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She cringes and looks at the ground. “Look, I…” She shakes her head with a sigh. “We had a rough start, and it’s my fault. When you first moved in, I was going through a really hard time, as you now know. I was this yo-yo of emotion as I tried to work things out with Ben. And then all that shit with the paper.” She winces and bites her lip. “I should have let you in. You’re so nice and kind, and you probably could have helped me, but I kept it all locked up, and it just made everything worse.” Reaching out a gloved hand, she squeezes my arm. “I can see that you’re going through a really tough time right now, and I just want to help. I know what it’s like to feel alone in this place. When my first roommate bailed on me, it really hurt my feelings. I thought we were getting on great, and then bye-bye!” She waves her hand, her expression showing me how offended she was. “So, maybe I was nervous to let you in. Maybe I was trying to protect myself. But I shouldn’t have done that.”
My insides tremble, tears threatening.
Jolie swallows and gives me a watery smile. “I know what it’s like to want to curl into a shell and not let anybody in. I can see that’s what you’re trying to do as you deal with your pain. So, I guess I’m just forcing you out of that shell.” Her smile grows big and beautiful. “Just like Charli, and Caroline, and Ben forced me out of mine.”
I stare at her for a minute, my throat swelling as I take in her sweet expression. Then, on impulse, I wrap my arms around her and give her a hug.
“Oh.” She lets out a surprised laugh, hugging me back with the same intensity. “Come on, you. Come meet the basketball boys and my girl Charli.”
She takes my hand, and I let her drag me inside the gym.
The bounce of a ball and the squeak of sneakers are the first things to greet us, and then we walk between the bleachers and I spot a group of five guys and a feisty-looking girl playing an intense game of three on three.
“Over here!” Charli—I have to assume that’s her—yells, and the ball darts her way before she lines it up, shoots, and scores a sweet three-pointer.
“Yes!” The guy beside her raises his hand and they do a quick high-five while another guy with the same dark skin, chin, and nose picks her up and spins her around.
“That’s her brother, Darian, although most of the guys call him Dee, or D-Dawg, or?—”
“Shithead, put her down and let’s play.” A guy with jet-black hair and pale white skin frowns across the court. His arms and legs are covered in tats, and he has a piercing in his right eyebrow along with a bar through his upper ear. I catch a glimpse of his face as he turns, his piercing blue gaze hitting me right between the eyes. His black eyebrows dip together, a curious smirk rising on his lips. I avert my gaze, bulging my eyes at Jolie.
She snickers. “Yeah, that’s Mac. You might want to give the guy a wide berth. He’s… unpredictable.”
I nod and check out the rest of the crew. They’re all so tall and athletic. My eyes dart around the six players as I try to work out which one is Jolie’s boyfriend. It doesn’t take me long. The second he spots us, a smile stretches his mouth wide, and Jolie starts blushing.
“And that’s Ben.” She grins, wiggling her fingers at him before pointing at the other guy on his team. He’s a tall Asian dude and?—
Oh hey, he’s the one who knocked me over with his big-ass bag.
“That’s Jimmy. I think his actual name is Jun Hie or something, but he likes Jimmy, so just stick with that.”
I nod, figuring I probably won’t be talking to the guy much anyway… unless Jolie’s trying to find me a permanent place in her friend circle. I don’t know how to feel about that as I gingerly walk up the stairs and take a seat on the bleachers beside her. I’ve never really been into basketball. Football’s my game.
You don’t have to like basketball to be friends with these people. Just shut up and stop finding excuses not to enjoy this.
I bite my lips together and nod when Jolie points out the last person on Charli’s team. “That’s Sawyer. Ben told me that he and Darian have been best friends since kindergarten, and because Charli and Dee are so close, those three are like an inseparable trio. The six of them all live in this big house off campus. They call it the Basketball Base.” Jolie rolls her eyes. “So lame, but don’t you dare tell them I said that.”
I fight a grin. It’s so obvious she adores these guys.
“Yes, Ben, baby! Nice shot!” Jolie claps and cheers beside me.
I sit up a little straighter and force myself to clap along too.
These guys seem really good, and Charli is a firecracker. Look at her go.
Despite the fact that she’s a good head shorter than these giants, she’s tough competition, and they know it.
I find myself genuinely cheering for her as she pivots and avoids a steal, bouncing the ball to her brother before darting around Jimmy and getting in the perfect position to take the ball back and do a sweet layup.
“Woo!” She cheers and laughs in Jimmy’s face.
He rolls his eyes and shoves her shoulder.
Stumbling back with a laugh, she falls against Ben, who rights her and flicks her toward Sawyer.
She definitely seems like one of the guys and more than happy to be there.
I fidget with my rings, nerves scattering through me as they wrap up the game and walk toward us. Sweat is dripping off their bodies, and Jolie is right about the decent eye candy. They’re all tall, lean muscle, their arms perfectly crafted from hours of training and gym work. It’s obvious these men are a well-oiled team, and I can only assume they’ve been playing together ever since they started at Nolan U, which makes me also assume that I’m staring at a bunch of juniors and seniors.