Page 8 of Offside Attraction

Black stud earrings line his ears, giving him that rich, dangerous edge people eat up. His dark hair is slightly tousled, bangs parted down the middle, brushing his brows like he woke up already flawless.

How the fuck is he hotter than I remember?

My jaw tightens.

God, I fucking hate him.

With a Korean mother and a white father, Hayes’s looks have always drawn attention wherever he goes. He’s the kind of person who makes people stare when he walks past—unable not to. And nothing feeds his arrogance more than knowing how undeniably attractive he is, knowing that everyone—boys, girls, men, women—adores him.

What a dick.

Hayes lifts a hand and runs it through his hair as he turns his head—and then his gaze lands on me.

He freezes.

So do I.

My heart rate spikes for no reason I’m willing to admit as we stare at each other across the parking lot. I don’t know what I’m feeling, only that it’s a messy mix of nostalgia, anger, irritation… and something else I can’t quite name.

There’s something in his dark eyes I can’t read.

But there’s also something familiar.

Shock.

He didn’t expect to see me again after the day he lied about me. After the day I got kicked out of summer camp and my life fell apart.

Hayes opens his mouth, like he’s about to say something—but before he can, a girl throws herself at him.

She’s dressed in the school uniform, polished and expensive-looking. Rich. Confident. Probably his girlfriend.

As if to confirm it, she grips the front of his blazer, pulls him down, and kisses him.

I look away.

I keep walking toward the school entrance, refusing to let myself slow down. I want to believe things will turn out fine here. That this year will be different.

But I already know better.

Not when the boy I hate will be everywhere.

In every hallway.

In most of my classes.

If I didn’t hate this school already, I fucking hate it now.

Senior year just suddenly sucked.

CHAPTER 2

ThemomentIstepinto the hallway, heads turn.

Boys.

Girls.

Everyone.