Hating the Player (Campus Wallflowers #2)

by Rebecca Jenshak

Is there a polite way to say I’d rather stay here and read a book?

She’s most of the reason I canceled my date and tagged along with Jenkins and Taylor. I thought maybe it would be an opportunity for us to hang out and bury the hatchet, so to speak.

My brain might know this is temporary, but my heart is punching to get out of my chest. It’s belonged to her since the first time I met her.

“Contrary to what you think, Vi, I care about you. If I thought you needed something, I’d do a lot more than kick down a door to get to you.”

The top of a 7-up bottle pokes out of one of the paper sacks.

Bread, butter, cheese, soup, and a bunch of different medicines.

“I’m making grilled cheese.”

“7-up, grilled cheese, and movies.”

“Last night you said that when you were younger and home sick, your dad would make grilled cheese sandwiches and you guys would watch movies all day.” He points to the 7-up. “I got that too in case your stomach was still upset.”

Also, why do you have four copies of Persuasion?” He picks up the top one from the stack on my nightstand. “I told you I like the story.” “So get one copy.” “They all have different covers.”

“Yes, but the covers are all so beautiful.”

Nah, fuck that. Not her friend. I want to be her everything.

“I’ll go with you.” I’m quiet as I process her words, so she repeats them more confidently. “I’ll go with you. I’m a great buffer.”

And after a year of wishing for a second chance, I finally have a date with Violet.

Gavin and I were a blip in time, but it was such a great blip. Until we weren’t. I think maybe the hardest part of how things ended between us is that it felt so out of character, so wrong.

“I always hear you, Violet.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Why did you cheat on me last year?

“It was a weird night. A lot of emotions and pretending to be together.” I wave it off. “Already forgotten.” No chance in hell I’m ever forgetting it.

“It wasn’t really a fair bet.”

“I’m ambidextrous.” “You were hustling me!” I grin.

Simple isn’t boring. Imitation is boring.

My heart leaps at the sight of her.

“I think I’m a little bit of both guys.” I swallow around a lump the size of my many mistakes. “So where does that leave us?”

And what he has… there are no words except to say that Gavin is the MVP of kissing.

“A little, but you’re a very cute raccoon. Nothing like those scary ones up in the mountains that barge in on unsuspecting girls who leave the tent open.”

“I can’t answer that. It’s like choosing between my favorite copy of Persuasion.” “The one with the pink cover.” I look at him, unblinking. That is my favorite one, but how does he know that? “It’s always on top of the stack, and it’s the one you’ve tried to read over and over.”

I tear away the paper and my breath catches. When I look up, his lips curve up in the biggest smile. “Where did you find this?” I ask, running a hand over the cover. It’s an old version of Persuasion with a cover I’ve never seen before.

He has my favorite Persuasion in one hand and he’s leaning against the headboard of my bed. I retract all my earlier statements: Gavin like this is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

“You pierce my soul, Violet Johnson.” I place a hand over my heart as I recite the words from the Persuasion quote hanging above her bed and grin.

“Are you sure?” My pulse races. She nods and licks her lips. “I’m sure.”

“I don’t know. It felt weird, like he didn’t want me there.”

“Number one, I have the hottest girlfriend alive.” “Two, I can’t imagine my life without you.” “And three?” I ask. “I have been in love with you since the night your sandal broke, and I carried you to your dorm.” My heart threatens to burst in my chest. “Which one is the lie?” “None of them.” He grins. “They’re all true.”