Campus Heartthrob (The Campus Series)

All Kira sees is a handsome and popular façade. This girl doesn’t know the first thing about me. We’ve talked a handful of times and they’ve all been surface-level conversations. It’s ridiculous that she would even think she has such strong feelings for me.

I shift my weight, wishing that she wasn’t so intent on forcing this uncomfortable discussion. Especially in front of a roomful of teammates. I’ll never live this down.

“If you gave me a chance,” she steps closer, her fingers squeezing my arm, “I could make you happy.”

My heartbeat picks up speed. This girl is really starting to freak me out. I’ve jokingly thought about taking out a restraining order. I might actually have to go through with it.

“Yo Kendricks, maybe you should give her a chance,” Asher calls out. “She seems like a real sweetheart.”

I shoot him a scowl. Of all the fucking times for him to wake up and take part in the conversation, it would have to be now.

It feels like a thousand-pound weight has settled on my chest and the walls are closing in on me. I have no idea where the words come from, but they’re shooting out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“I’m already dating someone,” I blurt.

“What?” She straightens to her full height, which is still a good eight inches shorter than I am. “You’re going out with another girl?” Before I can respond—with what, I have no idea—she fires off another question. “When did this happen and why didn’t I know about it?” Her eyes narrow to slits. “I haven’t seen you with anyone lately.”

It’s like she can smell my deceit a mile away. Maybe this was a mistake.

No, this is my only chance to break free. No matter what happens, I need to stick to the lie.

“Well,” I improvise, “we’ve been, you know, keeping it on the downlow. We didn’t want to go public until everything was for sure.” I need this girl to swallow this down—hook, line, and sinker. What I don’t need is for her to fire off more questions that I don’t have answers to. “So,” slowly I inch away from her, “as you can see, there’s no—”

“Who?” Her hand falls away from my arm before her fist settles on her cocked hip.

“Who?” I echo, gaze darting away.

Whose name can I pull out of my ass?

This whole lying thing is more difficult than it appears. Sweat breaks out across my brow as my mind goes blank.

“Yeah,” her voice escalates, “I want to know who this girl is.”

Most of the guys in the other room turn and stare. They’re all ears. You think one of these assholes could jump in and help save me from myself?

Nope. Not a damn one.

“Does it really matter? The point here is that I’m in a committed relationship and couldn’t be happier.”

“Actually, it does. I want to know her name.” The way she tilts her head while eyeing me up reminds me of one of those sly raptors from the dinosaur movies. Kind of scary. “Is there a reason you don’t want to tell me?”

No, crazy pants. No reason at all.

It’s all together possible that I’ve made a tactical error in judgment. I’ve got two choices here—I either abandon this sinking ship and admit that I made the whole thing up or I rally and put on a convincing show, so she’ll leave me alone once and for all.

Hey, it worked for Sydney. She pretended to be dating her ex-boyfriend for a damn month and I was never the wiser.

Sydney.

“Sydney Daniels,” I blurt.

“Sydney Daniels?” The corners of her lips sink into a frown as she silently racks her brain.

That was probably the last name I should have thrown out. “Yup.”

Just when I think she might drop the subject and leave me alone, she snaps, “Wait a minute, isn’t that the soccer player from our accounting class?”

“Yeah,” I admit weakly, “that’s her.”

“Hmm.” She shifts her stance and taps her pointer finger against her lips. “Looks like I’ll be having a little chat with her for stealing my man.”

Oh...fuck. Well, that’s not good.

I scrunch my face and shake my head. “I don’t think that’s necessary, do you?”

“It’s completely necessary,” she growls. The tears have dried up as anger dances across her features.

Why the hell did I let Sydney’s name slip out?

Any other girl on this campus would have been thrilled to be my pretend girlfriend.

Sydney, on the other hand?

She’d rather gnaw off her own arm to get away from me. Make that both arms.

This situation has disaster written all over it. And I have no one to blame but myself.

Chapter Six

Brayden

For the umpteenth time, I glance around the crowded party, searching for Sydney’s blonde head. Why isn’t she responding to my texts or calls?

I need to find her before Kira does. What irritates me most is that you know damn well that girl will be all over Sydney in order to verify the information. Like she can’t just take my word for it.