The Love Game (3 page)

Everyone stops, and Megan sits back, putting the end of the pen in her mouth. Kay tilts her head to the side, and Lila chews her thumbnail.

“I didn't think about that,” Megan says quietly. “If Bray has one thing going for him-”

“Besides the obvious?” Lila snickers.

“Besides the obvious.” Megan smirks. “It's that he goes after what he wants. Girls, I hate to say it, but Maddie has a point. If he falls in love with her and she walks away, he'll go bat shit crazy trying to get her back. He won't let her go easily. If at all.”

My eyes widen.

“But what if Maddie falls in love with
him
?” Lila asks. “What if she can't hump him and dump him?”

“Please.” I shake my head. “Braden embodies everything I hate. He's arrogant, egotistical, and a pig. I'm not likely to fall in love with
that.
”

“But he's also funny, really caring, and beneath his man slut exterior, he's the kind of guy you'd take home to meet your mom.” Megan sighs. “I know him, Mads. If he wants something he'll do whatever it takes.”

“So we remind her every day of why she hates him.” Kay shrugs.

“It might not be enough.”

“It will be,” I reply firmly. “It will be.”

“Okay, back to the original issue. If he falls in love.” Lila rocks back and forwards, swinging her legs.

“Then we deal with that when it gets here.” Kay shrugs. “I don't know what else we can do.”

Ugh. “Okay, what's the last stage?” I ask.

“Stage Four, Hump and Dump.” Megan writes it and underlines it with a flourish. “I don't think I need to elaborate on that one.”

“No,” I agree. “You don't need to.”

I look over her shoulder at the colorful piece of paper on the floor. It's split into four, color coordinated, and every stage is explained. I sigh, wondering what the hell I've let them talk me into this time.

I rub my face with the bottom of my shirt. The high fall temperatures aren't football-playing weather for most of the guys in this house, even I struggle sometimes and I've played it since I could throw the damn ball.

“Break,” Tony Adams calls. “Please?”

I shake my head. “You're a fuckin' wimp, Adams.”

“Sorry, I'm from Maine and not used to these desert temperatures.”

“We don't live in the desert, idiot.” Kyle slaps the back of his head and we head back to where all the girlfriends – and Maddie – are sitting.

“Fuckin' may as well be,” Adams grumbles. I shake my head, grab a bottle of water and head over to Megan and the girls with Ryan.

''Ladies.'' I smile at Maddie, and she smirks.

“Turn down the charm, Casanova.” Megan laughs and tugs me to sit. “No one here is interested.”

“Except me.” I wink at Maddie.

“Yes, Braden, we all know about your vested interest in yourself,” Lila says and rolls her eyes.

“Ryan, control your girl,” I joke.

“Watch it, Carter,” Lila retorts. “Or I'll control your ass to Timbuktu.”

I grin and catch Maddie's eye. She's laughing silently, looking hot as hell in a short sun dress that shows off long lean legs.

“So, Maddie.” I lean back.

“So, Braden,” she replies, looking up at me through her thick curly eyelashes.

“Move your ass,” Kyle says, sitting in next to me. “Hey, guys, Maddie.” He nods towards her.

“Kyle.” She smiles widely at him and my hackles rise a little. I knew the guy was rude, but fuckin' hell.

“How are you, gorgeous girl?”

“Good, you?”

“Better for seeing you, that's for sure.” He winks and she smiles.

I narrow my eyes slightly, and Megan nudges me.

“Jealous, Bray?”

I snort. “Of Kyle? Yeah, right.”

“Okay,” she whispers disbelievingly. “But you're turning into a walking green-eyed monster.”

“Whatever, Meggy.”

“Seriously, Bray, if you wanna talk to her, just talk. She won't bite.”

“I might like it if she does.”

“You're such a pig!” She shakes her head. “I can see you're interested in her, so just ask her out.”

“I don't do dates, Meggy, you know that. If I decided to take her somewhere, I have no idea where.”

“You'd take her out?” She grins.

“I'm not saying yes or no,” I reply. “But I might consider it.”

“Starbucks. She likes their blueberry muffins.” She smiles, satisfied and amused. “Just let her get to know you. Not walking horn-dog Braden, the real Braden.”

“Maybe.” I look back at Maddie, and she's looking at me and Megan with her eyes slightly narrowed. She shakes her head, and I glance at Megan questioningly. She looks away, and I shake my head. Girls. I'll never fucking understand them.

A date. Why didn't I consider that shit when I agreed to Aston and Ryan's plan last night? Why did I think dates wouldn't come into it? Of course they fucking would, and they are.

Aston calls for us to start playing again, and I get up, handing Maddie my water bottle with a wink. She half-smiles as she takes it, and I can feel her eyes on me as I go back to play. Kyle pulls his top over his head, and I know this has turned into a pissing contest.

It's no secret to any of us that Kyle has his sights set on Maddie, and if I wanna complete the challenge the guys set, I gotta take it up a notch.

I glance over my shoulder, and her green eyes are on Kyle. Fuck no. I grip the bottom of my shirt and yank it over my head, stretching after and chucking it to Megan. She wrinkles her nose, and I laugh, noticing Maddie's eyes are back on me.

Good.

Kyle narrows his eyes at me, and I smile a shit eating smile, knowing he looks like a ten year old boy compared to me topless.

We all get into position, and the game starts again. Kyle and I seem to come head to head more than often, and I know he's trying to make me look like a prick. Fortunately, everyone already knows I am one and when it comes to football, he can kiss my fuckin' ass.

He catches the ball, and I tackle him. He falls face first on the grass and curses.

“What the fuck, Braden?”

“Slipped. Sorry.” I grin.

“Slipped my ass!” He gets up and comes towards me.

“Woah, woah!” Ryan jumps in between as my muscles tense. “Turn the testosterone down a notch, guys. It's just a game of football.”

“Yeah, Kyle, turn it down,” I goad him.

“If you're tryin' to convince her you're the better one out of the two of us, then good luck. She isn't as stupid as your usual clientele.”

I start forward, and Ryan puts a hand on my chest. “Dude, no. Go and chill.”

I take a deep breath and nod once. “Fine.”

I kick the ball away and turn back to the girls.

“Can't you even play a game of football without turning it into a pissing contest, Bray?” Megan laughs.

I shoot her a look, grab my shirt, and take my water from Maddie.

“Everything okay?” she asks softly.

I sip the water and look down at her. “Yeah, everything's okay, Angel.”

“Good.” She smiles up at me, and Kay sighs.

“I'll move over,” she says in a mock annoyed tone.

“Oh, Kay,” I say and sit in the spot she just vacated. “How did you know?”

“You look like you could rest your back against the wall.” She winks and Megan laughs.

“Or against Maddie.” Lila giggles.

I look at Maddie, and her cheeks flame a little. “I'd rest a whole lot of things against Maddie, none suitable for public viewing, though.”

Her mouth opens and closes once. Megan, Lila and Kay all roar with laughter, and I nudge Maddie.

“I'm sorry. Did that embarrass you?”

“Nope.” She squeaks the word out. “Not at all.”

I laugh and put an arm around her shoulder. “I think it did, and I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention.”

“It's okay,” she replies, a little tense in my hold.

“No, it's not,” I insist.

“Game's over!” Megan calls, and they all stand. I get up and offer Maddie my hand. She places hers in my larger one, and I pull her up, grinning down at her.

“Thank you.” She smiles and takes her hand from mine, making to follow the girls.

“Hey, Maddie?” I ask.

She stops and turns back to me, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “Yeah?”

“We have English Lit together tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have a class before?”

“Nope, it's a free. I usually head to the library to study.”

“Make an exception tomorrow?” I ask, leaning against the wall, facing her.

“What for?” She smiles a little.

“We could grab a coffee before class. I hear you like the muffins in Starbucks.” I tug a lock of her hair and amusement shines in her eyes.

“Braden Carter, are you asking me on a date?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Um.” I look around, and Megan has her back to me. She nods once, sharply. “Yes. I am, yeah.”

“Say it,” she demands.

“Say what?”

“I wanna hear you say you're asking me on a date, 'cause this has to be a historical moment.”

“Hey!” I protest. “Fine. Maddie, would you like to go on a date to grab coffee tomorrow before English?”

She smiles widely. “I'd love to.”

“Meet you outside Starbucks about half an hour before class, then?”

“It's a date,” she agrees and turns around, heading towards the girls.

I let out a breath and shake my head. Fuckin' hell.

I detour to the dorm room after my morning class. I shut the door behind me loudly and lean against it, shaking my head.

I'm about to go on a date with Braden Carter, resident playboy, all because of a stupid dare. But is it the dare that's stupid, or me for agreeing to it?

I think I'm voting for both.

I run my brush through my hair and touch up my make-up, glancing at the sheet on the wall. Stage One, Attachment. Today's goal is to leave him wanting a little more, to make him come back tomorrow. I sigh and leave the room, running down the stairs and out into the California sunshine. My floaty skirt swishes as I walk towards the campus Starbucks, butterflies going crazy in my stomach. Why do I have butterflies? I hate this guy. It's not even a real date.

That thought doesn't stop the extra loud beat of my heart when I see him. He's leaning against the wall outside, headphones in, and his head is bobbing to whatever he's listening to. His hands are in the pockets of his slim fit, dark blue jeans. As if he can feel me watching, he looks up and electric blue eyes collide with mine.

He smiles as I approach him, and the butterflies turn to stampeding elephants. I feel sick.

“Hey there, Angel,” Braden says and reaches to open the door for me.

“Hey,” I reply, walking through the door. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” He puts a hand on my back and guides me towards the counter. “What are you having?”

“A grande double chocolate chip frappucino, please.” I smile at his confused face. “What?”

“Chocolate chips in coffee? Why?”

“Why not?” I shrug. “It's yummy.”

“Okay, I'll try that.”

“What do you normally have?”

“Uh, normal coffee. You know, like a normal person drinks?” He laughs.

“Are you saying I'm not normal?” I raise an eyebrow as we reach the counter.

“Not at all.” He smiles. “Hi, can I have, er, what was it again?” He looks at me sheepishly.

I sigh, roll my eyes and shake my head. “Can we have two grande double chocolate chip fraps please?”

“And two blueberry muffins,” Braden adds, looking down at me. I blush slightly, and he slides his hand round so it's holding my waist. The barista steals glances at him as she prepares our drinks. It's all I can do not to roll my eyes again. We take our drinks, and Braden pays.

“Is it always like this for you?” I ask as we sit down.

“Like what?”

“Girls staring at you.”

“Who was staring?”

“The barista. Did you not notice?”

He shrugs one shoulder carelessly. “I don't pay much attention to it. If they're good enough to catch my eye then I'll pay them attention.”

“Oh, I feel so privileged,” I say sarcastically.

“Hey.” He raises his eyebrows. “I'm on a date with you, so you're not just good enough, Maddie. In fact, you're probably too good.”

I sip my drink and pick a piece of muffin off, popping it into my mouth. “So why are you here then? If I'm too good.”

“Because I'll never know unless I try, right?” he asks. “Like this coffee. I never knew how good it was until I tried it. I'll never know if I'm good enough for you unless I try.”