Page 4

Campbell

The bonfire crackled, sending glowing embers into the crisp night air as I stood with my teammates, a few girls hovering around us like moths to a flame. Laughter erupted as Wallace recounted a story about our last away game, but I only half-listened, my eyes scanning the party. I caught sight of Hazel sitting on the outskirts, away from the fire and everyone else. She looked so small, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the ground. My gaze lingered on her longer than I intended. Nevaeh appeared beside me, sliding into my space.

“It’s so cold out here.” She said, her voice pitched loud enough for the nearby girls to hear.

I smirked, knowing what she was angling for. My jacket and the opportunity to claim me in front of them.

“You should stand closer to the fire then.” I said, nodding toward the roaring flames.

Nevaeh scoffed, crossing her arms.

“Seriously, Campbell?” She muttered, her tone laced with irritation.

I wasn’t paying attention. My eyes drifted back to Hazel, who was rubbing her arms to keep warm. She looked miserable. Without saying another word to Nevaeh, I stepped away, ignoring her irritated huff. I startled Hazel when I approached; her wide eyes met mine as I draped my jacket over her shoulders. It looked ridiculously large on her, but she instinctively pulled it tighter.

“Thanks,” she said, motioning to my jacket. “Why did you do that?”

“To keep you from turning into an ice cube.” I said, sinking into the bench. Neither of us spoke. The silence stretched between us, not comfortable but not strained either. I needed to break it. “I’m sorry I was a jerk earlier about your writing.”

She shrugged, not meeting my eyes.

“I’m used to that reaction.”

Her nonchalance annoyed me.

“You shouldn’t be.”

She turned to look at me, her expression unreadable.

“It doesn’t matter.” She said. “But if you want to make it up to me, you could be nicer to Nevaeh. She likes you a lot.”

My jaw tightened. I leaned back, resting my elbows on the bench.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

Hazel’s brow furrowed.

“Well, she wants to be.” She said, her tone sharp. “But if you don’t feel the same, then you should make it clear before you lead her on further.”

My irritation flared.

“I’m not leading anyone one. If she has expectations, that’s on her, not me.”

Hazel stood, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it on the bench beside me.

“You’re a jerk.” She muttered, her voice tight with frustration.

Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and marched off, disappearing into the crowd. I sat there, staring after her, my jaw clenching.

“Why is she so fucking difficult?” I muttered under my breath, grabbing my jacket and slinging it over my shoulder.

I had no idea why her words had gotten under my skin. It threw me off balance. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. My eyes scanned the crowd again, and that’s when I noticed a set of eyes on me.A gorgeous girl, standing off to the side, locked her gaze on me. Her lips curled into a smile, an inviting look on her face. She was blonde, with a confident air that drew me in. She didn’t look away when I caught her staring. She tilted her head, her eyes never leaving mine.

A smirk tugged at my lips, and the frustration over Hazel evaporated instantly. I was used to this. I didn’t have to worry about a girl like Hazel right now. Her complicated words and stubborn attitude were a problem for another time. This girl? She was ready to play, and I never turned down a challenge.I made my way over to her. As I approached, she stepped forward to meet me. Her scent, light and floral, teased my senses and I could tell she was already hooked.

“Hey,” I said, my grin widening. “What are you doing here all alone?”

Her eyes glinted with interest.

“I’ve been here, waiting for you to notice me.”

I chuckled.

“Well, I noticed.”

The corner of her mouth lifted into a teasing smile.

“Good, because I’m not one for wasting time.”

My smirk deepened, a flash of amusement flickering in my eyes. I leaned in, dropping my voice to a lower, more seductive tone.

“I’m not into wasting time, either.”

She laughed, stepping closer to me, her body brushing against mine as she slid her hand into the crook of my arm. I knew where this was heading. I glanced over my shoulder toward the crowd, but my thoughts were far away now. My mind was on my next move, the next step. Hazel’s tough exterior didn’t matter anymore. I grinned to myself as I guided the girl toward the party’s edge. I was back to enjoying myself with a girl that wanted me.

**

The locker room buzzed with energy as we prepared for the game. However, I excused myself out into the hallway for a moment alone. A pre-game ritual. I was leaning against the wall when I spotted Nevaeh walking toward me, dragging Hazel behind her. My gut tightened, an unfamiliar ache settling in my chest. I hadn’t spoken to her since the bonfire. Nevaeh was all smiles.

“Hey, Campbell!” She said, with an over-the-top enthusiasm that was borderline obnoxious.

I forced a grin.

“Hey.”

My eyes flickered to Hazel. She folded her hands tightly in front of her, unsure what to do. Good. She deserved to feel awkward after her attitude at the bonfire.

“Campbell!” Kendall’s voice broke through my thoughts as he walked over to us, all smiles and his usual good-natured energy radiating off him. “Hey, Hazel! Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Hazel shifted, offering a small smile, her gaze darting between Kendall and me.

“Hey, Kendall. We had to wish you luck.”

I watched from the corner of my eye, trying to be subtle. The irritation was scorching in my veins as he continued to talk to Hazel. It didn’t help that I had Nevaeh stuck to my arm like a leech.

“If only you stayed a little longer at the bonfire. You missed Jimmy falling into it. He lost an eyebrow.”

She laughed with him as he recounted the events of everything she missed. I clenched my fists at my sides, my jaw tight. I should walk away. Go to the locker room and get ready for the game, but I remained still, listening. They spoke as if they were old friends and not acquaintances who met not even a week ago.

“You should come to the frat party on Saturday,” Kendall suggested. “You can meet the rest of the guys, and I can teach you how to play Beer Pong.”

Hazel’s cheeks were flushed, but this time, her eyes sparkled. She smiled at Kendall as if he’d just walked off the runway. And that pissed me off. Why was he good enough to talk to, but she couldn’t utter more than a sentence to me?

“Kendall, we should get ready.”

Hazel frowned, as if she’d only just realized I was standing there.

“Sounds good, captain,” Kendall said, turning to Hazel. “See you later, H.”

I glanced at Hazel, but she avoided my stare, offering Kendall a small wave. As I moved to follow him, Nevaeh’s supernatural hold on my arm kept me in place. She leaned over and placed a sloppy kiss on my cheek, and I wiped it off. She leaned closer to my ear.

“Good luck.” She whispered. “If you win, I have something waiting for you in your dorm.”

I glanced at Hazel to gauge her reaction, but she was already gone. No wish of good luck, like she gave Kendall. Not even an acknowledgment. That further fueled my frustration. I turned to Nevaeh with a grin.

“Trust me. I’m winning this, so your surprise better be good.”

**