Player (What Happens on Campus Book 1) (10 page)

“No,” he shook his head, smiling to reassure her as he squeezed her hand back, “but you are going to have to tell me what happened some time; even I know secrets aren’t good for a relationship.”

Glancing away, her gaze landed on their twined fingers as she answered, “It’s not a secret, I just don’t like talking about it.”

“I get that, but talking might help.”

Her laugh was more of a derisive snort and he mentally kicked himself; if the accident had been as serious as he suspected, if she had lost someone close to her, surely she would have had some sort of counselling, she didn’t need his untrained ass telling her what to do. What the hell did he know?

Squeezing his hand, Chloe jumped up, looking down at him with determined brown eyes as she announced, “Come on, let’s go have fun.”

And for the rest of the day they did have fun, exploring the city and avoiding sensitive subjects. They found a grungy old music shop, where he educated her on Tim McGraw, holding the massive headphones on her ears because her head was too small. In the afternoon, they found the car and headed towards the Alamo, since it was only a short detour from their route back to campus.

At this time of day, there weren’t many people at the historical site and they managed to snag places on the last guided tour. As we walked around, Parker watched the fascination on Chloe’s face, only half listening to the guide. History wasn’t really his thing, to him this was just an old building that had once meant something, but he loved that she was enjoying it. He looked at the crumbling walls and wondered what she saw.

When the tour was over, they walked out hand in hand and he asked, “So, what now?”

“It’s getting late.”

“Do you want to head back?”

Biting her lip, Chloe hesitated, then shook her head. “No, I don’t want today to end yet.”

“I saw signs for a fair on our way here,” he suggested, “wanna check it out? We can eat junk and you can pretend to be scared on the Big Wheel so that I can hold you.” Smirking, he wiggled his eyebrows at her, liking the image he’d painted.

Grinning big, she nodded as they reached the car. Once more she headed to the left and he waited patiently until she turned back around, holding her door open for her. She ducked under his arm to get in and he shut it behind her, crossing around the front of the car and getting in beside her. As he was reaching for the gearstick, Chloe’s hand wrapped around his wrist, small and warm, making him look up into her deep brown eyes.

“Today really has been amazing, thank you.”

His smile widened – he’d been smiling all day and his cheeks were aching, but it was a good ache. “Not bad for a first date, eh?”

“Not bad at all,” she agreed.

As he started driving, she watched the Alamo growing smaller in their rear-view mirror but her fingers remained curled around his wrist.

Today had been amazing; Parker had been amazing. She’d never had a first date that even came close. Being in a car with him had been a bit scary at first – she hadn’t know if he was a decent driver – but after a while she’d become more interested in watching him than watching how he drove. He really was quite beautiful in a masculine kind of way, with the sun streaming through the open window to make his blond hair shine. It was too long, his hair, and there was several days’ worth of stubble on his jaw, but that just added to his rugged, casual charm.

One hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on the window, he drove with an easy confidence, his sleeves rolled up over his elbows so that she could see the veins in his forearms. When he turned, he leant slightly, as if he were used to riding a motorbike, which brought a small smile to her lips. There was just something about him that made her happy.

God only knew the last time she’d been properly happy. Whenever the emotion began to surface guilt mercilessly stomped it down; how could she be happy when Jack was dead? But the happiness Parker made her feel refused to be doused, it was a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach, a lightness to her movements, a teasing note on the tip of her tongue.

After seeing the Alamo, which had been fascinating – all that history! – they were heading towards a fair Parker had seen on the way to San Antonio and as he drove through the fading colours of dusk, Chloe snuck glances over at him.

When they reached their destination, Parker made a beeline for the Big Wheel and they joined the queue of excited children, parents and several loved-up couples. Standing behind a pair of teens several years younger than them, Parker draped his arm over her shoulders and tucked her into his side, resting his chin on top of her head. It was too warm to cuddle, the heat of the day having yet to wear off, but Chloe couldn’t bring herself to pull away.

As they waited, she looked around at the heaving mass of people. Everyone around her spoke with an American accent. It was strange how countries could speak the same language, she thought, yet sound so different. Honestly, she’d never been a big fan of the accent, but Parker had a deep, Alabama drawl, which was perhaps the sexiest thing on earth. Was there anything about him she didn’t find sexy? Turning her head to look up at him, she considered that thought and decided to wait before answering it until she knew him better.

Eventually, they reached the front of the line and the man on duty ushered them into the next available chair and brought down the bar. Their seat swayed as they circled upwards, the crowds growing smaller and smaller the higher they went.

“I know you were joking earlier when you said I’d pretend to be scared on the Big Wheel, but I have a confession; I’m a little scared of heights.”

Without a word, Parker slid his arm around her, however, she saw the little smirk at the corner of his mouth.

The Wheel stopped at the top and they both leant forward to see the lights of the fair spread out below them, the noise drifting up to them along with the scents of the nearby food stalls. In the chair below them, some kids were messing around, making everyone rock back and forth.

“Oh God,” Chloe whimpered, turning her face into his neck and gripping his knee, squeezing convulsively.

Laughing, Parker used his free hand to lift her face up to his, kissing her lips. When she kissed him back, leaning in close, everything else just drifted away. He returned her enthusiasm, his fingers sinking into her hair, pressing against her skull as he urged her on. Desire kindled in her stomach and shivers ran down her spine, the tiny hairs on her arms rising. Kissing him was like being in the middle of a storm with winds buffeting you from all sides, at once both exciting and terrifying, because she’d never felt anything like it before. Their teeth knocked together as he used his grip on her hair to tilt her head back further, tongue delving deep.

They kissed as if they’d never get enough of each other, but before they knew it they were at the bottom and were forced to part as the man stepped forward to lift the bar, a knowing smirk on his face.

Yanking his wallet out of his pocket, Parker said gruffly, “One more time round.”

“Sorry, mate, there’s a whole line waitin’.”

Silently, he held out a twenty.

Quirking one eyebrow, the man took the money and shrugged, before glancing at her and grinning. “Good kisser?”

Chloe’s cheeks burned bright red, but Parker just laughed as they started moving once more, replying, “The best.”

They returned to campus later that night, after Parker had devoured both a burger and a hotdog and she had stuffed her face with cotton-candy, which didn’t really count as actual food because it was mostly just air. Parking outside Willow, they made out in the car for long, breath-taking minutes like a couple of teenagers, before Chloe forced herself to pull away.

“I have an early class,” she murmured regretfully.

Sighing, he leant his forehead against hers for a moment, the position awkward because of his cap, before sitting back and reaching for his door handle. “Come on, I’ll walk you up.”

Halfway up the stairs, they ran into Derek. Immediately, her heart dropped into her stomach, as she realized she was supposed to go out with him tonight. It was well past eight though, so what was he doing here at this time?

“Hi, Derek,” she managed to say, swallowing tightly, “what are you doing here?”

“Came to find you,” he shoved his hands into his pockets, frowning, “but Riley said you were out, so I went to hang with some friends.”

She felt so bad; she’d completely forgotten. And the worst thing was, since Parker had stood her up when they first met, she knew exactly how Derek must be feeling. Luckily though, he didn’t look too angry, just a little disheartened.

Glancing over her shoulder at Parker, he returned his gaze to hers, “I guess a date’s outa the question now?”

Though he was looking at her, it was Parker who answered, “You guessed right.”

Normally, she’d hate him speaking for her, as if she didn’t have a mind of her own, but right now she didn’t mind; let him be the bearer of bad news.

Nodding absently, Derek said, “Okay, well, I’ll see you around.” At least he took it well; there were no tears, or punches thrown.

Turning to watch him walk away, she glanced up at Parker and narrowed her eyes at him. “Get that smug look off your face.”  

The next day it was back to work. Having gotten back so late, Chloe’s body protested getting up in the morning. Stretching her arms up over her head, she yawned, glancing over at Riley’s bed to find that her roommate hadn’t returned home that night. Sitting up, she frowned and reached over for her phone, sending off a quick text just to check that she was okay, before going for a shower.

Refreshed, she got dressed and jammed her books into her bag, slinging it over her shoulder and heading out, only to stop dead at the sight of Parker in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite her door, two take-away cups in his hands. A sense of déjà vu assailed her, as a smile immediately lit up her face.

Stepping forward, he kissed her, tasting like strong coffee and toothpaste, his skin damp from his shower after training and his jaw still unshaven, scratching slightly. Moving back far too soon, he held out a cup.

“Tea,” he announced, using his now free hand to fish several packets of sugar and a small pot of milk from his rucksack, explaining, “I didn’t know how you liked it.”

“Sugar, no milk,” she answered, taking off the plastic lid so that he could tip in the sugar.

“I’ll get it right next time,” he grinned down at her, walking close beside her as they headed towards the stairs.

“It’s the thought that counts,” she assured, but she liked that he wanted to get it right. It was a small intimacy, the fact that he now knew how she liked her tea, inconsequential really, yet it still felt like a victory.

When they got outside and Parker began walking with her toward the building where her morning lesson was being held, Chloe turned to him and said, “You’ll be late for your class.” He just shrugged and she frowned, asking, “Won’t the teacher be annoyed?”

“Sugar, I’m a jock, most my professors are surprised when I turn up.”

Again, she frowned at him, unimpressed. “You
do
go to class though, right?”

Sighing, Parker reached up to pull his hat off and drag a hand through his wet hair, flicking her with droplets of water. “I’ve never skipped class, even in High school; I can’t afford to. I gotta pass if I wanna keep my scholarship and I’m too fucking stupid just to breeze through like everyone else.”

“You’re not stupid,” she protested, placing her hand on his arm, “if you’re not book smart, that doesn’t mean you’re not other kinds of smart.”

Smiling, he put his arm around her and squeezing her playfully into his side, “I ain’t ever gonna be a brain surgeon, but I’m a damn good quarterback.”

Walking through the quad, Chloe became increasingly aware of the attention they were getting. Groups of girls watched them walk past, Parker’s arm still wrapped around her possessively, as if he wanted everyone to know they were a couple now, before turning and whispering to one another. Even the guys were watching them with interest.

“Everyone’s staring,” she whispered in his ear.

“Don’t sweat it,” he whispered back, his breath warm against her ear, “they’ll get bored soon.”

Chloe wasn’t convinced, especially not when he leant down to kiss her outside her classroom and several girls shot her death glares as he walked away. Thankfully though, her English class was made up of mainly freshman like herself, who had yet to be acquainted with Parker – and by acquainted, she meant they hadn’t shagged him - therefore they had nothing to be jealous about, so her class passed without incident.

It was only when she was heading towards her next class that a tall, willowy blonde stepped into her path. Chloe felt instantly intimidated; she was bloody gorgeous, making Chloe feel like the poor relation in contrast. But, being of a decent height herself, at least she wasn’t forced to look up at the other girl. It took her a moment to realize that this was the same girl who’d kissed Parker at the party the other night. As if self-consciousness wasn’t bad enough, now she got to add jealousy to the list of emotions she was feeling.

“So,” the girl pursued her lips, unimpressed as she looked Chloe up and down, “you’re the girl he’s screwing now.” Tossing her hair back with a quick flick of her hand, she sniffed, “Clearly he’s downgraded, but he’ll come back to me.” And with that last confidence destroying comment she stalked away.

It had all happened so quickly that Chloe’s jaw was still hanging open in shock when the other girl left. Her brain hadn’t even had come up with a come-back yet, let alone directed it to her mouth.

“Hey, you okay?” She glanced around to see Jet standing behind her. “I saw Karla and thought I’d come check that the Queen Bitch hadn’t drawn blood.” Seeing the look on her face, Jet put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder and said, “Don’t let her get to you.”

“She and Parker were…?” she swallowed tightly, gripping the strap of her bag convulsively.

Jet nodded. “They were sleeping together on and off, but it was never serious. He’s barely spent a whole hour with her, let alone a whole day. And in all the time I’ve known him, he’s never taken a girl on a date.”

That made her feel better, but only mildly, because Karla’s words continued to circle round and round in her head, mocking her. Thanking Jet, she said goodbye before ducking into the girls’ bathroom.

Dropping her bag on the floor, she stood in front of the mirror, gripping either side of the sink and leaning in. She wasn’t a knock-out, she knew that much, but she wasn’t ugly either. She was just normal. Brown hair, brown eyes, plain features, a decent enough figure. She supposed a bit of make-up and some dressier clothes would help, but that wasn’t her; she’d never been particularly girly, as a child she’d played superheroes with Jack instead of dolls and she’d only recently started wearing anything other than jeans and trainers.

However, despite that, Parker liked her. For whatever reason, there was something about her that he found attractive. He was the handsome star quarterback, he could pretty much have any girl he wanted, yet he wanted her. Realizing that did her ego the world of good, it propped up her sagging confidence until she took a deep breath and took back control.

As brilliantly as the day had started, in the end Chloe couldn’t wait for it to be over. All day people stared and commented, several even approached her to shove their opinions in her face. One girl with a severe haircut, a cross around her neck and a holier-than-thou attitude came up to her in the canteen, while she was grabbing a bite to eat, and blocked her path.

“Parker Mitchell is a sinner and he’ll drag you down to hell with him.”

Unlike with Karla, anger pushed to the forefront instead of surprise and she snapped, “What business is it of yours what we do?”

“Everything is God’s business.”

“But you’re not God, so I suggest you piss off and leave us alone.”

The girls’ expression registered pure shock, as if she hadn’t expected Chloe to be angry that she’d just told her she was going to hell. Stupid woman! Chloe shook her head in disgust.