Scoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #3)

by Rebecca Jenshak

“What’s your room like?” I ask, staring up at the ceiling. Felix’s body lies alongside mine, a pleasant warmth radiates off him. “Well, it doesn’t have a pillow fort.” “Missing out.” “No kidding.”

“What else do you want to know?” he asks. “I made a list.” “Oh man, I better get cozy then.”

“You don’t have to lie down here and pretend it’s comfortable.” “No, it is.” He lets a little of that discomfort I saw in flashes settle over his features. “My back is tight. I meant to roll it out after practice, but I was in a hurry to get to The Hideout and hang out with my girlfriend before I knew she was going to blow me off.”

“You need someone to give you all the experiences and fun you’ve been waiting for. Someone that will make you feel special and treat you like the absolute baller chick that you are.” The way his blue eyes focus on nothing but me turns my insides to liquid. “That’s not something I have time for or would even be any good at.” I think he’s wrong. He already makes me feel that way. Just being with him is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me.

“Don’t settle for less, okay? You deserve that.”

I have a theory. She’s trying to kill me.

My head spins, my heart races, and a thousand butterflies have taken residence in my stomach. Candlelight and mood music would have been completely wasted because I’m not aware of anything but him.

where both of mine rest against his chest and he plucks the ticket from my fingers. “I think that’s mine.” “What if I bought six for five dollars?” One side of his mouth lifts. “You’re trouble, hot stuff.”

Felix shakes his head and chuckles. “I hate you all.”

Who needs sleep? I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

“I brought you my extra tacos.” She holds up the bag in front of me and the smell hits my nose.

I crumple up the last taco wrapper and toss it in the bag, then sit back with a satisfied moan. “Thank you. Best second dinner I’ve ever had.”

“Wanna see my room so you can knock another thing off that list of yours?” I already told her what it looked like, but it’s hard to talk to her out here.

Dahlia continues to walk around the room, taking in every detail like she’s analyzing it for hidden clues. She holds up an unopened bag of black licorice. “And I was just starting to like you. Black licorice, really?”

“Your pre-game meal includes candy?” She looks at me with this sassy, disbelieving look on her face that makes me smile bigger. I really like having her here in my space. “Not a lot of candy. Black licorice should be savored, not devoured.” I eat another chunk. “One or two vines the night before.”

I threw over six hundred yards and ran in two touchdowns myself. It was just one of those rare, epic nights.” I shake the licorice at her again. “All thanks to black licorice.”

“So, you admit it’s silly to think black licorice is responsible for your game performance?” “I absolutely did not admit that.

“I get bored by myself.” Her lips part, like she’s about to hit me with some smart-ass comment about boring myself, so I lunge for her. My arms circle her waist and my fingers tickle her sides as I bring her down on top of me. “So not fair.” She wriggles and squirms.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first time I met you.” She sits up now and adjusts her ponytail by pulling on the loose strands with both hands. “That can absolutely not be true.” “It absolutely is. And you couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

“You don’t seem that nervous around me now.” “That’s because I’ve already done all the most embarrassing things I can imagine in front of you.”

I hurry to open the window, and Felix pulls himself inside. “I scared you?! What are you doing?” “Nobody was answering downstairs.” “So you climbed up to my window? Why? And how?”

He smiles proudly. “I brought you something. I brought you two somethings, in fact.” “Is one of them a new heart because mine feels like it’s going to explode at any second. Holy crap. What if you’d fallen?” “Worried about me? Aww. That’s sweet. I was perfectly safe the whole time. Promise.” He makes an X over his heart.

the bed between us. “You got me licorice?” “Red licorice,” he clarifies. “You made your opinion on black licorice very clear the other night, so I got you cherry-flavored.”

“I’m sure you don’t need luck to kick everyone’s ass this weekend, but a little luck never hurt anyone.”

I scan names and numbers I don’t recognize until Felix’s dark hair catches my attention. He’s not looking at the field, but at me. My heart skitters and skips as his mouth pulls into a smile, and his gaze drops to my jersey. His jersey.

I smile back, lift one hand, and mouth ‘hi.’ He replies with a wink before turning back to face the field.

I set my beer down and then lift her off the ground, spin her and listen to the sweet laughter that leaves her perfect mouth. When I stop moving, I meet her gaze. “Hi.” It comes out gruffer this time. “Hey,” she says back, a little breathless. I set her back on the ground but keep hugging her. “How was your tournament?” “I got third,” she says, a hint of pride in her voice. “Amazing. Must have been the licorice.” More of that sweet laughter filters out. “Must have been.”

I have no filter tonight. Something I should probably try to rectify before I get entirely too carried away.

“What are you going to do?” Holly asks. “I don’t know. Find Dahlia for starters.” “I’m sorry,” Holly says. “For what it’s worth though, I really like Dahlia. Your taste in women has improved.” “She’s great,” I say through gritted teeth. “Which is why I need to go find her.”

So, for tonight, can we just hang out, celebrate, and you treat me like you would any other girl you were dating?” “You aren’t any other girl.”

He goes to his closet and comes back with a black hoodie. “My lucky sweatshirt.” “You have a lucky sweatshirt?” I take it from him and hug the fabric to my chest. “Absolutely.” He takes it back and lifts it over my head and then down over my body.

“Does luck transfer to the person who wears it?” “I’m not sure. I’ve never tested it. You’re the only person to wear it.”

“And your eyes. And mouth. And the way that one piece of hair always falls onto your forehead.” His smile grows. “That’s a lot of things. Sounds like you might like me.” “I do, but not because of any of those things.” His forehead knits in confusion. “You’re a good guy. A great guy, actually. You’re talented and you work hard, but you know how to have fun too. I like a lot of things about you now that I think about it. Want the full list?”

“To be clear,” he says as he brings his mouth closer. “This isn’t part of the Felix Walter’s experience.” “No?” “Uh-uh. This is the Dahlia Brady effect. Totally different thing. You drive me completely fucking crazy.”

“The Dahlia Brady effect is strong.” His hands lower back to the top of my shorts and he presses a kiss to my temple. “You have no fucking idea.”

“Don’t go. It’s still early,” Dahlia says as Jane hugs her goodbye. “It’s not that early, my friend. And I’m beat.” Jane meets my gaze over Dahlia’s head. “You’ve got her?” “Yeah,” I say, nodding. “I got her.”

On cue, she yawns. “Come on. It’s been a long day.” I take her into my room, then grab a water and some Advil. “Take these before you fall asleep.” “I don’t want to sleep yet. I was promised more kissing.” “Okay, then take these before I kiss you again.”

At the same time, I feel like it was all inevitable. I was never going to be able to spend time with her and not want more and more.

“You really are stupid hot.” “Right back at you.”

No one has ever looked better. Full stop.

“Next time, we’re staying at your place.” The promise of next time makes my stomach flip. “You don’t think Jane would break down the door?” I arch a brow as I sit up. I run a hand through my tangled hair as I look around for my bra. “Good point, but you know, the more hot girls, the merrier.” My jaw drops, and he falls forward, perfect six-pack flexing, as he laughs. “So not funny.” I stand on the bed and launch a pillow at him. “It was a little funny.” He grins at me, easily dodging all three of his pillows I toss at his head.

Felix opens the passenger door for me. I pause before climbing in. “I’m coming?” “You thought I was gonna kick you to the curb this morning?” He arches a disbelieving brow. “Umm…” Kind of, yeah. Or at least drop me off at my house and go about whatever he had planned for the day. “Well, fuck. Even I’m not that big of an asshole.”

Felix looks to me. “A tournament at Valley?” “Yeah.” One side of his mouth lifts. “That’s cool. Can I come watch?” “No,” I say quickly. He scoffs. “Why not?” I laugh and the honest reply slides out before I can stop it, “Because you’re very distracting.”

That feeling was magic. I didn’t have aspirations of playing in college, though. In fact, the only reason I did freshman year was because I got a scholarship, but I think it’s helped keep me sane. When everything else has felt hopeless, I’ve found pieces of myself out here.

He is straight-up obsessed with you, and I am so here for it.” “He is not obsessed with me.” “He’s looking at you like a man obsessed.”

“You said I couldn’t come to your tournament, but you said nothing about watching you practice.” His grin is wolfish, and my stomach does a little flip. “Yeah, well, it extends to practices.” “In that case, your coach called practice fifteen minutes ago, so technically, I’m just a guy hanging at the driving range watching some badass girl hit the fuck out of a golf ball. You gave me goosebumps a couple times.” “How long have you been here?” I know my face must be bright red because it’s on fire. He chuckles. “Long enough to be impressed.” “Why?” “You’re amazing.”

“I mean, why are you here?” “I didn’t hear from you today. Wanted to make sure you were alive.” “You’re here for a wellness check?” I feel one brow lift.

He walks with me back to get my stuff. Taking my bag from me, he groans. “Fuck. They are heavy.” “Maybe you’re just weak, Walters,” I tease.

With that, he hooks the bag over one shoulder and then scoops me up, carrying both me and the clubs across the range. “Oh my gosh, put me down. People are staring,” I whisper-hiss. “No can do, hot stuff.”

“Hi.” Her timidness around me still surprises me. It fades the more time we spend together, but she always approaches me like she’s not sure if I’m going to be pleased to see her or not. Spoiler alert, I’m always fucking pleased to see her.