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“You were really rudethen,” I muttered.
Elisse stared straight ahead. “You don’t have time for distractions with the championship coming up.”
“I don’t have time for life.” I pulled my arm free. “He’s right.”
“Who? Math boy?” she sneered, her fine features pulling tight, leaving the lines of her mouth hard.
Is that what I look like when I’m an asshole?
“Huh?” Elisse stared at me, her nose wrinkled. “Who’s an asshole?”
Fuck it.I fought a grin. Nick would be proud. “I’ll go tonight. Where’s the Kingsman house?”
Still blinking like she wasn’t sure what to do with the odd wild creature I transformed into, Elisse shook her head. “How can you be two years into Rippton and not know? You’re a mess,” she informed me, still gripping my elbow tight.
“Because you stopped me from going to anything. It became a habit.”
My routine was the same every single day, even on Sundays. I didn’t remember what a sleep in was, let alone a date, and I’d never had a boy sleepover. The only boyfriend I ever had was a brief fling in my senior year that involved wet kisses, bad virginal sex on both sides, and a tainted feeling once I realized he was also sharing the experience with a cheerleader with fake tits.
“You should fight back then,” Elisse eyed me, surprise widening her eyes as much as her botox habit would allow. “Don’t let me walk all over you.”
I stopped in my tracks “Fine. Then we’re going tonight.”
“He told me to bring you,” she immediately objected.
I didn’t have the energy left to be offended, or even laugh at her. “Do whatever you want. I’ll do me. You, you. Deal?”
“Deal,” my sister said cautiously. “When’s coaching?”
“A few hours.” I didn’t need to check my watch, but I did test my ankle with a harder step. It still ached a little, but more like a bruise than an impending tear. So, I could strap it. I’d be there on time like I always did. Then...
A light shiver worked its way along my belly and around my back, lingering where Nick touched me. The underlying strength in his arms, the way he pulled me into him, the muscle under his shirt–it turned out my first impression of my engineering tutor missed alot.
Part of me–a big part–wanted to peel that shirt away and discover what was underneath.
“Earth to Chloe. Hell, girl. One boy shows a spark of interest and your focus is all screwed up. This is why–”
“I don’t date,” I finished wearily for her.And whose fault is that?But if that was the game we were playing, the fault–ha, pun not intended–lay squarely with me. Because like both Elisse and Nick pointed out so bluntly, I was a pushover.
Because I have goals.
Yeah, goals that allowed me to hide from the world and focus on the one thing I cared about, at the cost of my social life. Everyone seemed to think I was either an ice princess with a stick up my ass, courtesy of my sister’s profile building on social media and my hermiting tendencies, or that I lived the high life on my parents’ money and my own.
I hadn’t touched my bank account apart from groceries in an age, or the annual tithe required by Rippton that came from my personal funds, just like every other student at the exclusive university. Oh, and when sand from one of the old courts invaded my phone, and clogged its ability to charge. My clothes were provided from the brands who sponsored me. Normal stuff for my industry, and for any of the Allstars who pushed their sporting career at Rippton.
What Elisse casually avoided was that I didn’t date because no one ever asked me out.
Was that what just happened? With as much experience in college socialising language beneath my racket as a first year on orientation week, there was no way I wasn’t attending that party.
My patience for my sister depleted, I did want to do exactly what she accused me of and daydreamed about Nick Jessop.
“Ugh, you’re exhausting,” Elisse groaned, tossing her pale blonde hair over her shoulder. “Fine. If we’re going to the party, then you need to go shopping. Or...” A wicked grin curled the corners of her lips. “I might have something that will suit you. Come on.”
“I thought I had training and classes and...” I trailed off as her grin turned manic, and groaned. “I know that look.”
“Yeah, cause it mirrors yours every time you decide to go for a big game or whatever.” She flicked a hand in my direction, dismissing my spiking anxiety.Maybe this was a really shitty decision. “And I’ve been remiss. You should have a full college education, Chloe. Let’s make this party a big one. I’ll message Felix.” Her eyes practically glowed as she replanned my afternoon.
My mouth dropped open. “You. Will. Call. Felix?” Death would be preferable to a cancelled coaching session.
