Hating the Player (Campus Wallflowers #2)

by Rebecca Jenshak

Why does everyone treat jocks like they’re God’s gift to the universe?

Being around Violet brings out some primal, barbaric side of me. I want her, but since I can’t have her, I end up acting like a giant asshole.

I knew Violet was going to be here. 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.

“I’m serious. It’s in the rhythm of your words. You talk faster when you’re nervous or excited, or telling a lie. Your eyes widen too.”

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.”

“Can I come back tomorrow? We can watch six hours of Darcy and Elizabeth, if you want, or I’ll read some more Persuasion. I want to spend more time with you.”

“I feel like I owe you.” Ah, I see. She’s here out of obligation and misconstrued guilt, which pisses me off for some reason. Maybe because I want to be her friend. Nah, fuck that. Not her friend. I want to be her everything.

“It took a couple of minutes for it to register, or I would have immediately agreed.” He holds the door open for me, and something in his playful smile and dark brown eyes holds me captive as he says, “I always hear you, Violet.”

Violet is a freaking ten any day of the week, but tonight, in that blue dress with her hair wavy and those shoes… damn those shoes, she steals the air from my lungs.

A little of Violet isn’t enough. I want to get lost in her, obsessed.

If I keep staring at her like this, she’s going to yell at me for being creepy again, but I just can’t help it. She’s so fucking gorgeous, and she’s here with me. I don’t want to blink and miss a second of it.

She hits me with a smile that makes the world feel simple and good,