Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(64)

“I could ask Daisy,” I say.

They all go quiet at once and then start laughing.

“Ah, so eager,” Gavin says through a chuckle. “Invite your girl, man. If nothing else, I want to see you in all your boyfriend glory.”

I flip him off as I get my ball from the rack. “She isn’t my girlfriend. We’re just talking.” I bob my head from side to side. “Exclusively.”

“And how is that different from having a girlfriend?” Liam asks with a smug grin.

I think for a second. “Fuck, I don’t know.”

They laugh at me again.

I lift a shoulder and let it fall, but then I think back to our conversation in the tree house. She said she knows I don’t do the girlfriend thing, but that isn’t strictly true. I have had a girlfriend, and I told her that. Is the real reason she didn’t ask me to be her boyfriend because she still sees me as the fun player only good for hooking up?

I sit with it all night, and after bowling, I FaceTime her.

“What’s the difference between having a girlfriend or boyfriend and what we’re doing?” I ask as I settle onto my bed.

“Uh, is this the start of a joke?”

“No.” My chest shakes with silent laughter that loosens some of my nerves. “I’m serious. My buddies pointed out that not hooking up with other people is basically the same thing.”

“I don’t know. I guess besides not hooking up with other people, it’s all the stuff in between. Spending time together and being there for each other, fully clothed, for all the little moments—good and bad.”

“And you’re sure that has to be done fully clothed?” I joke.

She rolls her eyes and smiles. “I guess I think of a boyfriend as someone who just wants to be with me, regardless of what we’re doing.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her to be my girlfriend. What she just described is what I want. Daisy—all day, every day. Preferably naked, but I think there’s some wiggle room on that fully clothed thing. But before I can ask, she changes the subject.

“The playlist for the ball is done! I even used some of your angry music.”

“Yeah?”

She nods. “Yep. It’s the perfect party mix. I can’t believe how it’s coming together. And you should see all the stuff piled up in Violet’s room. She’s going to be walking through a candle maze until we set up on Friday.”

I crook an arm behind my head. “Oh right, that’s this weekend.”

“Mhmm. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me. Violet finished altering the yellow dress tonight, and you can finally see me in it.”

“It’s Saturday?”

She nods eagerly.

“Gavin’s party is Saturday night. Big twenty-first birthday bash.” The image of Daisy in that yellow dress and then me peeling her out of it is a real welcome sight.

“Right. Of course. It’s fine.” She shakes her head. “No worries. I figured you might not want to come.”

“Slow your roll. Of course, I want to come. I just might be a little late.”

“You will?”

“Definitely. I just need to stop by Gavin’s party first and have a drink with him. Then, I’m all yours.”

She smiles so big you’d think I’d agreed to something really terrible.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I say.

What better night to ask her to be my girlfriend and show her how epic of a boyfriend I can be?





27





DAISY





I hold an umbrella over my head as I watch Jordan and Liam unload the flower archway from the back of Liam’s truck. They’re soaked, and the flowers are looking a little rough. I’m glad Violet isn’t here to see it. I don’t know how, but I will make it look fabulous before she gets here.

The guys bring it into the banquet room and set it in the spot Violet marked for it. She was very meticulous in her instructions.

“Thank you. You guys are the best.”

Water drips off the bill of Liam’s hat. “I’m gonna grab the box of extra flowers.”

“Thank you,” I call to his back as he jogs out of the room.

Jordan scans the space and smiles. “It’s going to look amazing.”

“I can’t take any credit. This is all Violet.”

He pushes his hoodie down and then takes off his hat and runs a hand through his hair before returning it backward on his head. “What time do you think you’ll be done setting up tonight? Wanna come over later?”

“I can’t.” I press into him. “I promised Violet I’d help her, and I know we’ll be here all night getting it just how she imagined.”

“Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I push up on my toes and kiss him. “Can’t wait.”

Liam reappears with the box of extra flowers. “Where do you want them?”

“Set them on that table for now.” I point. “Thank you.”

“Need anything else?” Jordan offers.

“Not unless you can make the rain stop, so I don’t have to trek in and out of it all night.”

He takes the hat from his head and puts it on mine. He steps to me and kisses me. “Stay dry, sweet Daisy.”