Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(54)

“I love your optimism,” she says with a sigh.

Okay, fine. I admit there’s a teensy tiny part of me that wonders if he’s hooking up with other people. We mostly hang out alone in my tree house and around his schedule. It wouldn’t exactly be hard for him to juggle. But the bigger part of me just doesn’t care. Or maybe wants to stay in denial.

“I know that your past makes it hard to believe that he could be this popular jock who parties and sleeps around, and is also a decent guy, but I think he is, Vi.”

“You’re going back early to hang out with him?”

I nod. “He asked me to come back this weekend.”

“What happened with Liam? I thought you were into him.”

“I was, or I thought I was. I think I liked the idea of him more than anything.”

“Jordan is so different from Liam,” she says.

“Yeah.” I laugh. “But also not. He’s unexpectedly sweet and…” I trail off. “I never expected to fall for him.”

“Fall?” Her brows rise. “Do not fall in love with him. Talk to him, get it out of your system or whatever, but absolutely do not fall in love with him.”

I smile and roll my eyes, then shove at her leg lightly. “Don’t worry. I will be fine.”

Or I hope I will because I think I already have fallen in love with him.





23





JORDAN





Liam disappeared after practice and hasn’t come back to the dorms yet. He was late again and just a total mess. I don’t get it. These streaks of hot and cold are throwing the team for a loop. We get in a nice groove with him, and then BAM, he’s late or having a bad day, and we all have to readjust.

I came back to the dorm thinking he’d be here beating himself up about it, but it’s been hours, and he’s not here and not answering my texts. Jenkins came over with his teammate Warren and Warren’s girlfriend, Regina. We’re playing video games when there’s a knock at the door.

“Are you expecting someone?” Jenkins asks.

“No.”

“Go away,” he yells in the direction of the door.

“Nice,” I say, and then call louder than he did. “Door’s open.”

No one enters. I wait for another knock. Nothing. I put down the controller. I wouldn’t normally bother checking. In fact, it’s only the thought that it’s Liam on the other side, too drunk to work the door handle, that gets me to my feet and across the room.

A lot of athletes are still here over break, but the hallway lights are dim, and it’s quieter on the floor than during the semester. I notice all of this because the girl in front of me is a shock.

Daisy’s face is red from the cold. She’s bundled up in a coat and hat that puts all the focus on her face and those big blue eyes that seem even brighter in this dark hallway.

“You’re not Liam.” That’s what I say. It’s all I seem capable of getting out of my mouth as I stare at her.

“Surprise!” Her smile is small and forced—hesitant. “Hi.”

I’m still a little thrown that she’s really here, and I don’t move or say anything for too long. Regina’s laughter breaks the silence. That moves me to action because instantly I can see the wheels turning in Daisy’s head and her jumping to the wrong conclusion.

She takes a step back. “I’m sorry for showing up like this. You’re obviously busy. I was trying to be spontaneous. I’ll text you like a normal person.”

She ducks her head and actually takes off down the hallway.

A laugh breaks free from my chest, and I take off after her, grabbing her around the waist.

“You’re fast.”

“Humiliation is a great motivator,” she mumbles, and tries to keep moving forward. “Let me go. I’ll text you later.”

“But then I can’t see your face when I tell you that I missed you.”

She stops struggling and turns her head to look me in the eye. “You did?”

“Yeah. I did.” It’s true, too. I don’t think I even realized how much until I saw her. Everything just feels better when she’s around. Liam disappearing after practice has me worried, but here she shows up, and it soothes something inside of me.

I take her hand and tug her back toward my room.

“Are you sure?” she asks before I push open the door. I’m not sure what she thinks she’s walking into, but I’m not the kind of asshole she obviously thinks I am.

“Positive.”

Inside, she glances around and visibly relaxes at the scene in front of her. Warren’s girl is halfway on his lap as they stare at the screen.

Jenkins looks up first. “Hey, Daisy, right?”

She nods and waves. “Hi.”

“That’s Warren and Regina.” I point as I introduce them.

“Hi,” Regina says. Warren tips his head.

“Do you want something to drink?” I go to the mini fridge.

“Water is fine.”

I grab her one and take a seat on the chair, beckoning her to sit on my lap. She’s all bundled up and the cold from outside is radiating off her.

I’m still a little stunned, so I just wrap my arms around her.