The Studying Hours (How to Date a Douchebag #1)(18)

Or dark blue.

“Hey Oz.” She greets me with her own onceover, checking me out from top to bottom. “You’re not following me around campus now, are you? Cause I’d hate to call security on you.”

“Yup. I’m only pretending to tie my shoe so I can look up your skirt.”

She’s wearing jeans and a smile. “Oz, you met Allison and Hayley at the party—this is our other roommate, Sydney.”

“Hey.” I greet them both with a huge grin because, well, Sydney is almost as good looking as Allison and Hayley. All three of Jameson’s roommates are the kind of sexy that hits you immediately, not the subtle, classy kind that sneaks up on you slowly, the way Jameson’s does.

The hot roommate’s mitten-covered hand shoots out. “Hi. Gosh, you’re so… I don’t know if you remember me, but we met at Welcome Week in August? I’m on the dance team?”

Shit, have I f*cked her already? I got pretty wasted during Welcome Week at a frat’s afternoon pre-party and can’t remember shit about that weekend.

“You probably don’t remember me,” she prattles on. “You were working the information table for the athletic department. You’re a football player, right?”

“No.”

Not even close.

At Sydney’s crestfallen expression, James eases closer to elbow me in the ribcage. I give her a What did I say? look and shrug my wide shoulders because honestly, I’m not on the goddamn football team. What does she expect me to say?

“The dance team, huh?” I ask. “Yeah, yeah, that’s right. Now I remember. Good to meet you—again.” I shoot her a winning smile; I mean, why wouldn’t I? Sydney is hot. Flat chested beneath her Iowa Dance Team sweatshirt, but still pretty hot.

Jameson grabs her roommate by the arm.

“Anyway, good running into you, Oz.” She starts walking, attempting to haul Sydney away. “We’re late.”

“Where you headed?” I take a few steps forward, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. “Maybe we’re headed in the same direction.”

“Nope. We’re done on campus. A little late getting back to our apartment.”

“Late getting back to your apartment?”

Jameson clears her throat. “If you must know, our roommate Allison’s parents are coming to town, and we told her we’d help clean the place.”

“No library?”

“Not tonight.”

“Are you sure I can’t convince you to meet me in the back corner?” I give her a wicked grin and wiggle my brows.

Sydney’s mouth falls open.

Jameson, however, looks dismayed. “God, no. I don’t have time for that tonight—especially when you still owe me that money.”

“Why do you keep bringing that shit up?”

“Because you owe me money.”

“Technically I owe you money, but think of it this way: you’re not really out any actual cash. You just haven’t had a gain.”

“Technically you made a verbal commitment to pay me half of your earnings. I’m the one who earned it.”

True, but still…

I switch gears. “If you don’t come to the library, who’s going to help me with my chemistry?”

Jameson squints at me, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose with a cute little laugh. “You are not taking chemistry classes!”

“Fine, but I like making chemistry, and isn’t that almost the same thing?”

Sydney’s dark brown eyes volley back and forth between Jameson and me then widen when her roommate lets out an unladylike snort.

“I’ll tell you what Jim, since we’re friends, I’m going to help you out. If pretty little Sydney here has classes that would be helpful for chemistry—”

“Do not listen to him Sydney. He is not taking chemistry.”

“Jim, you’re hurting my feelings.” I place a palm over my heart solemnly. “Sydney, what do you say? You look like the kind of girl who knows her way around a…lab room.”

Her toe taps on the ground. “Oz, seriously?”

“My point is, if you’re free today, Sydney, why not let me take you for a burger? Are you as hungry as I am sweetheart? Wanna help me study?”

Sydney nods zealously. “I can do that. I’ve got Bio Chem now so it would be a breeze.””

“No hard feelings if I take her out, right Jimbo?”

Her face is an impassive mask, the only tell of any indecision her brief nibbling of that pink lower lip.

I gaze back at Jameson, trying to figure her out. Is she seriously going to stand there and let me take out her roommate without putting up a fight for me? Who the hell does that? Every chick on campus is dying to date me, bang me, or trap me into a relationship—and James doesn’t want to do any of those things.

What the shit is that all about?

If she’s playing a game to keep me guessing, she should know better than to play an athlete.

We aren’t deterred that easily.

I make one last-ditch effort, give her one last chance to change her mind and come to her senses. “James, what if we meet for dinner after you’re done cleaning? I’ll take you for a burger, no strings attached, and you can bring your laptop.”