Just about every girl at Evergreen has a crush on me.That sounds egocentric, but it’s true.It comes with the territory of being a star athlete for the university.I get tons of girls chasing after me, puck bunnies, as we call them.
But it’s the girls who don’t do the chasing that I’m drawn toward, girls like Harper McKenna.
Perhaps I like a bit of the chase, trying to win her over, and Harper isn’t an easy girl to win the affection of.She’s closed off, and as much as I know her type, there’s still so much that I don’t know about her.
I barely pay attention because I took economics in high school and it was a breeze.This class isn’t much different for me, and since our homework assignments are always online, I don’t worry about actually listening to the professor.
My focus is spent on watching Harper.
She’s typing away at the keyboard, trying to write everything down at once, but it seems to me like she’s not catching the bigger points and just trying to remember everything.
I could help her with that,studying.
We have a test next week, which doesn’t worry me too much, but it’s the perfect excuse to spend time together.“We should get together and study for the exam,” I say.
“Why, so you can borrow my notes?Take your own, Ricci.”
I tap my head.“I’ve got it all up in here.”
She glares at me, unconvinced.
Not a complete surprise, since I did ask her to send me her notes the first few weeks of class.I was trying to find a reason to talk to her early on, and she kept shooting me down.
Class is dismissed, and Harper closes her laptop and shoves it back into her bag.She doesn’t answer me.
I saw her grade on the last assignment.It wasn’t great.She could use my help, and she knows it.
Harper lets out a soft sigh.“Just studying,” she says, glancing at me.“I need to ace my next exam to bring up my overall grade.”
“I promise, if you study with me, I’ll make sure you get an A.”It’s not a promise that I should make, but economics has been a breeze, and I’m sure I can help her with her next exam.
Her gaze tightens before she relents.“Where should we meet up, the library?”Harper asks.
“Come by my place.My roommates will be out of the house.We can study in the lounge.”
She stares at me like I just suggested we go skinny-dipping in a frozen lake.
“I promise, no funny business, just studying,” I reiterate.
“Okay,” she relents and follows me out of the classroom.“Can you do later this afternoon or tomorrow?”
“Any time after three today.”
We settle on four o’clock, which sounds perfect because it’ll put her over my place into the early evening hours, and I can suggest dinner afterward.“Do you remember my address?”I ask, making sure that she doesn’t have an excuse for not showing up.
“It’s only been a couple of days,” Harper says.“I’ll catch you later.”She heads out the door, and I follow her, walking her to her next class.I’m not letting her get rid of me that easily.Besides, with guys like Ashton on campus, I don’t want to be fighting for her attention.
“I’ll walk with you,” I say, accompanying her outside.
She presses her lips together and smiles.“You don’t have to.I know you don’t have a class this direction.”
“What makes you so sure about that?”There’s no way that she knows I’ve been walking her to class and then doubling back to head to my place.I’ve been careful, waiting until she’s inside and out of sight before turning around.The last thing in the world that I want is for her to think that I’m desperate and trying too hard.
“I saw you the other day, walking back,” she says and points in the opposite direction.
“Oh, that’s because I forgot my phone in the classroom.”The lie comes out quicker than I intend.It flows naturally, a protective mechanism of sorts.
Her eyes squint, and she nods.“Okay.”
