The Revenge Pact (Kings of Football #1)(70)

That was crazy, and not one male at the table noticed.

“The assumptions included…” Kian stops and glances up when I clear my throat. His forehead furrows. “Hi?”

I bite my lip. What to say, what to say…

The other guys raise their faces from their laptops and stare at me.

“You need something?” Kian asks.

Here’s the part where I’m supposed to say something super witty, but…

“I lost my earring. Somewhere around here, I think?” I say weakly, keeping my eyes on his face and not on the bookshelf where said jewelry is currently hiding.

He glances at the floor for a few seconds. “Oh. Don’t see it. Good luck finding it.”

“Um, yeah…” thanks for offering to help.

I don’t budge.

This sucks.

It really sucks.

My heart thumps in my chest. I feel strangely lightheaded.

“There you are!” River says as he comes up next to me. “Couldn’t find you, Ana.”

My eyes widen and my stomach does this weird pitch at his use of Ana. I don’t like it.

He gives me a smile then elbows me (to wake me from my trance). He focuses on Kian. “Hey, man. How’s it going? Finals, huh? Killer.” They fist-bump, briefly touch on football, run down how tough exam time is, the ski trip, then… “You know Ana, Kian?”

Don’t say my name like that, my eyes say as I look at River.

He gives my shoulder a squeeze. “Usually, she’s chatty. In fact, she never shuts up.”

“Don’t think we’ve ever officially met. Great to meet you,” Kian murmurs, his eyes sweeping over me and stopping on my stilettos. He pops an eyebrow.

Dammit. Too showy. Too—

F that.

“Sorry, hi, yeah, I was distracted.” I force a laugh. “You were discussing the theoretical analysis of the hydrogen atom? The Bohr–Sommerfeld model? Very cumbersome.”

Kian gives me a surprised look. “Ah, you don’t look like the type to keep up with physics.”

I smile tightly. “You mean, like a woman? The Bohr–Sommerfeld theory failed to explain many electron systems, such the hydrogen molecule. Not a physics fan, but I spent a summer with a lady physicist who researched quantum mechanics.”

Silence hangs over the group as Kian checks me out, eyes lingering on my boobs this time. Guess he’s making his way up. Look at my face, Kian.

“I see.” He searches for words. “Hey, you’re the Ana that Donovan broke up with at the toga party, right?”

And here we go…

River stiffens. “Let’s not talk—”

I interrupt with, “Yes, he did. I’m a pothead, a car thief, a Harvard reject, and a teenage homewrecker—not necessarily in that order. I’m quite notorious. Everywhere I go, people whisper. All. Week. Long.” My shoulders tighten.

“I know Lila. She’s your roommate, right? I had a class with her last year,” Kian murmurs.

Interest glints in his brown eyes. For me? For Lila?

Just power through, Ana.

A gusty breath out comes from me. It’s ten at night, and I really just want to go home, check on June, eat some ice cream, and go to bed.

I grimace. “Yeah, Lila’s great. Let’s cut to the chase: I’m looking for a rebound, a brainy guy for some fun.” I rake my eyes over Kian, my tone flat. “You qualify. Interested?”

Kian gapes at me, his eyes darting from me to River. “Oh. I assumed you, ah, were with River.”

I cock my head. “But I just broke up with Donovan—wouldn’t that be too soon to jump on his frat brother?” I say it lightly, as a joke. But really, is it too soon, Kian? What do you think?

He shrugs as he eyes River. “I’m not in a frat, but um, all’s fair in love and war, I guess?”

“We aren’t a thing,” I say crisply. Because River has a forcefield around himself, and then I’m recounting our conversation, again, about meet cutes and notes. Something wasn’t right about that. He didn’t tell the whole truth. My neck tingles and sweat breaks out on my face. He. Lied. I feel it. My head goes back to that night, trying to piece it together— “Well, I’m interested,” Guy One says, interrupting my thought. He shuts his book. “I’m a chemistry major. Way smarter than Kian.”

“I’m in,” Guy Two adds. “You free right now? There’s a party at the ATO house. I’m done studying—”

“Hey, I believe she’s talking to me,” Kian says with a small laugh directed at his friends.

My eyes sweep over them. “That seriously worked? A random girl you’ve never met just shows up, one the whole campus has gossiped about, and you’re eager to jump on the Ana train?”

“Um, yeah,” Kian murmurs, his eyes lingering on my tits again. “You’re hot. I’m in, baby.”

River flinches as if someone slapped him.

I straighten my spine. “Enlightening—really. Fascinating. Ever say baby girl?”

He blinks. “If you want me to?”

“I will,” comes from Guy One, then, “Baby girl.”

“I’ll call you whatever you want,” Guy Two says, murmuring his agreement.