The Other Game (The Perfect Game 4)

“He’s not so bad,” I said, defending him out of habit.

Melissa groaned. “I don’t care. Apparently his latest conquest is my best friend, Cassie. I don’t want to deal with that fallout.”

“The blonde dancing in the driveway?”

“That’s the one.”

“She looks tougher than most,” I said with a smile, hoping to calm her fears a little.

“I hope you’re right,” Melissa said, but she sounded unsure. “I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll see you in a bit.” She gave me another quick hug before she disappeared into the crowded hallway.

I walked back outside and saw the leggy blonde who’d wanted an introduction still hadn’t moved. The girl’s eyes stayed trained on my brother, and I wondered what on earth could be so interesting.

That was when I noticed what appeared to be a verbal battle. The girl who’d been dancing in the driveway wasn’t leaning into my brother as he spoke to her like most girls did. No, Melissa’s best friend—Cassie, I think Melissa said her name was—appeared annoyed, disinterested, and disgusted.

Suddenly she spun away from him, shaking her head.

“I like you,” Jack shouted after her as Cassie stomped away.

“So you’re dumb too,” she shouted back at him over her shoulder. “I’ll add it to the list of your many redeeming qualities.”

Surprised, I let out a belly laugh. This chick was too much. I’d never seen any girl act that way toward my brother, and I got way too much pleasure from it.

Jack saw me laughing and headed toward me, a perplexed look on his face. “You think that’s funny?”

“Hell, yes, I think it’s hilarious. What was that?”

“I don’t even know,” he said, shaking his head. “But I liked it. She was hot as hell, and her sassy little mouth just turned me on.”

“But, what happened? Was she actually not interested in you?”

Shocked, I glanced up at the sky, looking for pigs flying. All the girls at Fullton were interested in Jack. Well, apparently all except for Cassie and her best friend, Melissa.

Thank God.

“She’s interested,” Jack said smugly. “She just doesn’t know she’s interested. Lucky for me, I’m very persistent.”

I’d forgotten all about the other blonde standing near us until she cleared her throat.

“Um, Jack,” she said tentatively, and then bit at her bottom lip.

“What’s up, sweetheart?”

“I’m interested.”

“Of course you are,” he said with a smile before grabbing the girl’s ass and pulling her mouth to his.

I walked away from the two of them, shaking my head.

Welcome to being Jack Carter, I thought. It’s a rough life.

Campus Life

I practically freaking skipped into class on Monday, knowing that I’d get to see Melissa. After I ran into her on Friday night, she’d plagued my thoughts all weekend.

Jack had even mentioned Cassie a few times in passing over the weekend, which surprised me, especially after he’d hooked up with that other chick after pissing Cassie off. I figured he’d forgotten all about Melissa’s roommate, but apparently he hadn’t. I wondered if Cassie had consumed his thoughts the way Melissa had haunted mine.

Scanning the small classroom, I didn’t see her, so I took a seat in the middle of the room and hoped she’d show up. It would be the worst kind of torture for me if she skipped class today.