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She raised an eyebrow. “Fake cheating? With my friend?”
“Fine.” I grinned, and she chuckled. “Then I guess I should get to know yourfriendtoo.”
“You’re being an asshole.”
She shoved at my chest, but I didn’t budge. “I’ve never claimed to be anything else.” I knew my reputation—it matched that of my brother and cousins. We didn’t put up with anything. People bowed to us and did what we wanted, just because we were good athletes. It was messed up, but it’d been like that for as long as I could remember. The only difference was that our cousins had gotten cozy with their steady girlfriends. We treated them like the queens they were, but anyone else was fair game.
I released her, and she shoved me before huffing. I was angry and didn’t want to take it out on her. But her friend was another story. I grinned down at him before pulling up a chair and joining them—looked like it was open season. “So Max, how do you know Aspen?”
He snorted and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Oh, this fucker has a death wish. “You want to rethink that answer?”
“We have art class together,” Aspen snapped, “and you already know we live in the same dorm this semester.”
I snapped my focus to her.This semester?I wanted to question her, but not in front of Max, who probably wanted to get in her pants. I would revisit the comment later. For the time being, I wanted to toy with him.
“So… art.” I skimmed his ripped skinny jeans. I hated to say it because not having money was a real thing that affected a lot of people, and my family would have been poor if not for Grandad, but I wanted him to get away from her. “You’re majoring in how to be a starving artist?”
“And you’re doing what? Putting all your hopes into maybe getting seen by an NFL scout?”
Yeah, he had my number. But I had his too. “Do you always ask other guys’ girlfriends out? Cause it seems like you’re waiting in the wings to take advantage of her if something goes wrong in her current relationship.”
Something dark infused Max’s eyes, and I paid closer attention. He squinted at me for a moment. “Funny thing is that I do hang out with girls that are in relationships. And you know what happens?” He leaned forward. “They always confide in me and not the ones they’re committed to. Wonder why that is?”
What the actual fuck?I growled, imagining pounding his face.
He turned to Aspen. “Hey, sweetie. I’m going to take off. Seems you two have a few things to catch up on.”
“Ah, no. There’s nothing Phoenix and I need to talk about. I’ll go with you.”
She stood, following Max’s lead, but there was no way I would let him get the upper hand. I clapped my hand onto his shoulder and held him in place as Aspen moved slightly ahead, not realizing what I’d done. I crowded Max, towering over him in both height and bulk. “Better watch your back.” Then I released him. He jogged to Aspen’s side, falling into step with her as they headed toward her dorm.
I couldn’t believe she was out with that guy. What was even worse was how much it bothered me. I grabbed my to-go cup and tore out of The Spot. I had to get home, anyway. But later, Aspen and I would have words.
Back at the house, I passed several teammates hanging out and playing video games on the first floor. The house was huge, and most first- and second-year students stayed there. Upper-level students could move off campus, and next year, I knew Cole and Riley were planning on getting a place. Damon and Skylar probably were too.
They’d asked if Shane and I wanted to move in, but I was on the fence. There wouldn’t be a cost because Cole was purchasing the place. He and Damon didn’t have their trust funds yet, but Uncle Lucas was a billionaire, and they had their own money from him.
Things were different for Shane and me. And now, with Aspen and the baby, I wasn’t sure what would happen.
I dumped my backpack onto my bed and riffled through it for the book I was supposed to read but was too stupid to start. I hated my learning disorder and that I had to share a portion of my secret with a stranger. This time, Stan, my advisor, had assigned a girl to tutor me. She was supposed to be here soon.
The door opened, and Shane lumbered in, looking exhausted.
“Where’ve you been? Tracey’s?”
He scowled as he passed me to grab a book. “Why do you think I was with her? You made sure that relationship crashed and burned.”
“Cut the crap. I know you’ve been with her since she dumped you in a text.”
“Thanks to you.” He got in my face. “If you hadn’t lied to her, we would still be together.”
“Until something else happened to threaten your potential in her eyes.” I bumped him back with my chest. “But if you’re okay with a gold-digger who’s only interested in fame and fortune and doesn’t stick around when things are rough, then don’t let me stand in your way.”
Shane paused, and I didn’t like how he looked at me. That calculating, penetrating stare told me he was looking past my bullshit to try to see what I was pissed about.News flash, bro, I’m still mad that you went back to her in any capacity and for any reason. Will you ever learn?
“What’s up with you?”
