Scoring the Player (Campus Wallflowers), page 1
SCORING THE PLAYER
REBECCA JENSHAK
CONTENTS
1. Dahlia
2. Felix
3. Dahlia
4. Felix
5. Dahlia
6. Dahlia
7. Felix
8. Dahlia
9. Felix
10. Dahlia
11. Felix
12. Dahlia
13. Dahlia
14. Felix
15. Dahlia
16. Dahlia
17. Felix
18. Dahlia
19. Felix
20. Dahlia
21. Dahlia
22. Felix
23. Dahlia
24. Felix
25. Dahlia
26. Dahlia
27. Felix
28. Dahlia
29. Felix
30. Felix
31. Dahlia
32. Felix
33. Dahlia
34. Dahlia
35. Felix
36. Dahlia
37. Felix
38. Dahlia
39. Felix
40. Dahlia
Epilogue
Playlist
Also By Rebecca Jenshak
About the Author
© 2023 by Rebecca Jenshak
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
Rebecca Jenshak
www.rebeccajenshak.com
Cover Design by Lori Jackson Designs
Editing by Edits in Blue, Nancy Smay at Evident Ink, and Fairest Reviews Editing Services
Proofreading by Sarah at All Encompassing Books
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Names, characters, places, and plots are a product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
BLURB
Valley U’s hottest QB has heard in detail how I want to climb him like a tree.
One viral video and my life as a wallflower is over.
Felix Walters knows exactly how I feel about him—so does everyone else on campus.
It was supposed to be a private conversation between friends.
Now I’m the butt of every joke and everywhere I turn all eyes are on me.
It’s every shy girl’s nightmare.
Except now the hottest guy on campus wants to be my fake boyfriend.
Six weeks. Just pretend.
I’m a wallflower fake dating Valley U's hottest player.
This one is for the sporty girls.
1
DAHLIA
“These shoes were a bad idea,” I shout over the music as Jane, Violet, and I push our way through a crowd of people in the backyard of the off-campus house party.
I nearly twist an ankle when someone knocks into me and throws off my balance on these four-inch heels. Then someone else bangs into me from the other side, steadying me somewhat but also making me feel like I’m in a human pinball machine.
It’s the first week of a new school year, and the parties have been amazing. It’s only Wednesday night and I’ve lost track of how many different off-campus houses and frats we’ve been to this week.
Jane comes to a stop on one side of the yard and turns her head to look at me and Vi, excitement sparkling in her eyes. “I had no idea there’d be so many people here tonight. The football guys know how to throw a party.”
She’s right. It seems like the entire student body is here. It isn’t a huge house or outdoor space, which makes it feel even more crowded.
“Have you seen him?” Violet asks, while she cranes her neck to look around the party.
“Who?” I’m careful not to meet her gaze. “Your boyfriend?”
“No. Gavin is coming later. He had a basketball thing.” When I give in and look at her, she arches a dark brow and tips her chin so that her long, black hair falls over one shoulder. “You know who.”
I do know, but I stay quiet anyway.
“Felix Walters,” she says pointedly, amidst my silence. “The cute QB who is totally crushing on you.”
My own laugh catches me off guard because her words are so ludicrous. “He does not have a crush on me.”
Felix Walters is the most popular jock on campus. He’s the face of the university’s nationally-ranked football team, rumored to definitely be going to the NFL, and he hooks up with only the most beautiful girls. A lot of them.
“I think Vi’s right,” Jane says. “He always makes a point to come talk to you when we see him out. Sunday night at The Hideout and then again at the hockey guys’ apartment, Monday night at Phi Kappa Theta, Tuesday at Sigma.”
My face is on fire. He’s so far out of my league that even thinking about talking to Felix makes me hot and sweaty. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve dated so infrequently; I can count them all on one hand. I’m not the kind of girl guys clamor to be with. Let alone guys like Felix. I’m too shy. Too awkward. Too average. I’m not at all like the girls he dates.
Instead of responding to their ridiculous claim that Felix has a crush on me (ha!), I focus on the party and finding Daisy. She left before us to meet up with her boyfriend Jordan. I finally spot them across the yard, hanging with a group of guys, hockey players, I think. I don’t spend a lot of time scoping out the people in their circle.
Jane and Violet are the outgoing half of our foursome. Jane is enthusiastic and fun at every turn. So fun that she often convinces me to live outside my comfort zone. The four-inch heels, for example. And Violet is confident and stunning, and so head-over-heels in love with her boyfriend Gavin that she wants everyone to be as happy as she is.
I love them, but right now, I need a dose of reality that I know Daisy will provide. Felix is not into me. He’s a nice guy, that’s all. But still, my skin is buzzing with adrenaline at the thought.
Earlier tonight, the four of us (Jane, Violet, Daisy, and I) wrote wishes for the new school year on paper and then burned them. When Jane suggested we ‘put our desires out into the universe,’ I thought it was kind of silly. But as I held the paper in one hand and the lighter in the other, I felt a flutter of something. Nerves mixed with anticipation and…hope.
I’ve made lots of wishes in my twenty years—on birthday candles, shooting stars, fallen eyelashes, fountains, wishbones, dandelions, pennies, and on clocks that read 11:11. I don’t remember all the things I’ve wished for, but I know the big things have never come true.
I’m still me. Dahlia Brady, shy and awkward, destined to never have a boyfriend.
There are worse things, I know. And it isn’t that I hate who I am or anything. I am a great friend. I’m athletic and kind, and am generally optimistic and happy.
It’s just that being shy and awkward makes it hard to do things like date, or even talk to guys. I like my life, but I’d also like to make out with a hot boy (or many hot boys) on the regular.
“I see Daisy,” I say, nodding my head in her direction and then taking off that way.
Relief washes over me as we get a foot away from our friend. A smile spreads across her face and she opens her stance to greet us.
Only, when she does, I get a good look at one of the guys standing with her. Felix.
I avoid staring directly at him, while I hug Daisy. Jordan says hello and the group quiets as the circle opens to let us join.
My skin pricks and I know Felix is looking at me. It’s always like this. I don’t know what it is about him, but I’m extra awkward around him. We aren’t exactly friends, but Felix is friends with Daisy and Violet’s jock boyfriends, so we seem to keep running into each other.
Summoning every ounce of courage possible, I glance up. His eyes are a gray blue that is a stark contrast to his jet black hair. He’s tall enough that, even in these heels, he still towers over me, and his chest is broad, biceps straining against the white T-shirt.
Here’s the thing about Felix. He’s suuuper hot. No question about that. But it isn’t just that he’s a hot guy that throws me so off balance when he’s nearby. He remembers things, asks me personal questions, gives me the type of attention that most guys, hot or not, don’t really give me. I like his voice and the way he smiles at me like he’s happy I’m around. And I admire that he’s this successful football player with big dreams but still likes to kick back and have a good time.
He’s definitely not trying to get me naked, but he likes me well enough to carry a conversation (usually a one-sided one). It’s unnerving.
He isn’t the first guy to do this, though. It’s part of my curse, I’m afraid. Guys that can get past my whole shy and awkwardness, want to be my friend. I’m sporty and safe, and they get a sense right away that I’m not about the drama. Because I’m not.
Here’s the thing about all guys. They say they don’t like drama, but in the end, they always choose the girls that are all about the drama.
“Hey, Dahlia.” Felix’s deep voice wraps me up in a warm caress. “I’m glad you came.”
I open my mouth to reply. My lips form the word, but no sound comes out. I manage a small wave with an inaudible “hi,” which only makes my face flame hotter.
I tend to have two responses to uncomfortable situations: I freeze or I blurt out something embarrassing. I gues
He smiles at me, despite my awkward silence. “Did you just get here?”
My chin dips in a nod.
“Do you need a drink?” he asks. His dark gaze does a slow sweep over my tank and shorts that show a lot of leg, and finally down to the very tall heels I’m precariously balancing on. When I still don’t respond, he looks to Jane and Vi, extending his drink invitation. “We’ve got beer, seltzer, and there was still some vodka and Wild Turkey last time I checked.”
“She’ll have a White Claw. Black cherry, if you have it. It’s her favorite,” Jane answers for me, and the way her voice emphasizes every word makes me wish the ground would swallow me up.
“All right. And you two?” He flicks his gaze quickly to my friends.
“Same,” Vi adds.
Jane nods.
“You got it.” Felix backs away from the group, still pointing that panty-melting smile at me. He returns before I can even relax without his presence. He hands a can to Violet and Jane then to me. The tips of his fingers brush against mine during the hand-off and I nearly drop the can.
“Oops. Fumble.” I laugh at my own joke. Then cringe. Felix’s smile just gets bigger.
I let out a shaky breath as he takes a half step away from me. He’s still too close. The seltzer can is cold, and if he weren’t watching, I’d love to press it to the back of my neck. It’s the closest thing to a cold shower available right now.
“Oh, I love this song,” Jane says as the music changes. She starts to move to the beat.
“Let’s dance,” I suggest.
“Really?” she asks, surprise clear on her face. I’m not usually one for hitting the dance floor this early in the night, but I’m all about putting some distance between me and the hottie QB.
“Really.” I try to communicate with my eyes that I need to get the hell out of here.
One side of her mouth quirks up like she’s totally onto me, but she agrees and then so does Violet. Daisy doesn’t look like she’s going to budge from her spot nuzzled up next to Jordan.
“Come dance with us. One dance?” Jane asks her and sticks out her bottom lip.
Daisy and Violet are both in serious relationships, which means we’ve seen a lot less of them lately. Last year, we attended all the first week parties together. This year, it’s mostly been me and Jane going to the parties together and hanging out with our friends and their boyfriends. Things are different, but one look at how happy they both are stops me from feeling too melancholy for old times.
The four of us head to the middle of the yard, where a small group of mostly girls are dancing. I pull my long hair over one shoulder and then do exactly what I wanted to do a few minutes ago—press the cold can to the back of my neck.
Daisy leans closer to me so I can hear her. “You look amazing. New shoes? I could have sworn you were wearing white sneakers when I left.”
“They’re Jane’s,” I reply.
“Ah.” She nods her understanding. Jane’s closet is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Even as a fashion designer, I can say with zero hesitation that her wardrobe is a dream. Top designers mixed with cheaper fun pieces. She has a great eye, and everything looks good on her. I appreciate all types of fashion, but I’m more casual—shorts, skirts, tanks, t-shirts, and sneakers.
We dance long enough that my body relaxes, and I mostly forget about Felix being here. I finish the seltzer at the same time that Jane says she needs to find the bathroom.
Daisy heads back to Jordan and Vi disappears to find Gavin, who texted that he was here. I go with Jane.
“Dahlia!” My name is yelled in a chorus of voices. It takes me a second to find the source. Some of my golf teammates are waving at me from where they’re congregated next to the keg.
“I should go say hi.”
Jane gives me a pleading look. “I really gotta pee.”
“Go. I’ll catch up with you.”
She nods and hurries inside in search of the bathroom, while I start back across the yard to say hello to my teammates. Before I get to them, I spot Felix. I don’t mean to. I always just seem to find him in a crowd. Like my brain is searching for him even when I don’t realize it.
He’s standing with Bethany. His ex-girlfriend. She’s universally acknowledged as the hottest girl on campus. Long legs that go for miles, shiny blonde hair, and these big, brown eyes. They look great together.
They dated last year, before I ever met him, but I’ve stalked his social media enough to see the pictures of them together. She’s beautiful. One of those girls that never has a bad hair day. I had a lit class with her one semester. She showed up to every single class dressed like she was ready for paparazzi to take photos of her. I admire her dedication to looking flawless.
Felix and Bethany are in my direct path to get to my teammates. I either have to walk by them or circle around. I’m seriously considering the latter, but I decide to suck it up. This year is going to be different. That was my wish for the year. I want to stop waiting for life to happen and put myself out there more. I figured asking the universe for a boyfriend was a little cliché.
When I’m a foot away, Felix looks up and directly at me. I freeze, like I’ve been caught doing something terrible, instead of existing and breathing the same air as him. He seems surprised at first and then a slow smile spreads across his face. Bethany notices his attention has drifted from her, and she whips her head around to see why.
Her pretty glossy lips pull into a scowl when she finds him looking at me. I wave and try to keep moving, but the crowd is making it difficult. A group of guys, definitely drunk, start pushing and shoving each other. I think it’s friendly fighting, but I have to quickly sidestep to avoid being stepped on.
Felix moves in front of me and claps the guy, who almost squished me, on the shoulder. “Watch where you’re going, Brogan.”
Brogan turns and a lazy smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.”
Felix crosses his arms over his impressive chest. “It’s not okay. You could have hurt Dahlia.”
“It’s fine. Really,” I say at the same time Bethany says, “What am I, invisible?”
“He wasn’t even close to you, Bethany,” Felix clips and his features harden. “Besides, you were just leaving.”
“Whatever.” She spins on her heel, making her blonde hair flip around her shoulders like she’s practiced that move a million times.
His expression softens again when Bethany is gone. “Did you lose your friends?”
“No, I saw some of my teammates and thought I’d go say hello.” My voice shakes as I speak. I point in the general direction I last saw them. “I should have just texted.”
He chuckles. “Want me to clear a path?”
“No. I’m okay. Thank you.”
Someone yells his name. His gaze moves from me long enough to jut his chin in acknowledgment to the person, but then his attention is back, focused solely on me. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
I think about my wish, about how this year is going to be different. Maybe it already is. After all, I just spoke to Felix Walters. Go me. Baby steps.
“No, really. I’m good. Thanks.” I duck my head and continue around him.
It takes a few minutes, but I finally push my way through the party crowd. My teammates started drinking early and are so beyond drunk that it’s hard to even talk to them. I promise them I’ll go out with them tomorrow night and then I fight the crowd back toward the house to find Jane.
