe in your direction,” he promises.

New rule. The Lindley rule. You can’t screw my teammates.” “Why not?” I counter, even though absolutely nothing happened between me and Will. “Spite,” Shane retorts. “And vengeance. This is purely retaliatory.” “You’re such a child.” “Takes one to know one.” “Oh my God, that’s literally what a child would say.”

“Later, Dixon.” “Thanks for the ride, Daddy.” “Don’t turn me on this early in the morning, please.”

I did some damage control.” “What kind of damage control?” “I told them I had a girlfriend.” I start to laugh. “This is the greatest day of my life.” “Oh, it gets better, Dixon. I told them it was you.”

“And look what I got out of it. I guess making an ass out of yourself in front of all of Boston is worth it.”

“Have you always been this hot?” I muse. Her mouth falls open. Then a laugh slides out. “Well, yes. I have.” “You look good, Dixon.” “I know.”

I was so absorbed in that kiss, a meteor could have hit Meadow Hill, and I would have obliviously and happily died with my tongue in Diana’s mouth. The pool party kiss was hot. This one? Blistering inferno.

Gigi’s family has gone overboard with this wedding. A wedding they’re only having because Gigi’s father, the legendary Garrett Graham, is apparently a secret softie and wants to walk his only daughter down the aisle.

“Actually, I’m meeting your wife and your girlfriend”—he nods toward me—“for drinks.” Ryder narrows his eyes. “Gisele said it was girls’ night.” “What can I tell ya?

“Your girlfriend likes me better than you.” “Probably,” I agree. “I annoy the fuck out of her.”

a lot of you will be happy with this partner reveal. You guessed it—I am indeed talking about Asshole Neighbor.” Ryder snorts mid-sip of his beer. “Oh, and you’ll love this too. Asshole Neighbor is now also Trial Boyfriend.” “Trial?” I growl. Will starts laughing. My friends are dicks. “I’ve decided to give him a shot to prove that he is worthy of my love. So yes, we are dancing, and we are dating. We are dance dating. It’s going to be glorious.

“How are you and ‘Rob’—” I make quotations. “Why are you using air quotes? Are you implying that Rob is not real?” “—on a double date with Ryder’s wife and my girlfriend, while he and I are here, not on a date with them?” I finish in disbelief.

“Married life treating you okay? You’re not tired of Gisele yet?” “Never.” His face softens anytime Gigi is mentioned.

I’ve never been a hundred percent sure where his head’s at. But there’s no uncertainty with Gigi. He adores her. Worships her. She’s his entire life and he would die for her. It’s telegraphed in his eyes the moment you say her name.

“Dude, Diana can do so much better than you.” “Ha. Like Gigi earned herself a prince.” “You’re probably right about that. They’re both way out of our leagues.”

But dancing is basically vertical sex. You’re too rigid, Lindley. You need to move your hips the way you would if we were…you know.” His eyes gleam. “Are you asking me to vertically fuck you?”

“I need to finish watching last night’s FoF. I’m dying to see who gets released from the Sugar Shack.” “I can tell you if you want. I watched it last night.” I swivel my head toward him. “I’m sorry, what?” He shrugs.

“What kind of thoughts do you think a cloud would have if it was sentient?” I ask her. “I can’t even begin to answer that question.”

“Is it just me or are those the two best-looking men you’ve ever seen in your life? They’re better looking than most male celebrities.” “They’re beautiful,” I agree. “I don’t know if men like being called beautiful.” “Not my problem. They are.” From the away bench at center ice, Will and I stand on skates, ogling Garrett Graham and Jake Connelly. Two NHL superstars. One Hall of Famer. Two beautiful men.

“Fuck Graham. Marry Connelly. Kill Connelly’s wife before she kills me for stealing her husband.” “Good call.” Brenna Connelly is terrifying. I’ve seen her cut down men twice her size on her TSBN sports show. She knows her hockey better than all the analysts at the network combined.

“Hey, G,” he calls. “Hold up. I want to talk to you before you go!” “Oh shit, I didn’t realize they were leaving. Give me a sec too.” Ryder pushes off on his blades, skating after his father-in-law.

I startle when Logan suddenly growls. “Nope. No fucking way, Dean. This is not fucking happening. Go get your boy.” I follow his gaze and see Beau Di Laurentis hugging the girl in the crop top. They’re clearly happy to see each other. “Chill. It’s just a hug,” Dean replies, unbothered. “His hand grazed her lower back.” “His hand didn’t graze shit.” Logan’s tone remains deadly. “It’s not happening. I’m not letting a Di Laurentis corrupt her.” “He’s only sixteen, and he’s not doing anything.” Trying not to laugh, I interrupt their heated exchange. “I take it that’s your daughter and that’s his son?” I ask Logan. “No, that’s my daughter, and that is his future fuckboy.” “I mean, the kid’s old enough to already be one,” I hedge, while Will snickers softly. Logan glares at me. So does Dean. “Sorry.”

“Relax. Look—Blake’s hugging AJ now. Go bother Connelly.” “My daughter will never date a hockey player,” Logan says ominously. “I know what they’re like.”

“Get ready to be slaughtered,” Garrett tells Connelly with a big smile. “Son-in-law and I got this.” “Nah. Harvard men get it done.” “He calls you Son-in-law?” I grin at Ryder as the men skate off. He sighs. “Yeah. Either that or Mr. Ryder.” “At least he likes you now,” Will says helpfully. “I mean, ‘likes’ is pushing it. Tolerates me is more accurate. But he knows I’d die for his daughter, so that’s all that really matters.”

I looked like a total loser. John Logan laughed at me, Dixon. Because of you.”

“You stopped to buy my favorite drink?” “Only the best for my fake girlfriend.”

“How was your hockey thing?” “Legends, Dixon. I spent the whole day and night with legends.” He sighs happily. “It was fucking spectacular.”

I don’t mind that she’s still pretending she’s not attracted to me. I need someone who will make me work for it a little. I’m a man who loves a chase.