The Revenge Pact (Kings of Football, #1)(22)

There’s a worn paperback off to the side. I squint at it, mouthing the letters in my head. T-h-e O-u-t-s-i-d-e-r-s. The Outsiders.

Never heard of it. Not that I would.

Who. The Fuck. Is. She.

Her lips turn down again, as if something is bugging her, and I keep myself from moving in, sitting down, and saying, Tell me three things that make you happy. Smile for me.

I glance at Donovan, and he gives me a wide-eyed, hopeful look.

I ease closer, pretending to read a book I grabbed as I hold it up to my face. When I reach her table, I drop my pen and keep going.

“Um, excuse me?” comes from behind me, her voice husky and soft. “You dropped something.”

“Oh?” I turn back to her, and when our eyes meet, my heart dips. Emeralds with gold around the pupils.

She pushes her glasses up. “A pen. I think it rolled under my table.”

“Did it? I was, um, reading, and didn’t notice.”

“Here, let me grab it.” She stands and dips down to check the floor. Her head flips over and her nape is long and creamy, the skin pale and translucent. I bet she doesn’t tan well. She probably uses the hell out of sunscreen when she’s outside. I wonder what her natural hair color is—

I blink, refocusing my brain when she rises up and holds the pen out for me. “Tada. It’s got a unicorn on it. Nice.”

Our hands brush when she hands it off. “Yeah, um, yeah. Callie, she, uh, she likes to buy them and when I go home, I end up with one or two, you know, so I can have something magical at Braxton, that’s what she says anyway…” I peter off, wincing.

She glances at my book. She’s standing close, and I watch as her dark lashes fall against her cheek. Her scent hits me, light and fresh, like summer and sunshine.

Her dark eyebrows arch. “Not My Romeo? Romance lover, huh?”

Shit! I glance down at the shirtless guy on the cover. Leave it to me to grab a chick book. “Ah, no, I was just looking at it.”

“You said you were reading.” Her lips quirk up on one side, so lush and—

Donovan clears his throat, and I glance over at him. He gives me a What the hell are you doing? look.

Right.

How could I forget?

He’s my brother and he saw her first.

She’s just a random girl.

He’s had his eye on her all semester.

He’s lonely.

I’m not.

She smiles shyly. “I love to read. If you ever… I mean, just…ah, the library is a great place for books, duh, and if you need recommendations for a good book to grab, I can help.” She bites her lip. “Wow. I’m saying the stupidest things.”

Her voice is soft and her accent… I can’t place it. Most of the students at Braxton are from the South, but she isn’t.

“I’m super awkward around people my own age.” She laughs under her breath and tingles go down my spine.

I hold her gaze as goose bumps rise on my arms.

What the hell?

Another smile curls her lips as she sticks out her hand. “Hi. Let me introduce myself before I say something else weird. My name is—”

“You need a pen?” Audrey says as she appears out of nowhere and crooks her arm in mine, interrupting Rainbow Girl.

I blink down at Audrey. I guess she was hovering nearby and listening to us…

“Ah, no, this one works fine, but thanks,” I tell her.

Mellany joins her and they start asking me about the next party at the house.

I feel Rainbow Girl’s eyes on me as I give her one last look, pivot away, and leave her there.

After a few moments, I shake the Deltas off and sit down next to Donovan. I take three deep, steadying breaths.

I have the frat, my team, my family.

I have everything.

I’m not hurting for girls.

Donovan has no game and saw her first.

I went over there to get her for him.

But…

Wow…

She’s fucking…

“Well?” he asks. “You were over there for a long time. What did you find out?”

Not enough.

“River?”

I come back and focus.

“I’ve got a great idea,” I say. “You’re going to write her a note. Say everything I tell you to.”



* * *



I push the past aside and plop down next to Donovan. “Yo, my man. How’s it going?”

He looks up briefly then goes back to typing on his laptop. “Just finalizing the DJ for the party, the usual.” He runs a hand through his light brown hair. It’s cut in a short style, trimmed over the ears, shaved in the back so it doesn’t touch his collar.

“Nice. I’ve got catering covered with The Truth Is Out There. Marilyn is bringing a taco bar.” She’s the owner and we use her all the time. “I double-checked with her on Sunday.”

He pauses and looks up again. “Sorry about your game.”

“I’m considering coming back for my fifth year for another go.” A harsh laugh comes from me. “Or I won’t come back after Christmas and try my luck in the draft. Who knows?”

“Ah, okay, I see,” he muses, a quizzical expression on his face. He’s a guy who always has a plan, and I baffle him.