Page 64

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.

“So, who have we got here?” Darian’s lips rise in a flirtatious grin, and if I wasn’t completely gone on Carson, there’s a chance it would win me over in a heartbeat. Seriously, he’s gorgeous.

“This must be Nylah.” Charli wipes her face with a towel, then jumps up the bleachers to greet me. “Hey.” She sticks out her fist. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Oh no.” I cringe and steal a glance at Jolie while lightly bumping Charli’s fist.

Both girls laugh. “Don’t worry. All good things.”

She takes a seat beside me, and her sweaty ass is clearly in desperate need of a shower, but she doesn’t seem bothered by it.

Downing some Powerade, she then offers the bottle to Sawyer, who takes a big swig before grinning at me.

“It’s nice to meet you guys.” I raise my hand in greeting. “Jolie’s already told me all your names.”

I nod at each of them and get a mix of broad grins, a shy smile from Jimmy, and a cocky smirk from Mac. He kind of reminds me of Carson a little bit. He’s got a wild edge about him. But my man wouldn’t smirk like that at a girl he didn’t know. He’d keep his expression stony and unreadable.

Shit, I miss him so much. I could always get his lips twitching. Who’s gonna make them twitch now?

A gray cloud threatens to build inside me. Now that the game’s over and I’m no longer distracted, I can feel it rolling in, until Darian climbs the bleachers and takes a seat in front of me.

“So, what’s your story, then, pretty girl?”

“Uh.” I frown at him. “I don’t have a story.”

His eyes dance as he drinks me in, and then he surprises the hell out of me. “You know, I’m looking for a date to the Gamma Kappa Winter Dance in a couple weeks. Wanna come?”

My lips part.

The winter dance?

That sounds familiar for some reason.

Probably because posters are plastered all over the school. I was never planning on going because I knew it wouldn’t be Carson’s thing. That guy hates wearing a suit.

“That’s a great idea!” Charli perks up. “And don’t stress about my brother. He’s a puppy dog.” She pats the top of his head. “The guy’s got no game.”

“What the fuck?” Darian frowns at her. “I’ve got game. It’s not like you’re walking ’round campus with a harem of guys chasing you. Cuidadito con lo que dices, hermanita .”

She rolls her eyes and mocks him. “Watch your mouth, sis. Watch your mouth.”

Sawyer snickers and shakes his head. “My boy’s got game. She’s just jealous because no one ever hits on her.”

“Oh!” Charli jumps from her seat, charging after Sawyer, and the two get into a laughing wrestling match on the gym floor, which I have to assume is a regular occurrence, because no one is paying any attention to them.

Ben, having dried off and changed his shirt, is now walking up the stairs and taking a seat beside his girl. Jolie gives him a loved-up smile, and they share a kiss that makes my stomach clench.

“Okay, guys. I’m out.” Jimmy raises his hand, and Mac quickly follows suit.

I watch them walk away, then dart my eyes to Darian, who’s still grinning at me.

Letting out a nervous laugh, I shake my head. “I’m not really up for dates right now. Sorry.”

He shakes his head. “Then don’t come as my date. Just be my plus-one, and we can all hang out together.”

“I don’t know.” I wrinkle my nose.

“Oh, come on, please?” Jolie prompts me. “We’ll have fun. We can dress up and dance a little.”

“Last year’s was awesome.” Ben nods. “It’s like the one big thing Gamma Kappa do every year, so they go all out.”

“Yeah. It’s like a big ‘welcome back’ party after the Christmas break.” Charli shrugs.

“Plus, we’re playing a game that afternoon, and we’ll be high off our win. You definitely want to come party with us.” Darian wriggles his eyebrows, and I wrinkle my nose again.

“Come on, Nylah.” Jolie nudges me. “Just say yes.”

“Say yes!” Charli yells from the court, raising her hands and grinning at me.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” They all start chanting and clapping their hands.

In the end, I’m forced to raise my own hands and shout, “Okay! Okay, I’ll come to the dance.”

A chorus of cheers rises around me as Jolie drapes her arm over my shoulder and kisses my cheek.

Okay, so maybe coming here was the right decision, because as much as I’m unsure about going to the winter dance with these guys, I do feel better now than I have since Carson kicked me out of his room.