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“Brock, if you need help studying, I will be more than willing to help you,” she purrs. These chicks think this tone is seductive. Right now, it is anything but.
“Thanks, I am good,” I bite out tersely. These girls are too much; first, it was Danica at the party last weekend. Then Simone at the library last night. I am almost afraid to ask what they might do next.
Danica leans down, giving me a direct line of sight down her blouse. Trailing a finger up and down my bicep, she whispers, “Let me know if you change your mind.”
Continuing to ignore her, she finally gets the hint and leaves our table. She only makes it a few steps when the entire table breaks out in raucous laughter at her brazenness.
“Holy fuck, dude,” Keaton says between laughs, loud enough for most of the room to hear. “Why didn’t she just straddle you and fuck you for the entire room to see?”
The guys all think this is hysterical. To me, Danica’s actions are desperate.
“How did I get so lucky to grab their attention?” I voice out loud.
My question causes the guys to laugh even harder.
“You really don’t know?” Zanko asks, not entirely putting me out of my misery. Leaning in to speak so as not to be overheard, “Those four followed Kassidy’s roommates here from high school. They are looking for a rich prick to support their lifestyle. Gareth made it clear that they weren’t interested in what Danica and her group were offering.”
My head falls back on my shoulders. Great, so because they didn’t get far with option one, they are falling to a backup plan. It’s just my luck that I fit the profile. I am not sure if I should be flattered or offended.
Choking down the rest of my sandwich, I stand, having to get to class. Waving a quick goodbye to my friends, I head out thedoor, my annoyance at Kassidy pushed aside. Danica and her troupe of sluts tend to bring out the worst in people. The fact that they tripped Kassidy up isn’t much of a surprise.
It didn’t take long for my academic probation issues to spread around campus. Rumors were already flying, but that is all they were, as no one would confirm them. The news was received with mixed reactions. Some people wore snide expressions as if me being a typical “dumb jock” is no surprise. Others wore concerned expressions since the school is looking to make the playoffs this year. Some people offered sincere help in my classes, while others did it just so they could garner the attention of the school, getting marked as a savior.
A message alert pings my phone on my way to the library. Stepping to the side, I pull it from my back pocket.
Coach
Mandatory team meeting tomorrow at 5 PM.
Crap, that means no tutoring session tomorrow. It occurs to me that I don’t have Kassidy’s phone number. Had this been a weekend, I would have no way of letting her know of the schedule change.
Reaching the study nook, I am caught off guard to see an unknown guy sitting with Kassidy. The guy is dressed better than casual, not quite stuffy. We stare at each other, assessing one another. Kassidy must sense the tension building between the two of us. She does brief introductions focusing on her papers, ignoring the two men near her who are locked in a stare-down.
“Brock…this is Gareth Worthington. Gareth, this is Brock Adams.”
I give him a quick jerk of my chin as he gives a slight nod in acknowledgment. Setting my backpack down and taking a seat, Gareth and I ignore each other.
Turning to Kassidy so as not to forget. “Can I get your phone number?”
Kassidy lets out an audible gasp, her head popping up, surprise evident on her face and Gareth shifts his position, letting me know that he is on alert.
Holding my hands up in surrender, my words come out rushed, as if I have done something wrong. “I got a message on the way here. There is a mandatory team meeting tomorrow, and I won’t be able to make our study session. It occurred to me that if this had happened on a weekend, I have no way of letting you know…”
Kassidy looks at Gareth as if for approval. For some reason, this has me getting angry. He gives her a lazy shrug of the shoulder instead of responding. As my ire increases, it takes a moment for Zanko’s words to come back to me. If this guy is married, why is he here and acting offended on Kassidy’s behalf?
Shaking off the questions running through my head about their living situation, my focus returns to Kassidy, waiting for a response. At the last minute, I remind myself that opening my mouth about these guys got me in deep shit that I am still trying to dig myself out of, so I keep my face blank.
“Yeah, okay, I guess,” she says before handing me her phone.
Before she changes her mind, I enter my number, sending myself a text so I have hers. Once we get that out of the way, our session begins. The atmosphere is tense all night. Gareth sits there, brooding and half-listening to my interactions with Kassidy. He is not nearly as outwardly hostile as Callum, but he makes sure that his anger with me is evident.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tonight’s session went pretty fast. Brock has his first test next week in economics, and we set out a plan of material to review for it. He is also working on three papers in various other classes to help get him extra credit. Once his instructors learned that it was up to me to help keep him on the pitcher’s mound, they were all too happy to help.
Gareth walks me back to our apartment in silence. While we have to pass the fraternity houses, we don’t wait for Brock to walk with us.
Once we are inside the apartment, I head to the refrigerator, pull out a bottle of wine, and pour myself a large glass. Once the glass is almost full, I gulp down half of it before topping it off again. Kennedy sees my actions and lets out a chuckle. Looking over at her, I lift the bottle in question. She scoffs at me. “Duh!”
