Scoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #3)

by Rebecca Jenshak

Damn, I knew I should have stayed in the dorms another year. We would have been neighbors. I could have borrowed a cup of sugar or something.” She laughs. “When have you ever borrowed a cup of sugar?” “Well, never, but I might have tried a line like that to talk to you.”

The shake of her head is disbelieving. “I would have probably gone out and bought sugar just in case you asked. And then froze if you actually came to my door.” “You don’t freeze around me anymore.” I lift our joined hands and kiss the top of her knuckles. She watches my mouth brush against her skin. “Trust me, internally, I’m still freaking out.”

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you have me then.” “Why’s that?” “Because I’m always looking out for you. Whatever you need, hot stuff.”

I fall asleep at some point during our texting and wake up to knocking on my window. “It’s me, hot stuff,” Felix calls through the glass. I push my messy hair out of my face and walk over to let him in. “Is this a thing now?” My voice is rough with sleep. “I didn’t want to wake up the whole house,” he says as he climbs inside and pulls the window shut behind him.

Over the next week, Felix and I hang out a lot. He’s slept at my house every night. Just slept.

Laughter spills out of my mouth. “You’re too much.” With a wink, he leans forward and presses his lips against mine. The butterflies in my stomach that seem to always be present when I’m around Felix,

An amused smile tips up his lips as he wraps a finger around a long strand of my hair. “I don’t think any of that would have mattered. Enough time around you and I would have felt it.” “Felt what?” “This.” He motions between us. “We’re the same. Different, but the same.”

“You’re something else.” He glances at the time and then turns in his seat and places either leg around mine, closing me in. “I should get going, but I really don’t wanna.” I lean into his chest. I don’t want him to either. He wraps both arms around me. “Two days without you. How am I going to survive?”

“Thank you.” “For what?” “Everything.” One shoulder lifts in a shrug. “The past month and a half has been incredible.” “I didn’t do anything.” “But you did.” She rests a hand on the center of my chest. “You changed my life.”

I start to protest, but she continues, “It wasn’t just the parties or everyone thinking I was your girlfriend. You changed me. People see me differently, but more importantly, I see me differently.” “You were always amazing. I didn’t do that.” “Well, now I believe it.” My chest tightens. “You’re welcome, hot stuff.” She laughs. “I still don’t believe that, but I like hearing it just the same.”

“Look at you, Walters. Holding her drink and purse. Never thought I’d see the day.” I look down at my lap where Dahlia’s purse rests and I lift the seltzer can his way. He’s got a beer in one hand and a seltzer in the other. “Like you’re any better.” He chuckles. “Takes one to know one and all that, I guess.”

“The last month and some change were a blast. You were the best fake girlfriend I’ve ever had.” My chest aches as I think about the truth of those words. She wasn’t just the best fake girlfriend, she was the best girl I’ve hung out with, period. She smiles. “You were the best fake boyfriend I’ve ever had.”

“I left you something on your desk.” “What is it?” She tries to see around me. “Just something so you don’t forget about me.” “Impossible,” she says, then her voice lowers. “We’re still going to see each other and hang out sometimes. Right?” “Yeah. Of course.” Her smile is wobbly. “Good.”

Thanks for the licorice by the way.” Her cheeks are turning pink. “You’re welcome.”

I squeeze her harder and lift her off the ground. She laughs like she always does when I do it. From the time I turned sixteen, I’ve been taller than her and I remind her by picking her up every time we hug.

I think I’m having a heart attack. My chest is tight and blood pounds in my ears. Twenty-two seems young for a heart attack, but I’m not a doctor.

“Felix.” I take a tiny step back. “Dahlia.” He drawls my name out in that way that drives me crazy.

I close my door and then rush to the window to open it. Felix is waiting on the roof. He climbs inside and shakes his dark hair. “It’s starting to rain out there.”

“Fuck, I love it when you ramble.” “You do?”

“Be my girlfriend, hot stuff.” “What?” My hands still. “I want you to be my girlfriend. For real this time.” He sits up. “You’re right. Nothing about this feels casual. It never did. I want to be the guy taking you home, not the asshole sitting across the bar watching you with some other guy.”

“We’re good together. I like you. I’m pretty sure you still like me. I want to go back to hanging out like before. I want to be the guy that takes you to the party and the one that takes you home. I liked being your boyfriend. It didn’t feel fake.” “I thought after Bethany…” My words trail off. “You said you didn’t want or have time for a girlfriend.” “You’re not Bethany.

She holds out a package of red licorice with a white envelope on top. “This was on the front porch for you.”

“Damn. I know, okay. I’m an idiot and Dahlia’s the best. Can we stop yelling at me and help me figure out how to fix it?”

I don’t just want to be the guy taking her home. I want to be the guy who watches her kick everyone’s ass at flip cup, the guy who makes her ramble and blush, and I want to look up from the field at every game to see her cheering me on (preferably in my jersey). I want her.

“Can I play?” That voice has my heart racing. I spin around, the game completely forgotten. She smiles at me, and I think I forget to breathe for a few seconds. Fuck, I missed her. “Dahlia.” It’s the only word I can get out.

Felix is kind and funny. He’s considerate and dedicated and loyal. And he’s the best hype man. I feel sorry for you that all you saw was a hot, successful guy to stand next to, because he’s so much more than that.”

“I’m sorry,” Dahlia says when she turns back to face me. “I couldn’t listen to her for one more sec⁠—” I frame her face and drop my lips to hers. She squeaks her surprise, but then tosses her arms around my neck and kisses me with everything she has.

“Wait,” she says against my lips. I kiss her again. “Yeah?” “Yes. My answer is yes. Of course, I want to be your girlfriend. If that’s still what you want.” The smile on my face couldn’t get any bigger. “I

She laughs and a faint blush creeps onto her face. “I meant it. All of it. You’re the best person I know.”

I lose track of time as he continues. Eventually, he kisses my neck and says, “All done.” I run a hand along the back of my head, then swivel around to face him. “You braided my hair?” He grins.

I look at him wide-eyed for an explanation. “I have two sisters who really liked to do makeovers when we were younger,” he admits with a shrug, looking a little embarrassed. “Now you know my secret talent.” “I’m impressed.” “I can do a Dutch braid, too. And I think I remember how to do a fishtail braid, but it’s been a while so don’t hold me to that.”

Dahlia uses the football to push on my chest, and her gaze scans my costume. “And you. You look —” “Ridiculous,” Brogan interrupts. “What are you supposed to be?” “I’m her,” I say, tipping my head toward my girl. “And I’m him.” Dahlia leans against me. “I get it,” he says, looking between us and nodding. “Cute.”

She owns me. It’s too soon to be as gone for her as I am, but I hardly had a choice. She came into my life like a snowstorm in the desert. Quiet and beautiful and completely unexpected.

“What are you thinking?” she asks. My pulse kicks up before I even say the words. “I love you.”

Her hand shoots up and covers my mouth. “I love you too.” I exhale audibly. “Of course, I do. How could I not?”

“And what the hell are you wearing?” “He’s Shawn Mendes,” Daisy says, coming in behind him.

“Morning, Hannah Montana,” Felix drawls out. He props himself up on an elbow and grins at her. “Ha, ha,” she says the words without actually laughing, but she smiles.

And if you make me mad, I have a nice dart board.” His gaze darkens. “No darts.” I swear I played darts with one other guy once and the man has boycotted the game for life. “You won. I’m all yours. I think you can let it go.” “Never,” he says, but he’s smiling. “It wasn’t ever really a competition, you know? You own my heart.” “Right back at ya, hot stuff.”

It doesn’t make today any less stressful though. I’ve got a diamond ring in my bag, and I need to somehow get permission to marry his daughter, while trying to remember how to swing a golf club.

“You’ve been good for her.” I’m surprised by his words. I tear my gaze away from Dahlia and look at him. “I’m trying. She’s incredible and I like reminding her.”

“You’ve got grit, kid. You just don’t quit, do you?” He laughs again. “Dahlia’s mom and I would be delighted to have you as part of the family.” “You would? But I thought…” “I was messing with you. I’m old. I gotta get my kicks where I can these days.”

“Thank you.” I open the box and stare down at the ring. It’s perfect. “Thank you so much. You just happened to have this with you today?” There’s a twinkle in his eye as he says, “I had a feeling that’s why you asked me to come this weekend.” I surprise us both by hugging him. Then I remember I’m soaking wet. “Sorry.”

“Did you guys have fun today?” “Fun might be a stretch, but not because your dad isn’t great. I’m a terrible golfer,” I admit.

“I love you so much. I know the next year is going to suck being apart, but I don’t want to wait another day to ask you to be mine forever. Marry me?”

“I picked out the first one. I wanted something big and flashy to show you just how happy you make me. I’d buy you a dozen more if you lost it, babe. But something tells me this one is probably more you.”

put the other ring on her right finger. “Then they’re both yours. Two rings for the number of lifetimes it’s going to take to show you how much I love you.”