Most Desirable Player (Face-Off Legacy/Campus Kings 7)

Damn him.

Damn all of them to Hell.

Where they belong.

Julian rests his hand on my back, scaring the crap out of me. Startled, I jump forward, almost falling on top of the players on the couch. But Julian grabs the back of my shirt before I land on Ryan Nash’s lap. I’ve never had much grace. However, Julian is like a ballet dancer on skates, his movements so in sync when he’s on the ice.

I remember watching him play hockey, thinking he was the most talented man in the world. He amazed me. Julian had me so deep under his spell that I placed him on a pedestal so high above the rest of the guys on campus that I couldn’t see anyone but him. I don’t know if his teammates are any good. I don’t even remember if they won a single game. Because Julian was all I could focus on.

I just want to go home and binge-watch Netflix, settle into my comfy pajamas, and eat the pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream that’s calling my name. I have work in the morning at one of the many jobs that keep my head above water. A combination of grants, scholarships, and financial aid help to lessen the burden. The tuition at Strickland University is not affordable for most people. And with very little skills, my choices for good-paying jobs are few and far between.

When Julian touches my arm, wrapping his long fingers around my bicep, my skin doesn’t burn with the same desire as before. No, this time my skin itches like I have spiders crawling all over me. And I want them off. Now. I shake his hand away, desperate to create some space between us. He’s too touchy-feely. He always was. But things were different back then. He was my boyfriend, so it was okay. He could touch away.

Now, he’s nothing to me.

No one.

Just the guy who broke my heart.

“In case I forget to tell you,” Julian says, drawing my attention back to him. “I’m happy you’re my date.”

His green irises hold my blue ones in a death grip, unwilling to let me go. I always loved his eyes. When I would look into them, I would get lost. Like a sailor at sea, I would get swept up in the waves of passion, allowing him to devour me until I could no longer keep my head above water. All of the old memories—both good and bad—are coming back to me at once. This is the precise reason I avoided Julian.

No amount of time or space could ever stop my heart from pounding for him. It’s not just his rock-hard abs or killer smirk that makes me weak. It’s him, all of him. There’s so much more than what meets the eye with Julian. We were different in so many ways and yet alike in others. Once we found our common ground, I thought we had a connection, one that couldn’t be broken. But I was wrong, and he was wrong for me. He still is. I just have to remind myself of that every time he speaks to me or looks at me like I hold the keys to the universe in my hand.

“I wish I could share your enthusiasm,” I deadpan.

Julian nods. “I guess I deserve that.”

“You deserve so much more,” I hiss.

“Then, think of this as the date I still owe you, the one we never had.”

“That was your fault,” I spit back with venom in my words.

“Well, I plan to make this one date you won’t forget.” A genuine expression crosses his handsome face, one that doesn’t look forced or evil for once. “I owe you that much.”

My cheeks heat, whether it’s excitement or anger from the past coming to the surface I don’t know. But I guess I’m about to find out.

Chapter Three

Julian

Winning Briana over is going to be much harder than I had originally anticipated. She was always a challenge, which was the reason we clicked so well in the past. But her current attitude toward me is taking this challenge to a whole new level.

Standing in the green room backstage with Briana, I can feel her frustration and irritation radiating off her. Her pale cheeks are flushed, crimson splotches dusting her arms and chest. She would blow hotter than a volcano when she was mad at me, her response visible on every inch of her body. And I see that hasn’t changed. Avoiding my gaze, she stares at the crowd in front of us, her hands balled into fists at her sides. Briana was always unpredictable. I never knew what to expect from her. If I’m lucky, she won’t try to punch me on our date.

Nash and Knox are lounging on the couch in front of us with women who want to be here with them. Even Trent Kane looks happy for once. He’s been moping over Jemma Walcott for weeks, and apparently, someone fixed the auction so she would win him. It was weird, to say the least. I felt for Trent when he was standing on the stage, waiting for girls to wave their paddles. No one but Jemma raised her hand.

My teammates, some of which are also my roommates, are in their glory. The girls with the highest bid are making every second with them count. Yet here I am, forcing the Ice Queen to hang out with me for one night, wondering what I was thinking. Dozens of girls bid on me. There were so many hands in the air I couldn’t count all of them. And like an idiot, I decided to make one last-ditch effort to get Briana’s attention in the hopes that the one girl on campus who wants nothing to do with me would give me another chance.

So far, my plan isn’t going well.

“I’ll make it easy for you,” I say to Briana. “I know you didn’t bid on me and that you don’t want to be here. So, how about you come to my home game next weekend, like old times? You won’t even have to interact with me until the after-party at my house.”

She glances up at me, her expression unreadable. An awkward silence fills the air as I wait for her response. I wasn’t entirely responsible for our breakup, but I will accept the blame for some of the stupid things I said to her. If only she would stop being so hostile.

“Well,” I urge, tipping my head. “What’s it gonna be?”