The Score (Off-Campus, #3)

by Elle Kennedy

“Are you being serious right now?” “As a heart attack.” “Really?” I beam at him, because this is the first time anyone has offered to watch this show with me. My friends refuse to, though to Hannah’s credit, she did manage to sit through the pilot.

“Sebastian, huh? That’s my middle name.” He pauses. “Well, one of them,” he amends. My brow furrows. “How many middle names do you have?”

“Two. My full name’s Dean Sebastian Kendrick Heyward-Di Laurentis.” I shake my head in dismay. “What is wrong with your parents? Why would they give you so many names? Did they want you to get made fun of in school?”

That makes him chuckle. “Trust me, it’s nothing compared to some of the dudes at my prep school. This one guy I played la...

“So you’re saying it’s a rich person thing? Cram as many unnecessary syllables on your kid’s birth certificate?” “Nah, it’s usually done to acknowledge the grandparen...

“Sebastian is my grandfather on my dad’s side. Kendrick is on my mom’s.” I guess that makes sense. But man, hi...

As something catches my eye, I quickly point at the screen. “See that guy lurking in the corner? The one with the mustache? Tha...

Dean gives a mock gasp. “The plot thickens!” I give him the finger. “But, in the last episode, we found out the reason he’s stalking her, and it...

“Jiggle down?” “You know, fuck her.” “Right.” His lips twitch like he’s tr...

“Allie.” Dean leans forward and fixes me with an eerily somber stare. “This show is fucking stupid.”

“I know,” I say sheepishly. “But it’s addictive. Trust me, one episode of this crap and you’ll be hooked.” “Sorry, baby doll, but I can pretty much guarantee that’s not gonna happen.”

It happened. God help me, I’m into this show.

I came over tonight with the single-minded purpose of working the charm and convincing Allie to get naked with me again. Instead, I’m sipping on a margarita, I’ve just watched two hours’ worth of a French soap opera,

and now I’m texting Logan to let him know I won’t make it to Malone’s. Because…God help me…I wan...

I’m about to comment on how the sexy view is much appreciated, then think better of it. I promised I wouldn’t hit on her tonight, and if I break that promise she might kick me out before I find out why Marie-Thérèse tried to kill Antoine.

Allie flops down beside me, and I give myself a mental high-five because she didn’t leave a foot of distance between us this time. We’re inches apart now, which tells me she’s starting to warm up to me.

We high five at having figured it out, and in the moment our palms meet, pure clarity slices into me and I’m able to grasp precisely what my life has become. With a growl, I snatch the remote control and hit Stop. “Hey, it’s not over yet,” she objects.

“Allie.” I draw a steady breath. “We need to stop now. Before my balls disappear altogether and my man card is revoked.”

One blond eyebrow flicks up. “Who has the power to revoke it?” “I don’t know. The Man Council. The Stonemasons....

“So you’re too much of a manly man to watch a French soap opera?” “Yes.” I chug the rest of my margarita, but the salty flavor is a...

“Jesus Christ. And I’m drinking margaritas. You’re bad for my rep, baby doll.” I shoot her a warning look. “N...

“Ha. I’m going to post it all over the internet. Guess what, folks—Dean Sebastian Kendrick Heyward-Di Laurentis is over at my place right now watching soaps and drinking girly drinks.” She sticks...

She’s right about that. “Can you at least add that the night ended with a blowjob?” I grumble. “Because then everyone will be like, oh, he suffered throug...

“Your pole waxed? That’s such a gross description.” But her eyes are bright and she’s...

Christ, she’s so pretty. And sexy…so goddamn sexy. I wonder why I never noticed it before, but I guess it’s because every time I saw her prior to Friday ni...

“Say no,” I advise. Her teeth dig into her bottom lip. “It’s…hard.” “You have no problem saying no to me.” “I didn’t date you for three years,” she points out.

I gently take the phone from her hand and set it on the table. “Okay. You ready for some real talk?” She nods shakily.

“Sean is going to keep texting you. He’s going to keep emailing and calling and doing everything in his power to win you back. You want to know why? Because you’re smart and funny and smoking hot, and he knows he’s a...

“He’s going to keep at it. Which means you need to learn to ignore it.” I study her face. “That is, if you’re serious about moving on.” She ...

“Then move the fuck on, babe. You can’t run to your friend’s boyfriend’s house or hide out in the dorm every night. Tell the guy you don’t want to talk to him, and then go out and find yours...

“Let me guess,” she says dryly, “You volunteer as sexual tribute?” “Nope. For once, I’m not talking about sex.” “What do you suggest, then?” I grin. “I...

“Huh. Okay. So I should throw on some hockey pads, let a bunch of behemoths smash me into the boards every night, and reward myself with a never-ending s...

I lean in and tug a strand of her hair. “Don’t be an ass.” “My apologies.” She smiles. “Please, tell me...

“I’m an overall happy person, right?” Her suspicious gaze locks with mine. “Yes. But how is that even possible? Nobody is happy all the time.”

I rub my thumb over her lower lip. Her lips are so fucking soft. I’m dying to kiss them again.

“Mmm?” She sounds distracted. I stroke her lips again, and I’m gratified w...

My fingers travel down her slender throat, skimming over her pulse point. “What do you want, Allie? Tell me one thing you’ve been dying to do but haven’t gotten around to doing.”

“You’re a fucking weirdo. Pick something else. Something normal.”

“Are you offering to take salsa dancing lessons with me?” Her expression is hopeful. I snort. “No way. I only do what I want, remember? And I do not want to salsa dance. But I think you should.”

I give her chin a teasing pinch. “Stick with me, kid, and your entire life will change for the better. That’s the Di Laurentis guarantee.” Allie heaves out a sigh.

“What?” I demand. “I can’t decide if you’re being sincere or if you’re trying to get in my pants again.” I waggle my eyebrows. “Who says it can’t be both?”

When that gets me another sigh, my voice becomes gruff. “I’m being sincere.” “Wow. I think you actually mean that.” For some reason, her car...

I know arousal when I see it. Little Dean knows it too, and he promptly thickens behind my zipper. “Allie…” My voice comes out hoarse. She’s off the couch before I can blink. “Annnnd it’s time for you to go.”

She sounds overly cheerful, and I can tell she’s struggling to control the same waves of desire that are practically swallowing me whole. When I remain seated, she frowns deeply. “Shirt up and go home, Dean.”

I want to ask her how long she’s going to keep fighting this, but since I know it’ll only piss her off further, I keep my mouth shut and do what the lady asked—I leave.

“Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Whatever helps you sleep at night, right?”

and ponder the authenticity of voodoo dolls. Eventually I decide it doesn’t matter if they’re real or not. It’d still be fun to poke needles into a teeny doll version of Frank O’Shea. Once it starts falling apart from all the holes, I can use the head as a stress ball.

I’m not gonna lie—I have a blast from the word go. The boys’ passion for the game reminds me of when I was a kid, how excited I was to put on a pair of skates and tear down the ice. Their enthusiasm is downright contagious.

When Ellis blows his whistle to signal it’s time for the scrimmage, I find I’m genuinely disappointed that the drills are over.

Ellis and I serve as both refs and coaches, calling out penalties and offering advice when needed. The thirty-minute game ends way too fast for my liking. I could stay out there forever,