Tutoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers #1)(82)

When camp is set up, Jordan, Vi, and I go for a hike. Violet is taking pictures with her phone from the overlook. Jordan and I walk farther down the trail, where it narrows and drops. A big rock perches next to us, but it’s too steep for me to climb.

“I think I’m good here.” I stop, and he takes a step, tugging me behind him closer to the dropoff.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He grabs me by the waist and lifts me onto the rock. His hand goes to my ass, steadying me while I crawl to the middle and sit. He’s right behind me and sits beside me. Valley is off in the horizon.

“I feel so insignificant up here.”

“Not to me.” He bumps his shoulder against mine and takes off the backpack he was wearing.

He hands me his water bottle and then unzips the backpack.

“Got anything good in there?” I ask. All the hiking made me hungry.

He pulls out chips, beef jerky, and then with a grin, a candy necklace.

I take it from him and put it on. His eyes flash with desire as I nibble on a candy bead.

“I brought this too.” He hands me my sketchbook and pencils.

I flip it open eagerly. When I packed it for the weekend, I imagined getting up early and sketching while he was still sleeping or maybe when he was off doing stuff with the guys. “What about you?”

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I know how to keep myself occupied.” He moves my hair away from my neck and places a kiss just above my new candy accessory. His teeth wrap around my necklace, and goosebumps dot my arms.

I don’t get very much sketching done.





Later at camp, we grill burgers and hot dogs, and then gather around a small fire. Jenkins brought a speaker and plays music while the eight of us share stories and roast marshmallows.

Violet sits next to me with her knees pulled up to her chest. She’s managed to mostly avoid Gavin today, but I can tell she’s still feeling his presence. He’s quieter than normal, too, drinking from a bottle of Jager that never leaves his hand.

“We should play cards or something,” Liam says.

“I think I’m gonna go to bed,” Vi says.

“Your bag is still in the SUV,” Jordan says, and tosses her the keys.

“Thanks.” She lets her head fall on my shoulder. “See you in the morning.”

“Night.”

She retrieves her bag from Jordan’s vehicle, then takes it with her to the bathrooms not far off on the main grounds.

Liam grabs a deck of cards from his tent, and we move our chairs closer together.

“Don’t deal me in on this one,” Gavin says. “I’m going for a walk.”

He stands with his bottle dangling from his fingers.

“Are you good?” Jenkins asks him. “Want some company?”

He gives his head a shake. “All good. Probably heading to bed after. Which tent is mine?”

I nuzzle closer to Jordan as Jenkins gets Gavin squared away on the sleeping arrangements.

“I think I might be ready for bed too,” Jordan whispers in my ear and hooks a finger around my necklace.

He’s been nibbling on it all day. Slowly, and a little bit torturous.

He kisses my neck, leaving a trail of warm kisses along my skin. He slides a hand under the bottom of my sweatshirt, and his cold fingers travel up until he finds the hook of my bra. It gives under his touch, and he brings a palm around to cover my breast.

“Jordan?” Liam’s voice interrupts our makeout sesh like it isn’t the first time he’s said his name.

My boyfriend doesn’t move his hand but looks up. “Yeah?”

Liam chuckles. “Are you two playing?”

Jordan deflects the question to me with a glance.

“One game.”

We settle on Fuck the Dealer with a minimum ten-second drink wager. Jordan has the deck, and Liam is up. I’m nuzzled into my boyfriend’s side, giving me a view of the cards as he places them on the table. Liam gets the first two wrong. He glances at me before he decides on his final card. It’s a nine, and the last card was an eight, and I can see the hesitation on his face. Moving my other hand just above the table, I point my thumb up.

“Higher,” he says.

Jordan flips the card with a groan, and Liam grins as we count to ten while Jordan drinks. Cole goes next, and I do the same thing, forcing Jordan to drink for ten more seconds. Taylor isn’t playing, but Jenkins guesses the right suit on the very first card, no cheating needed.

“Fuck.” Jordan finishes off his beer with another long chug.

“The dealer,” I say with a smirk. “My turn.”

Jordan angles his body to keep me from seeing the cards. Liam gets up to get another beer as Jordan shuffles and lays out three for me. I do not have the same good luck as Jenkins, but when Jordan flips over the third card, a five, Liam lifts both arms like he’s stretching and gives me a thumbs down with his right hand.

Jordan catches me looking at Liam and follows my gaze. Liam doesn’t drop his hand fast enough. He tries to play it off, but that nice guy smile turns into a devious smirk.

“You,” Jordan says, tossing the cards down. He stands and looks at me, jaw dropped. “And you. My own girlfriend. You’re totally going to pay for that.” He grabs me around the waist and lifts me over his shoulder.