The first thing I was going to do when she got here was gently take out her ponytail and watch as her curls cascaded down and around her shoulders. She looked amazing with it up but with it down, I could run my fingers through it.
It would be just me and her. No prying eyes, no hiding, just the two of us. I didn't know what it would mean for us once all was said and done, but I'd deal with the consequences. All I cared about right now was having Scarlet in my arms, feeling her lips on mine, and hopefully getting some talking in so I could hear that sweet laugh of hers.
Several minutes passed, and I glanced at my phone to make sure I hadn't missed a text from her explaining what was taking her so long. I even double-checked to make sure I hadn't made a typo when I'd sent her my address.
I ended up waiting for an hour before I was willing to admit that she'd totally played me. I should have known she wouldn't give in to me so easily. The fact that I'd fallen for her act so easily had me realizing how pathetic I was. She'd only had to say a few words, and I was putty in her hands, all reasoning gone out the window.
Maybe it was good this had happened because now I'd be more prepared. No more flirting and skirting along the edge with her. I'd keep things completely platonic between us since my plan to push her away by coming on strong had only shown that I couldn't be trusted not to ruin everything that I'd been working so hard for.
Although I was slightly embarrassed, I was man enough to admit defeat and grabbed my phone to send Scarlet a text.
Me:Nicely played.
Her reply came back quickly.
Scarlet:I learned from the best.
Ouch.
Okay, I deserved that. She'd definitely made her point tonight, and I'd heard it loud and clear. She was no longer interested in me, even if sometimes her body language seemed to disagree.
I let my head fall back on the couch and closed my eyes, reminding myself that this was what I wanted, that it was for my own good. But it still felt like someone had sucker-punched me. Whether it was our past or a coach keeping us apart, Scarlet would never be mine.
4
Scarlet
Buzz. Buzz.
What was that? I rolled over in my bed and kept my eyes closed, not wanting the new day to start yet.
Buzz. Buzz.
Now that I was awake, I recognized the sound of the familiar buzz. Turning back over I squinted at my phone on the nightstand. Who in the world texted this early in the morning?
Glancing at the clock I saw that it was already nine o'clock.
So I knew that nine wasn't exactly early to most people, but I wasn't most people. I was not a morning person. I couldn't be farther from being a morning person. None of my classes started before ten and I still had to set my alarm, which wouldn't be going off for another ten minutes. I debated closing my eyes and waiting for my alarm to go off, but curiosity had me reaching for my phone.
Seeing Rush's name on my screen had me sitting up.
Rush:Hey, so my classes end at noon today. You want to meet in the quad after that to do the interview?
I hadn't forgotten that today was Monday and that I'd finally have to do the interview with Rush. I'd interviewed every other football player first, putting off his interview for as long as possible. It was inevitable, but it had been nice to focus on the other players and pretend he wasn't one.
Now I was thinking it would have been better to have interviewed him first and gotten it over with. But it had been too soon after our dance at the Wolf's Den, and I hadn't trusted myself to be alone with him.
Being around him made me feel like a crazy person. Too many emotions swirled inside of me, all fighting to gain dominance. Anger for him playing me and then throwing me away. Revenge because I wanted him to feel exactly how I had felt. Jealousy for all the girls who got to be with him, even if he was a player. Sadness because I had really thought there was something special between us that I'd never experienced before, but it had all been fake. And then the emotion that usually took up the biggest part of my brain when I was with him was lust. He was just so extremely hot, and then knowing how good it felt to kiss him made me want to throw myself into his arms and beg for him to—
Stop, stop, stop.
See? This was why this interview was a bad idea. Just thinking about him had me all hot and bothered. Meeting him in the quad with so many other people around would help. I'd make sure there was plenty of space between us, ask him the questions, and then be on my way.
Me:I don't have a break between classes until one. Can you meet then?
Rush:One works. I'll see you then.
I was about to set down my phone when it buzzed again.
