Troy
“We’ll be going over this more in-depth next time. See you then.” Our instructor flips the lights, and I remove my glasses, stand, and stretch. After practice it’s lights out, and I’m looking forward to my pillow and after, some time with Dante. I’m determined to ace senior year and bring up my GPA a few points. If I don’t get drafted, I want more for myself than just to settle for a different career. Though if someone told me years ago, I’d be majoring in electrical engineering and taking classes like computer science and analytic geometry, I would have laughed in their faces.
I’ve struggled in school my whole life. It wasn’t until I declared my major that I began to seriously crack the books. With the bulk of my course load under my belt and most of my struggle over, I can concentrate on doing more than just graduating. The best things in my life have always come hard-earned. If there’s anything I want to teach my son, it’s that sometimes the hardest route is the best route because it’s far more rewarding. Ball came naturally. And though I’ve done the work and put blood, sweat, and tears into the games, it’s been far easier than the challenge of school.
“You’re Troy Jenner, right?”
I look over to the blonde, addressing me while I’m mid-stretch. “That’s me.”
“Good game last week,” she says, staring at the flash of abs when my shirt rides up. I extend my stretch to show her she’s caught red-handed and am rewarded with her giggle.
“Thanks.” Gathering my books, I size her up. She’s pretty, in the girl next door kind of way, but she’s got nothing on my baby mama. It strikes me then how I’ve subconsciously been comparing every girl to Clarissa. I need to get over it. She’s got a boyfriend, and as of late, keeps our conversations more clipped than ever. Any hopes I had, have been dashed by the appearance of a BMW after she drops Dante off with me. “And you are?”
“Nora.”
“Nice to meet you, Nora.”
“I, uh, well, I was wondering if you needed a study partner?”
“All set for now,” I say, knowing precisely what she wants a partner for. If I’m going to start dating, I’m going to have to be as selective as Clarissa. As hypocritical as it may seem, this girl seems to be the opposite of what I need. Not only that, I enjoy the chase. It’s no fun if the game is already over.
“Well, if you change your mind…” She looks me over and bites her lip.
“Thanks for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind,” I say before we separate in the hall. Outside the building, I see another sucker dropping to his knees to propose under the Era Tree. It’s a Grand tradition equivalent to an old wives’ tale—if you walk alone under the tree, you walk alone forever, but if you walk with your Grand sweetheart, you’ll be endlessly happy together.
Pure. Fucking. Bullshit.
I’m not at all against commitment, but for the moment, I have all I can handle. I pause to catch the girl’s answer and notice a brunette with killer legs in front of me. She’s a foot shorter, has on a sundress and cowgirl boots. Adorable.
“Better them than me,” she mutters as the crowd roars when the girl accepts the proposal.
“Couldn’t agree more,” I reply just as she slams into me, and I catch her to keep her from falling. Her clean scent hits me, and my dick is instantly on high alert.
“Sorry,” she sputters, “…sorry.”
Our eyes finally lock, and I’m drawn in. She’s beautiful, and despite her shaky demeanor, seems confident. Hazel eyes look me up and down, and I’m fully prepared to use every line in
my arsenal to keep this girl talking when she darts her gaze to her booted feet.
“Nope,” she says, breaking our connection before sidestepping me.
“Nope?” I ask with a chuckle.
“That arm belongs to me,” she says softly, nodding toward the hand I have latched around her.
“All yours,” I say, hesitantly unhanding her.
“Thanks for saving me a trip.”
“Anytime.”
“Good day.” She crosses her boots in a ridiculous curtsey, which makes me chuckle before she skitters off.
Game on.
I catch up with her as she hauls ass toward the parking lot. “Do you mind telling me what that nope was about?”
“Just an inside joke between me, and…me.”