Free Player (What Happens on Campus Book 1) by M L Sparrow Page B

interesting. I can’t wait to really get starting. I mean, I worked so hard to get here, so it feels great to finally be getting down to it.”
    “You’re here on a scholarship, right?”
    “Yeah. You’ve got a football one too, haven’t you? So, is that what you want to do, be a football player?”
    “It seems as good a career as any. It’s the only thing I’m good at.”
    “I’m sure that’s not true,” she said, touching his arm lightly.
    “Well, I’m pretty good at sex too…”
    Immediately her hand fell away and she shot him a chiding look, but didn’t try to carry on the conversation, instead turning her focus to getting down the last flight of stairs safely. He didn’t offer to help her, though he wanted to, since he already knew she’d say no; she was trying to keep him at arms length. Inwardly, he grinned to himself, it wasn’t going to work.
    Outside the building, they found Terri leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. “What took you guys so long?” she griped, pushing away from the wall and walking off in the direction of Beta house. The three of them shared a look before following her.
    What had crawled up her ass?
    It was easy to know when they’d reached the right house; even if Parker hadn’t been there a hundred times before, the swarms of students were a dead giveaway. Inside, it was just as crazy.
    All parties were pretty much the same, Parker had found over the years: drunken people dancing, talking too loud and playing drinking games. This one was no different. Almost as soon as they went through the doors, Terri disappeared into the crowd and by the time they’d reached the kitchen, where all the drinks were laid out, Riley had seen someone she recognized and headed off to talk to them, leaving him and Chloe alone.
    Remembering her preference, he got them both a drink, handing hers over as Trent Coleson ambled over, lifting a hand and bobbing his head in greeting. Trent was a big guy, tall and broad, but he had a way of walking with his shoulders hunched and hands in his pockets which always made him seem smaller. Younger too, somehow.
    “Hey, Parker,” he greeted, doing that amiable, head bobbing thing again, “just wanted to ask how your ribs are now?” He could have asked him in practice throughout the week, but Parker got the sense that the rest of the team put him on edge and he wasn’t naturally a confidant person.
    “All good,” he grinned, stretching his arms up over his head, feeling a slight twinge as his ribs pulled upwards, but it was more of a comfortable ache now, rather than real pain.
    “Great,” the other guy beamed, flicking his head to get his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes, already backing off. “Well, gotta go, my girl’s waiting for a dance.” A huge, genuine smile suddenly lit his face as he nodded towards a tall blonde standing in the doorway. Smiling warmly, she gave a little wave, which Parker returned with a nod.
    After watching his teammate go, he found them a quiet corner, so that they weren’t constantly being jogged by people trying to get to the bar. Taking a gulp of his beer, he licked the foam from his lips and leant his shoulder against the wall. For a few minutes they just stood in silence, sipping their drinks and watching the people around them.
    It was strange, but Parker didn’t know how to talk to her, not as a friend anyway. He’d never had any female friends. Flirting was easy, but small talk was a whole other ball game.
    “So, what’s your favorite book?” It sounded stupid coming from his lips – he’d never read an entire book in his life, not even for school – but he knew she liked reading and hoped it would be a subject she could get into.
    “ Jane Eyre ,” she answered without hesitation, “have you ever read it?”
    Now he wished he hadn’t brought it up. “Er, no,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
    “Well, I guess it’s more of a girl’s book anyway. What’s your