Page 6

“Don’t call me that.” Blazing brown eyes pierce mine, and it’s kind of terrifying.

She pushes her laptop off her legs and comes to stand a few feet away from me.

“I know you’re the captain and you think people should bow at your feet when you ask for something, but you won’t get that from me.

I don’t care if you feel bad now or if you’ve decided to retire that asshole behavior and turn a new leaf.

You made your decision, and I made mine.

” She opens the front door. “You’re free to go. Don’t waste your breath on me.”

I watch her in a trance. There’s so much fire in every word she spits at me, it’s like watching a captivating performance.

Momentarily, I’m distracted by the thin T-shirt she’s wearing that reaches her thighs, and I’m busy reading the text on it when she snaps her fingers to bring my attention back to her face.

Impatience riddles her features, but I don’t move.

I need her, and if I have to deal with her uptight behavior, so be it.

“I was rude.”

She arches her brow.

“Fine, I was an asshole, and you deserve an apology. I’m sorry for the way I acted in Kilner’s office, he sprang it on me with no discussion. It’s nothing against you or your research.”

Summer stands by the open door with a stony expression. In a move that may get my balls crushed, I walk right up to her and push the door closed. Her eyes mark the movement, but I don’t see her knee come up, so I continue.

“Will you give me a chance?” I ask. “Let me prove to you that I’m not the asshole you think I am.”

Her gaze drifts to the flowers in my hand. I extend them to her, but she doesn’t move to take them. “You got me a mourning wreath?”

A what? I look down at the flowers again and blink at her. But the sound of a creaking door makes both of us turn.

The girl stares wide-eyed. “Need some privacy?”

How many roommates does she have?

Summer snorts, then pushes me away to walk back to the couch. “No.”

Her roommate eyes me. “I’ve seen you before. Where?”

“Not sure, but I’m Aiden,” I extend my hand and her eyes widen before she takes it.

“Oh shit!” She beams. “You’re notorious in these dorms, Captain.”

“For good reason, I hope.”

“I’d say so.” She smiles, then turns to Summer, mouthing something that I don’t see.

Summer ignores it. “You’re free to go.” She dismisses me like I’m an annoying child.

I try again. “One chance.”

“No.”

What is it going to take? I’ve never had to fight this hard to keep a girl’s attention.Majority of the time, I don’t have to try at all.

“What did you do?” her friend asks.

“Amara,” Summer warns, and I watch them have a silent conversation. Amara purses her lips before eyeing me up and down, and then she opens the door with a sympathetic look.

When I don't move, there’s a small smile on her lips. “She said no, pretty boy.”

“Come on, Amara. Don’t you think I deserve one chance to fix my fuck-up?”

She twirls a braid around her finger, eyes settling on the flowers in my hand. “Whose funeral did you go to?”

I give her a strange look. “What?”

“You’re holding a mourning wreath. Like the ones at funerals,” she explains.

Now that I really look at it, I realize I’ve seen the wreath before. That explains all the looks and condolences I received on my way here. I try to recover. “I’m showing just how sorry I am.”

She chuckles, her expression contemplative. “You’ll need that when she’s done with you.” The ominous threat should have me walking out, but when she closes the door, triumph lifts my lips. “Good luck. I’m not getting in the middle of this,” she declares, walking back to her room.

Well, there goes my plan.

I turn to the fuming girl who’s typing intentionally loud on her laptop. Funeral flowers in hand, I approach her like a man would a lion. With a slow lift of her eyes, she watches me take her laptop and place it on the coffee table.

“Let me help you with the assignment.”

“I don’t need your help. I could easily walk over to the basketball team and get their captain.”

There’s no doubt about that, he would be all over her if she wanted him. My damage control is failing. “Anything you want. I’ll do it. Do you want rink side seats, or I can set you up with one of the guys? What about Eli? All the girls love Eli.”

Unimpressed, she folds her arms. “You think the equivalent of having you in my research is sitting rink side and a date with one of your teammates?”

I shrug innocently.

“I’ve never been to a Dalton hockey game and I’m not planning on going.”

My head rears back in surprise, because everyone at Dalton loves hockey. Especially women. Half of our stands are filled with sororities. “Not a fan?”

“You haven’t done anything to make me one.”

“Probably because you haven’t seen me play…or without a shirt on.” The joke doesn’t give me the desired effect. Instead, her glare sharpens. “Fine, is there something else I can do?”

“You’re wasting your time. I’m sure you can talk Kilner out of whatever he’s holding against you.”

“I’m not doing it for him,” I say honestly. This is about creating a balance and standing up for my team regardless of the shit they do. “At least think about it?”

She lifts her chin. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”

Not wanting to give her any reason to rescind her offer, I head to the door. “You won’t regret it.”

“I haven’t said yes yet.”

I smile. “You will.”