Scoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #3)

by Rebecca Jenshak

“Who?” I’m careful not to meet her gaze. “Your boyfriend?” “No. Gavin is coming later. He had a basketball thing.” When I give in and look at her, she arches a dark brow and tips her chin so that her long, black hair falls over one shoulder. “You know who.” I do know, but I stay quiet anyway. “Felix Walters,” she says pointedly, amidst my silence. “The cute QB who is totally crushing on you.”

I’m still me. Dahlia Brady, shy and awkward, destined to never have a boyfriend.

My skin pricks and I know Felix is looking at me. It’s always like this. I don’t know what it is about him, but I’m extra awkward around him. We aren’t exactly friends, but Felix is friends with Daisy and Violet’s jock boyfriends, so we seem to keep running into each other.

Here’s the thing about Felix. He’s suuuper hot. No question about that. But it isn’t just that he’s a hot guy that throws me so off balance when he’s nearby. He remembers things, asks me personal questions, gives me the type of attention that most guys, hot or not, don’t really give me. I like his voice and the way he smiles at me like he’s happy I’m around. And I admire that he’s this successful football player with big dreams but still likes to kick back and have a good time.

The tips of his fingers brush against mine during the hand-off and I nearly drop the can. “Oops. Fumble.” I laugh at my own joke. Then cringe. Felix’s smile just gets bigger.

Before I get to them, I spot Felix. I don’t mean to. I always just seem to find him in a crowd. Like my brain is searching for him even when I don’t realize it. He’s standing with Bethany. His ex-girlfriend. She’s universally acknowledged as the hottest girl on campus. Long legs that go for miles, shiny blonde hair, and these big, brown eyes. They look great together.

Felix moves in front of me and claps the guy, who almost squished me, on the shoulder. “Watch where you’re going, Brogan.” Brogan turns and a lazy smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Sorry about that.” “It’s okay.” Felix crosses his arms over his impressive chest. “It’s not okay. You could have hurt Dahlia.”

“You should go back out there and ask him to give you a tour of his bedroom.”

“Good point. We better get you a couple shots first.” Laughing lightly, I shake my head. “There is not enough alcohol in the world.”

“He just looks at me and I start sweating and my mind goes blank. He’s stupid hot. As in he makes me totally stupid. I lose brain cells every time he speaks to me. I would probably die of sensory overload if he kissed me. Or if I saw him shirtless. Forget about it.” I groan. “I’d like to lick every inch of his body and climb him like a freaking tree. Of course, I’d have to duct tape his mouth because when he says my name, ‘Dahlia,’” I mimic his deep voice, and then fan my face, “I’m two seconds away from orgasming.”

“It’s all bullshit. She’s hooking up with Armstrong. I walked in on them last night. In my damn bed.”

think it’s awesome.” Archer smirks. “She’s hot. If you’re not gonna let her climb you, then mind if I text her?”

“The one you almost trampled, you mean?” “I didn’t see her. Besides, you were all too happy to swoop in and save the day.” He takes a bite of food. “I have never seen a chick run from you so fast. Which makes this video extra curious. Did you screw it up before or after she said she wanted to lick every inch of your torso?”

I totally freeze up. Even worse around you because, well, you’re hot.”

“It’s actually pretty funny. Me and you.” I point between us. “You’re the hottest guy on campus and I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

“You could have said I was ugly, and you’d rather ride a cactus than me, and I’d still have been hanging on your every word. It’s the most I’ve ever heard you talk. Until now. You have a nice voice.”

“I’m no Felix Walters, but I’d have sex with you.”

“Hey, asshole. That’s my girlfriend you’re making a pass at, and trust me, you’d be so lucky.”

“Why this song? Are you a Swiftie?” “Who isn’t?”

“I’ve never seen you sweat a girl so hard,” Lucas says. “You must be really into her.”

“Wow.” Felix’s voice freezes my movements from head to toe. He steps through the crowd, eyes locked on me. “Dahlia, you look…wow.” He clears his throat. “I’ve forgotten all other adjectives.”

“I asked him if he signs and then I was telling him that my dad is hard of hearing,” she says. “He doesn’t sign that often, but my mom and I took classes with him when I was in middle school. I’m rusty.” “You did great,” Archer says with a wink.

“Actually, she is exactly my type, which is why I asked her to be my girlfriend earlier tonight.” Dahlia makes a choked, strangled sound and then hides it with a cough. I step closer and take her hand in mine. “Now that that’s settled, can we get the game going again? Start at the opposite end this time.” I avoid

Not hooking up. Not hooking up. Not hooking up…tonight.

“Felix,” she whispers. “Mhmm.” I trail my fingers along her cheek. “I’m not going to have sex with you.” “Not tonight, I know.” I step closer, eliminating some of the space between us. “But we can do other things.”

“Felix?” “Yeah, baby?” “Did you hear me, because it’s really embarrassing and I don’t want to repeat it if I don’t have to, but it doesn’t seem like you heard me.” I stand straight to look at her, but keep our bodies close. I repeat her last words. “You’ve never done it.” Oh fuck. “Wait. You mean…” Her face is so red, I know it’s true, but I ask anyway. “You’re a virgin?”

“I’ve never done anything. I’ve never even been kissed.”

but I was about to suggest we find a bathroom where I could finger her. And I probably would have scarred her for life.

“First of all, just know I am horrified that I told you all that, but since I did, the only way I can think to make it better is to tell you everything, so you know I’m not some sad girl you need to feel sorry for.” “I don’t feel sorry for you,” he says, without missing a beat. “I feel sorry for all the guys that fucked it up.”

“I don’t know,” I say, finally. “Say yes, Dahlia.” My body tingles. “No fair using my name. You know what it does to me.” His smile widens. “Say yes, hot stuff.”

There’s only one little problem in our fake dating plan. The more time I spend with her, the more I want to kiss her and do a whole bunch of other things that would probably freak her out. I know it’s selfish to take what I want when it’s not real.

“Are people going to keep believing we’re together if we aren’t touching or making out?” Well, that gets my attention. I clear my throat. “Ah. Good point. Yeah, some PDA is probably necessary.”

“Sure to kissing or no kissing?” She licks her lips as her gaze darts to my mouth. “I mean, you’ve already kissed my neck, so I think that’s okay. It can be our signature move. What do you think?” I step closer, holding her stare, and then drop my head to place a soft kiss just above her collarbone. “Like that?” “Yes.” Her voice trembles.

“Letting everyone know I’m out with my girl.” “Oh, god. I’m gonna be sick,” she says. “Do I look okay in it? Maybe we should take another one in better lighting.” “You look perfect.” “Liar. But thank you.”

“I’m sorry for anything that happens in the next thirty seconds,” I say, just before Stella and Holly step up in front of us. “What?” Dahlia asks at the same time Stella says, “Hi, big brother. Are you going to introduce us to your new girl?”

“Did you hurt your hand?” He looks down at it as if he just thought to check it out for himself. He opens and closes his fingers into a fist. “It’s fine.” Without thinking, I reach for his hand and take it gently in mine to examine it. His knuckles are red and a little swollen. I run my thumb lightly over his injured knuckles. “Does that hurt?” “No.” His voice is deeper than it was a minute ago. He curls his fingers around mine to stop me from dropping his hand. “Liar.”

“Relax, hot stuff.” Felix drops a hand to my thigh under the table, and I do the exact opposite of relax. “All good things.”

“You’re really here,” he says, as he takes a few more steps into the lab. “Where else would I be?” “I thought working at the design lab was code for you dodging me.” “Why would I…?” I start, but he’s closer now and his scent hits me. Definitely not a dream.

“Eddie is a little bigger than you,” she says. “Way to ruin the moment,” I mutter under my breath. That killed any movement south. “I mean taller. What are you, six-two?” “And a half.” That half inch seems super important right now.

“You’re not bad.” “It’s my secret talent. Eight years of dance class.” “I can picture you in a sexy little leotard.”

place a hand at her hip and because I’m greedy, glide my thumb along the band of her shorts and let it slip just under so that I’m touching bare skin. “I have a secret talent too.” “I don’t think it’s a secret.” Her voice is breathy. It takes everything in me to pull away from her. I give her a playful wink as I force my feet back. “Not that.” “What is it?” “I’ll show you sometime,” I say, then raise my hands at my sides. “Did you get what you needed?”

Felix walks into my room and toward the many blankets and pillows spread out on the floor between my bed and the window. “Woah,” Felix says. “This is…I don’t even have words.” Jane grins. “Awesome, right?” “Is this for the many guys you lure back to your room, hot stuff?”

“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.” I laugh. “Turn over.” He hesitates, but when I motion for him to flip, he does. Lying on his stomach, I inch forward until my knees rest against his hip. I press my hands to his back. “Here?” “Little higher.” I adjust.

do like you.” “You know what I mean. Like me.” “I do.” He fingers a strand of my hair by my ear and his knuckles graze my neck. “But…” “I’m not the guy for you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wish that I were.”

move just a fraction closer. Gently, he brushes the pad of his thumb over my lower lip, but he doesn’t bring his mouth to mine. Instead, he says, “Don’t settle for less, okay? You deserve that.”

I’ve thought about kissing her no less than a hundred times in the past thirty seconds alone, but I’m not going to steal her first kiss to prove a point to my buddies.

don’t understand. I like you. You like me. Everyone thinks we’re together. What’s the big, damn deal?” My stomach rolls with a possibility I hadn’t considered. “Or did you just say that you liked me because you felt sorry for me?”

“Don’t tease me, hot stuff. I would do very bad things for those tacos right now.”

“You didn’t say the magic word.” She’s squirming on my lap, which does not go unnoticed by my dick. “Is the magic word tacos?” I ask. “No.” My fingers dance up her rib cage again. “Is it Felix Walters is a god among men?” She laughs. “That’s not one word.” “I know, but it was worth a shot. Plus, I just wanted to throw it out there, so you’d know it was okay if you were feeling that too.” “Your ego is impressive.” “All of me is impressive,” I say before I can think better of it. She just giggles. “Please, hot stuff, may I have your leftover tacos?”

“Well, I wanted to celebrate by gawking at you wearing my jersey all night.”