Page 68 of Unforgettable Player

“Why?”

“Because you don’t kiss your best friend’s brother. And because you acted like nothing had happened and broke Sarah’s heart.”

Oh, fuck.

“It was just a kiss. I’m surprised she even remembers it.”

Elliot shakes his head. “It isn’t just the kiss. Scout actually defended you when Sarah started shit talking you to everyone and the whole thing blew up with them having a huge fall out.”

“Wait, is that why Scout’s pissed at me? It was like five years ago. We were kids.”

“You’re her big brother and she stuck up for you, then you didn’t even see the big deal. When she tried to confront you about it, you just laughed.”

I run my hand over my face. “Fuck, I was a douchebag when I was seventeen. But it was a long time ago. Surely even Scout doesn’t hold a grudge that long?”

Elliot gives me a strange look, one I can’t read. “She hasn’t had another female friend since.”

“What? In case I kiss them?”

He shrugs and turns back in his seat.

Am I the reason my sister doesn’t have many friends? She’s so scared I’ll make out with them and ruin their friendship, she doesn’t even try to befriend girls anymore?

I let the silence build between us before I speak. “I thought she was pissed because I got into Harvard.”

“She’s pissed about that, too, but she doesn’t really blame you, except—” He cuts himself off.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Go on.”

He sighs. “She was pissed when you ‘took a break’ from school. She was mad you’d get in and then not bother to graduate. She didn’t know you’d….” he trails off.

“That I what? Flunked out?”

“Connor, you haven’t flunked out. You could still go back.”

The thought terrifies me. But if I’m honest, Elliot suggesting I go back also fills me with the most excitement I’ve felt—outside of this thing with him—since leaving. Except, it’s not as simple as going back, is it? I grip the steering wheel, needing to admit this to someone.

“I don’t think I’m smart enough for Harvard.”

“I’d help you,” Elliot says quietly. “And you are.”

I swallow. Is Elliot offering to have some sort of relationship with me after the summer break? Even if it is only a tutoring arrangement, it would make this ‘summer fling’ a hell of a lot more complicated. All the more reason to stop it right now.

“I’m not as smart as Gabe.”

Elliot snorts. “I don’t know if Gabe is smart or not, but reading Proust doesn’t make you more intelligent than other people.”

“Oh, no?”

“No, it makes you a masochist.”

I burst out laughing and Elliot grins. For a moment, everything else falls away.

“Hey, you wanna grab something to eat? I’m starving.”