Page 11 of Offside Attraction

She’s hot.

Just not what I’m looking for.

“Hey, handsome,” she purrs, eyes locking onto mine as she steps closer.

I’m a lot taller than her, so she has to tilt her head back to look at me. Instead of backing off, she presses in, subtly forcing me against my locker.

“I’m late for class,” I say, trying to sidestep her.

Miss Blondie doesn’t budge.

“I’m Gwen,” she says. “And if you don’t mind, I’d love to show you around.”

“Thanks. I can manage.” My voice is calm—flat—but authoritative enough to tell her I want her out of my space.

She either doesn’t catch the hint… or she does and doesn’t care. Girls like her usually don’t. Spoiled. Rich. Used to getting whatever—and whoever—they want.

“You haven’t told me your name, handsome.”

Something presses lightly against my stomach.

I glance down just in time to see her fingers sliding over my shirt, drifting lower, toward my belt loop.

I catch her wrist before she can go any further and gently—but firmly—push her hand away.

“Ooh,” she whispers, smirking. “A hard nut to crack. What a turn-on.”

She bites her lower lip, flashing pale teeth.

I notice a few students watching now. Assessing. Cataloguing. Trying to figure out where I fit in Crestview’s precious social hierarchy.

If only they knew how little I give a fuck.

“I’m Dakota,” I say. “And I’m not interested.”

I turn the corner toward my first class—

And then I see him again.

Hayes Griffin.

He’s walking straight toward me, his gaze locked onto mine, unblinking. Every step he takes is deliberate. Controlled.

On his left is Ezra—his best friend since middle school. On his right is the girl from the parking lot, her arm looped through Hayes’s like she belongs there, even though his hands are tucked casually into his pockets. Walking beside her is another guy I don’t recognize—tall, white, dark hair, thin lips.

They’re talking to Hayes, but he’s not listening.

His attention is solely on me.

People move out of his way without being asked, parting like the hallway belongs to him. Like he’s royalty.

Of course he is.

Hayes Griffin—school king. Blonde girlfriend. Ezra and the rest of them acting like loyal little soldiers.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and turn the corner into my classroom.

AP English.