Campus Player

How stupid am I for thinking we’d found something special?

After Justin, I should have known better than to get involved with another athlete. One would have thought I’d learned my lesson, but apparently not.

“Demi?” I blink out of those thoughts, before refocusing on my father. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry about Rowan.” He shifts uncomfortably on his chair. “Do you want to talk about it?”

With my father?

As much as I appreciate him asking, I’ll take a hard pass.

When I shake my head, relief floods his expression. It’s almost comical. Except there’s nothing funny about the situation.

Dad changes the conversation to a safer topic. “You got a big game coming up tomorrow.”

Right...soccer.

I focus my attention on the team we’ll be versing. It’s a conference rival game. We’ve lost to this team as many times as we’ve won. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’ll be a challenging match. This is exactly what I should be concentrating on.

Instead, my mind circles back to the sudden death of my relationship. Unfortunately, the autopsy is inconclusive. I can’t figure out what went wrong. Even in retrospect, there’s nothing that sticks out in my mind. One minute we were riding high and it seemed like we might actually have a shot at a future after graduation, and the next, the entire thing is exploding upon impact.

Only Rowan knows what happened, and he isn’t willing to share that information. It would be so much easier to move on if he would give me some answers.

But he refuses to do that.

39

Rowan

The pass I throw spirals fifty yards through the air before landing in Brayden’s arms like a heat seeking missile. Coach blows his whistle, signaling the end of practice. As soon as he does, Demi pushes her way relentlessly into my thoughts. Out on the field is the only time I can forget about her and concentrate on something else. If I could stay out here twenty-four/seven, I would do it in a heartbeat. It would be so much easier than the constant thoughts of her that swirl through my brain.

But that’s not possible.

Brayden grins as he jogs toward me with the football tucked in his arms. I’ll miss playing ball with him next year. Whatever team he goes to will be damned lucky to have him. He’s ranked number one in the country for college receivers.

When he’s about ten yards away, he tosses the ball, and I catch it easily in my hands.

“Good practice.” He unsnaps the chinstrap and yanks off his helmet before shaking out his damp hair like a dog.

My attention meanders to the stands where there is a small group of girls sitting in a line. As soon as Brayden glances their way, they wave frantically. He grins and returns the gesture with a little more subtlety. Each girl has one letter of his name stamped across her chest.

And people have the audacity to say that I’m a player?

Please...this guy has an entire fan club dedicated solely to him. Surprisingly, Brayden hasn’t let all the female attention go to his head.

“Looks like you have plans after practice,” I say with a smirk, nodding in their direction.

“Nah.” He shakes his head. “Not interested.”

Well, this is certainly news. Brayden goes through girls like most people go through underwear. He’s one of those guys who could talk a baby out of candy. Or...a girl out of her panties for the evening.

He’s a charming bastard...when he wants to be.

“Can’t say I ever thought that would come out of your mouth.”

“Yeah, me neither.” A slight smile curls around the edges of his lips. “I like being single and playing the field.” He glances at the girls. “That’s what college is all about, right?”

Maybe for other guys. I’ve never been interested in banging as many chicks as I can get my hands on. There was one girl, and she was all I could see. It was like I was blinded to everyone else.

He tilts his head and narrows his eyes. “But it was never like that for you, was it?”

The words might be arranged in the format of a question, but I get the feeling we both know the answer without me having to confirm it. Unwilling to have this conversation turned around on me, I lift my chin toward his fan club. “They’ll be disappointed.”

He flicks a glance toward the stands. “Not really my problem. I’ve got to head over to the library after this.”

Now he’s really starting to scare me. Brayden is going to turn down pussy to study at the library? I squint at the sky. “Have I somehow entered a parallel universe where up is down and down is up?”

With a grin, he knocks his shoulder into mine. “Shut the fuck up. It’s more of a study date if you catch my drift.”

“Well, that makes a little bit more sense.” I guess.