SNEAKING AROUND WITH THE PLAYER

Reasons not to crush on Adam: He's my best friend's brother. He's my neighbor. He's the captain of the hockey team. He's a serial monogamist who's sworn off dating. Reasons not to fake date Adam: See above. He has no idea I actually like him—like really like him. But do I listen to any of those really great reasons? Of course not. Now, thanks to my amazing and convincing acting skills, one fake date ends with him being my fake fiancé (oops!). My bad crush has gotten me in way over my head.

How does a one-night stand turn into your fake girlfriend? Senior year. I should be partying and living it up with my friends before graduation, but one more mistake and I'm off the team. Enter Chloe. She comes into my life at a low point, but she becomes the bright spot I reach for every day. She's the kind of girl who makes a guy want to be a better man. And for a while, I even start to believe I've changed enough to deserve her. I've got my eye on the future, and I'm letting my past stay where it belongs. But the thing about the past... it always comes back to bite you when you least expect it.

You know those stories where the smart girl tutors the dumb jock? This isn't it. Blair What's the probability of insulting the one guy on campus I need to help me pass statistics? If I knew, I wouldn't be standing in front of Wes Reynolds begging him to tutor me. Basketball player, sexy, arrogant, always sleeping through class... these are the things I knew about him. What I didn't know is that he is a seriously smart jock. Wes What's the best way to get rid of the peppy and unrelenting girl that keeps asking me to tutor her? If I knew, I wouldn't be staring at her tan legs and attempting to teach her statistics. Sorority girl, fine as f**k, determined, ball buster... these are the things I knew about her. What I didn't know is that she is all the things I didn't realize I wanted or needed. Or that one semester with her would change everything.

One catch. One extremely lucky catch and the moment just after changed my life. I went from Mario, average college baseball player, to a Valley U hero. All the attention, razzing from my teammates, and newfound fascination from the opposite sex, feels super weird. Which is why Vanessa James’ disinterest is a welcome relief. She’s beautiful and daring and she makes me want to prove that I’m more than that one moment. Winning her over will take as much effort as I give on the field, but when I do – she’ll be the greatest catch of my life.