Preston pauses the game and reaches up to adjust the long dreadlocks piled on his head. His teeth gleam against his dark skin as he grins. “Who you fooling, boy? I doubt you’ll even start this weekend.”
Holden tosses his controller to the coffee table, before grabbing his beer. “You’re just jealous I had Tara Camden all over me last night.”
“Shit,” Preston breathes out with a laugh. He stands and lifts his shirt mid-way, exposing the washboard abs he’s known for. “You know you can’t compete with this.” He lowers his T-shirt with another chuckle and walks toward the kitchen. “She wasn’t my type.”
Holden scoffs and then nods to me. “You’re awfully quiet over there, Holloway.”
“I’m just taking it all in,” I say, leaning back into the worn cushion. “Girls are too much work. You two can have all the stress they come with.”
Preston whistles from the kitchen as he grabs another six-pack. “Sounds like bitterness to me, player.” He swaggers over to us and plops down on the couch, cracking the top of his beer before turning to me. “You need to let that shit go.”
My eyebrows knit together. “What are you talking about?”
Holden and Preston exchange a mocking glance. Preston eyes me with a grin. “You know how you were last year when you were acting a fool over Elliot. My momma would have kicked my ass if I got put on academic warning in my first semester.” He leans back and shudders a little. “You don’t fuck around with college in my house.”
“Trust me. My dad’s pissed too. That’s why I have a tutor.”
“Yeah, how’s that going?” Holden chimes in. “You didn’t even mention it at practice the other day.”
I shrug. “There’s nothing to tell.”
Preston tips his beer to me. “Well, I’m proud of you. You can’t let a girl ruin your future.” He turns and gives Holden a nudge. “Even if she is hot.”
I grit my teeth before taking a long pull from my water bottle. It doesn’t matter if it’s over between us, I still don’t like guys talking about Elliot that way. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I reach for it. The smile spreading across my face surprises me.
Mackenzie: I’ll be running late tomorrow. Should still make it there before you.
For some reason, I find her sarcasm adorable.
Me: I’ll save a parking space for you ;-)
Her response is immediate.
Mackenzie: I bet you will. See you at 4:15.
I’m still smiling as I set my phone on the arm of the chair after typing back a quick reply. Holden catches me grinning and his eyes light up. He holds his hand out when Preston reaches for the controller again.
“Hold up,” he says to him before turning to me. “Who were you texting?”
“No one.”
He gives me a skeptical look, calling bullshit. “Then why do you have that stupid look on your face?” He lunges toward me, trying to steal my phone. “It better not be Elliot.”
My reflexes are quicker and I snatch it back before he can get to it. “It’s not. Chill, dude.”
“Then who is it?” He reaches for my phone again, and I push him back with a laugh.
“It’s just the girl that’s tutoring me. Mackenzie.”
Preston bites his bottom lip, stifling a laugh. “She offering you some extra credit?”
“No, it’s not like that,” I blurt, securing my phone back in my pocket. Holden retakes his seat and looks up at me expectantly. I sigh. “She’s a nice girl… kinda. She lives in the building, actually.”
“I see,” Holden says, running his hand along his jaw. “And does Mackenzie have a last name?”
My eyebrows pull in, and I shrug. “You know, I’m not sure what it is. We got off on the wrong foot the other day in the parking lot.”
“She took your spot, huh?” Preston remarks with a nod.
“I know, right?” I stand up from my chair and walk in front of the television, pacing. “And she acted like I was a complete asshole about it. I mean, I’ve lived here for over a year. Everyone knows that’s my spot.”
“Of course, how dare she?” Holden laughs, heavy sarcasm lacing his tone.
I glare at him and consider grabbing one of the beers taunting me from the table between us. Truth be told, I’ve been trying to avoid drinking so much since I got back. It’s been a struggle, but somehow, so far, I have been successful. No one’s perfect.
Instead, I reach for my water again and land back in my chair with a huff. “Maybe I was being a dick, but I’m not used to people not knowing who I am.” I lean forward and give them a serious look. “She didn’t even give me a second glance. And then when I showed up for our session, she almost ran out on me altogether.”
Preston clicks his tongue. “This sounds like trouble.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dude,” he says, leaning forward. “You love a difficult girl. Before you know it, you’ll be chasing her ass around campus and acting like you hate it.” He pauses to give me a knowing smile. “When we both know how much you’ll actually enjoy it.”
“Will not,” I scoff.
“Bet me,” he says in challenge, extending his hand to me.
I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not betting you shit.”
Preston smiles, his hand still hanging in mid-air. “You scared, Judah?”
“Not at all.” My response is firm, even though I’m not sure what he’s asking.
“Then you won’t mind a friendly wager.”
With a sigh, I raise my hand but keep it inches from his. “Okay, what are the conditions?”
A grin spreads across his face before speaks. “If you fall for this girl, then you have to be the mascot at homecoming.”
“You’re fucking crazy. That’s only two months away.”
“And I bet it won’t even take that long.”
Putting on a bear costume and running around like an idiot would be humiliating. The guys would never let me live it down.
He waves his hand mockingly in front of me. I grit my teeth before giving it a firm shake. “You’re on, dick.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He chuckles to himself. “The sound of you losing.”
I shake my head as I pull my hand back. “I’m not losing. That girl serves one purpose to me and that’s getting me back on the dean’s list before finals.”
“We’ll see,” Preston says, reaching for his controller again. Holden shoots me a wavering look, but says nothing. It says a lot about me that two of my closet friends think I would let myself fall for someone who doesn’t want me.
The next morning, I walk to my truck just as the sun’s peeking through the clouds. Whoever came up with 8am classes is an asshole. I set my energy drink on the roof of my truck while I throw my bag in the cab. I feel her behind me before I turn around.
Mackenzie also has a sleepy look about her as she lazily strolls to her car. Her hair is a sea of damp, caramel waves and the T-shirt she has on over her cut-off denim shorts looks like it’s been through a shredder. It always amazes me how girls still can look sexy even when they dress borderline homeless.