The Guy on the Left (The Underdogs, #2)(27)

“You’re Troy Jenner, right?”

I look over to the blonde, addressing me while I’m mid-stretch. “That’s me.”

“Good game last week,” she says, staring at the flash of abs when my shirt rides up. I extend my stretch to show her she’s caught red-handed and am rewarded with her giggle.

“Thanks.” Gathering my books, I size her up. She’s pretty, in the girl next door kind of way, but she’s got nothing on my baby mama. It strikes me then how I’ve subconsciously been comparing every girl to Clarissa. I need to get over it. She’s got a boyfriend, and as of late, keeps our conversations more clipped than ever. Any hopes I had, have been dashed by the appearance of a BMW after she drops Dante off with me. “And you are?”

“Nora.”

“Nice to meet you, Nora.”

“I, uh, well, I was wondering if you needed a study partner?”

“All set for now,” I say, knowing precisely what she wants a partner for. If I’m going to start dating, I’m going to have to be as selective as Clarissa. As hypocritical as it may seem, this girl seems to be the opposite of what I need. Not only that, I enjoy the chase. It’s no fun if the game is already over.

“Well, if you change your mind…” She looks me over and bites her lip.

“Thanks for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind,” I say before we separate in the hall. Outside the building, I see another sucker dropping to his knees to propose under the Era Tree. It’s a Grand tradition equivalent to an old wives’ tale—if you walk alone under the tree, you walk alone forever, but if you walk with your Grand sweetheart, you’ll be endlessly happy together.

Pure. Fucking. Bullshit.

I’m not at all against commitment, but for the moment, I have all I can handle. I pause to catch the girl’s answer and notice a brunette with killer legs in front of me. She’s a foot shorter, has on a sundress and cowgirl boots. Adorable.

“Better them than me,” she mutters as the crowd roars when the girl accepts the proposal.

“Couldn’t agree more,” I reply just as she slams into me, and I catch her to keep her from falling. Her clean scent hits me, and my dick is instantly on high alert.

“Sorry,” she sputters, “…sorry.”

Our eyes finally lock, and I’m drawn in. She’s beautiful, and despite her shaky demeanor, seems confident. Hazel eyes look me up and down, and I’m fully prepared to use every line in my arsenal to keep this girl talking when she darts her gaze to her booted feet.

“Nope,” she says, breaking our connection before sidestepping me.

“Nope?” I ask with a chuckle.

“That arm belongs to me,” she says softly, nodding toward the hand I have latched around her.

“All yours,” I say, hesitantly unhanding her.

“Thanks for saving me a trip.”

“Anytime.”

“Good day.” She crosses her boots in a ridiculous curtsey, which makes me chuckle before she skitters off.

Game on.

I catch up with her as she hauls ass toward the parking lot. “Do you mind telling me what that nope was about?”

“Just an inside joke between me, and…me.”

“You’re bruising me here, beautiful. Did that nope mean I’m not your type?”

“Exactly.”

“Ouch.”

“I’m sure a…ego of your size can handle it.”

I’m grinning again, but she can’t see it because she’s practically running from me. “I’m not so sure, it’s leading me in the direction away from class.”

“Better switch lanes then, don’t want to be late,” she says breathlessly.

“What if you’re wrong?” I ask, fully interested. She’s gorgeous, smells amazing, and her deep twang is alluring. Interest piqued, I decide she could be just the distraction I’m looking for. I can’t remember the last time I went on a real date. And from the way she’s avoiding me, it’s easy to tell she’s been burned. She’s wary of me, and for some reason that’s my new catnip. Maybe this girl is the place to start.

“What if I’m right?”

Flustered, she brings her eyes to mine. Recognition, attraction, it all passes between us before she scrambles to pull her phone from her purse and takes a fake call. She’s avoiding me. It’s the same type of Clarissa rejection all over again.

Interesting.

“Sorry, I gotta take this,” she says, her eyes drinking me in once again, and I do the same, regretfully taking her hint.

“Shame,” I say before giving her freedom, for now, because after the class I’m now late for, and my nap, I have a date with my son.





I tap lightly on Clarissa’s door. “Are you decent? Dante said you wanted to see me?”

“I’m dressed.”

From the doorway, I poke my head in and see she’s sitting at a small vanity in the corner of her bedroom.

“Nice room.”

“Thanks. Come in, have a seat.” I take a seat on the bed as she lines her lips in hot pink. Her dress is a deep turquoise, the front dipping low accentuating her mouth-watering cleavage while the rest of it hugs her curves.