Focus, asshole.
Right. This isn’t the time for a trip down memory lane.
I need to fix this, assuming that’s even possible. “I’m s—”
“I swear to God, if you say you’re sorry one more time, I’m going to shove that vibrator down your throat.”
I freeze, brain scrambling to switch gears before she makes good on her promise.
“I’m DJ Parker.” I flash her a lopsided grin for good measure. We’re going to be neighbors for the next nine months, and I sure as hell don’t need her glaring daggers at me every time our paths cross. “And you are?”
An emotion I can’t identify flickers across her face, but it’s gone in an instant. “Not interested.”
Irritation blazes up my spine. Is this chick for real?
“I wasn’t hitting on you.” I throw my palms up in self-defense. “Just trying to be neighborly, but clearly you’re not into that sort of thing.”
She stands, and because no way am I going to let this woman look down her nose at me, I follow suit.
It’s the wrong move. She really is a tiny thing. Maybe five-three or five-four. I’ve got a solid twelve inches on her and the last thing I want to do is use my size to intimidate her.
“Look, Parker.” She plants a hand on her hip, making it clear she’s in no danger of being intimidated by my dumb ass. “Some of us are here to get an education, not to play ball, party, and screw our way across campus, okay?”
No. It’s not fucking okay.
I’ve spent my life dealing with other people’s assumptions about me and my academic abilities, and I’m not about to stand here and let this girl unload her preconceived, stereotypical notions about football players on me.
Fuck. That.
“You know what? If you feel so strongly about your education, maybe you should talk to the rental office about changing apartments. You know, so all the partying and fucking don’t interrupt your studying.” I gesture to the trunk of her Explorer, which is still half-filled with boxes. “I’ll even help you load your stuff to speed up the process.”
She opens her mouth—probably to say something scathing—but no words come out.
My pulse thrums at my temple and we stare at one another in heated silence.
After what feels like an eternity, she turns on her heel and marches up the sidewalk to her apartment, her pert, denim clad ass swaying with each step.
Because of course the devil has a perfect fucking ass.
“And that, my friends, is why Parker will be eternally single.” Coop smirks, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “The man has no skills.”
Guilt tugs at my conscience, but I shove it aside. No way am I going to feel bad about trading barbs with the she-devil. Not when she started it.
“Well,” Reid says, rubbing the back of his neck. “At least if the townhouse gets egged, we’ll know who did it.”
Vaughn just shakes his head, like he can’t believe I’ve stooped so low.
That makes two of us.
But with neighbors like that, it’s going to be a long semester.
3
SUTTON
Un-freaking-believable.Forty thousand students at Waverly University and I’m living next door to the one person I never want to see again.
I must be rocking some shit karma.
