Hating the Player (Campus Wallflowers #2)

by Rebecca Jenshak

I thought he was a bear. Truthfully, I might have preferred a bear over him.

Dude or bear? Always bear

You’re the worst?! I hear myself saying it over and over again in my head. God, what a dick thing to say. Sure, I was just repeating her words, but she’s earned the right to say shitty things to me. 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.

She lifts her chin defiantly. Her first words make me suck in a breath. “I lost my virginity to a jerk who pretended to be super into me.” I swallow the acid burning my throat. “A week later I found him in bed with my roommate.” Every word is a physical blow. “And finally, the same jerk crashed my weekend camping trip with friends while continuing to hook up with every girl that crosses his path.”

I wrap an arm around her and guide her back down, so her head rests on my chest. She’s stiff, bracing most of her weight off me before she finally gives in. “This is just a temporary truce,” she says as she nuzzles into me. 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.

“Yell if you need me?” She nods and starts to shut me out again, but I stop it with a hand. “Don’t lock it, okay? I won’t come in unless you need me, but I don’t want to have to kick down the door.” Her brows lift in question. “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.”

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.” The look he gives me tells me he doesn’t understand. “But the story inside is the same?” “Yes, but the covers are all so beautiful.”

“Do we have assigned seats or…” I let my question trail off. “We can sit wherever. You pick.” “Outside, perhaps,” I mumble under my breath. “Sure,” he says without missing a beat. He’s scanning the room and fiddling with the cuff of his left shirt sleeve. “We should just skip the whole thing, get drunk, take off all our clothes.” “Mhmm.” His mouth is locked in a tight line. I was so caught up in my own nerves that I didn’t realize Gavin is anxious too. Except his anxiety has nothing to do with me.

“Are you going to be okay?” “I’m fine.” He’s lying. “Try again.” He smiles; a real smile that makes me hate his dad’s fake one even more. “I’m pissed right now, but I will be fine.” “Better.” I tip my head toward the door. Another hour or two and we’ll both be free. “Shall we?” He nods and falls into step next to me. “Too late to take you up on your offer of getting drunk and naked?” My mouth falls open as I suck in a surprised breath. “You heard me?” “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.”

Which one is your favorite?” “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 glance at the dresses on the arm of the chair. “The white one.” “Because?” “I can’t explain it. It’s the feeling I get when I wear it.” “Can I see?” “You want me to put it on?” “Mhmm.” “What are you going to do for me?” He full-on grins. “A favor for a favor, huh?” I nod, pulse racing. He thinks for a second. “I’ll read to you later.” A thrill shoots through me. I try to play it cool, like I’m not dying for that to happen, but Gavin’s voice is just...sigh. “Hmm. I’m not sure.” He leans in and frames my face with gentle fingers. His lips ghost over mine, and he recites a few lines from the book. For the love of Captain Wentworth. “Deal,” I whisper quickly.

He hooks his arms around my waist. “Go out with me tomorrow night.” “I’ve spent the last three nights with you.” “Yeah, but I still owe you a real date. Dinner, conversation, more kissing…” He brushes his lips along my neck and skims his hands over my back. I inch farther onto his lap until I can feel him hard below me. He groans quietly. “Is that a yes?” “It’s not a no.” I place my hands on his shoulders. Lifting his head, he chuckles. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re very beautiful and sometimes very frustrating?” “Only you.”

“Is Violet coming over tonight?” “Yeah, I think so.” I hope so. “That’s every night this week you two have hung out. Have you made things official and taken her off the market?” “I never understood that phrase in regard to relationships.” “You’re dodging.” He rebounds my ball. “I’m not dodging. She’s mine.” “She said that?” “Not with words.” I smile as I think of the tiny heart she drew on my dick. The rest of the ink scrubbed off, but I left that one. “I don’t know what that means.” He quirks a brow. “We haven’t had the big talk about being exclusive, but I’m not worried.” Except now that he’s brought it up, I kind of am. “Why do you want to know so bad? Are you planning on making a move?” I narrow my gaze. “No. Never.” “Violet not good enough for you or something?” His deep laughter echoes in the high ceiling of the fieldhouse. “You sound insane right now.” “I think it’s a fair question. She’s beautiful, smart, and talented. You can seriously tell me you wouldn’t want to be with her?” “I can seriously tell you that.” “Why?” “Because, dickhead, you’re in love with her and I’d never do that to a buddy.” He tosses me the ball a little harder than necessary. “And I’m pretty sure she’s in love with you too.” “You think?” “I do.” “She’s pretty fucking great.” “Maybe you oughta think about locking that down then.” He shakes his head and laughs. “With words.”

He hooks one long finger into the center of my bra and tugs me closer to him. “Bad news. I have to go to class.” He groans. “Jordan is on his way over, and we’re all coming over later to watch the game on your giant TV.” “His boobs aren’t as nice as yours.” He leans down and bites one through my T-shirt.