The Love Game (The Game #1)(6)
Author: Emma Hart

“Not at all.” He smiles. “Hi, can I have, er, what was it again?” He looks at me sheepishly.

I sigh, roll my eyes and shake my head. “Can we have two grande double chocolate chip fraps please?”

“And two blueberry muffins,” Braden adds, looking down at me. I blush slightly, and he slides his hand round so it’s holding my waist. The barista steals glances at him as she prepares our drinks. It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes again. We take our drinks, and Braden pays.

“Is it always like this for you?” I ask as we sit down.

“Like what?”

“Girls staring at you.”

“Who was staring?”

“The barista. Did you not notice?”

He shrugs one shoulder carelessly. “I don’t pay much attention to it. If they’re good enough to catch my eye then I’ll pay them attention.”

“Oh, I feel so privileged,” I say sarcastically.

“Hey.” He raises his eyebrows. “I’m on a date with you, so you’re not just good enough, Maddie. In fact, you’re probably too good.”

I sip my drink and pick a piece of muffin off, popping it into my mouth. “So why are you here then? If I’m too good.”

“Because I’ll never know unless I try, right?” he asks. “Like this coffee. I never knew how good it was until I tried it. I’ll never know if I’m good enough for you unless I try.”

Wow. Braden wants in my pants. Bad.

“You win that one.” I smile.

“And Kyle has his eye on you. I don’t do well with competition.”

“Ah, so that’s what yesterday was about.” They were fighting over me?

Neanderthals.

“There’s a slim chance of you bein’ right there, beautiful.”

“I’d say there’s a really good chance.” I sigh. “You really were fighting over me? Me? Wow.” I shake my head.

“Don’t sound so shocked, Maddie. We’re not the only guys in that house that have an interest in you,” he admits.

“You just thought you’d get in there first?” I comment wryly.

“Yes. I mean, no. I mean. Fuck." He groans. "This is so not the way I wanted this to go.”

I raise my eyebrows and glance at the clock.

“Yes. I thought I’d get in there first, but only because I’d get stupidly jealous if I saw you with one of those guys.”

“Right,” I say. “We need to get to class. It starts in five minutes.”

Braden sighs, and we both stand. I wrap my hands round the take out cup and back out of the door. We walk back towards the main campus in silence, and I almost wish we didn’t have class together. This no talking thing is tense, even if I do hate the guy.

“Maddie,” he says, pulling me aside before we walk into the room. “That wasn’t supposed to go like that. I’m sorry.”

I look towards the open class door. “It’s no big deal, Braden. I mean, you don’t date, right? Now you know for sure you don’t.”

He reaches forward and tucks my hair behind my ear. “It is a big deal, to me it is. Let me try again. Please?”

I narrow my eyes and look at him. “Are you asking me for a second date?”

“Yeah,” he says in a soft voice. “I am askin’ you for a second date.”

“I’ll think about it, and then I’ll call you.”

“You don’t have my number.” He gives me a small smile.

I walk towards the classroom and look back at him when I reach the door. He’s still standing by the side, watching me with that same smile playing on his lips.

“Then I guess you’ll just have to wait, won’t you?” I smirk and Megan rounds the corner. Her eyes shoot between both of us.

“How long?” Braden asks.

“However long I feel like making you wait.” My smirk changes to a grin. “Come on, you’ll be late for class.”

I walk through the door with Megan, and we slide into our seats.

“Second date?” she whispers in my ear.

“Yep,” I reply. “He just doesn’t know that yet.”

Chapter Six – Braden

I watch her all through class. Make me wait? I don’t do f**king waiting, but here I am.

Waiting.

I shake my head at my thoughts and try to focus on the lesson but it’s impossible. The girl I’m supposed to be making fall in love with me is calling the shots. I guess that’s what happens when you f**k up the first date, right?

Fucking hell. This is a mess already, and it’s only day two. And where the hell am I supposed to take her for a second date?

Class ends, and I follow Maddie and Megan out. I tug on Megan’s hair as I pass her and brush my fingers down Maddie’s arm. She glances up at me and smiles. I wink at her and walk in the opposite direction, back towards the frat house.

Ryan’s sitting on the sofa with his feet up when I get there.

“How’d it go?”

“I f**ked up, naturally.” I chuck myself next to him. “I have no f**kin’ clue about this dating shit, man. I can’t believe you’re making me do this.”

“I’m not making you do anything,” he replies. “You agreed to this.”

“Yeah, well, providing she agrees, I have to find a place to take her for a second date.”

Ryan laughs.

“What’s so funny?”

“Braden Carter is asking me for dating advice!” He chuckles. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Never thought I’d see the day I went on a damn date,” I grumble.

“Try this Friday.”

“Friday? That’s four days away and a party night.”

“What better way to show her you’re serious than skipping out on your own party?” Ryan raises his eyebrows.

“And where do I take the princess for our date?”

“To the beach? Have a walk under the stars,” Ryan suggests in a girly voice and sighs.

“Great,” I mutter. “And until then?”

“Pop up when she least expects it. Spend time with her.” He shrugs. “That shit worked with Lila.”

“Right. She said she spends free time between classes in the library. That?”

“Find out from Megan when her free time is, if she won’t get suspicious.”

“Dude, she told me where to take Maddie for our first “date”. I’m pretty sure Megan has her own freakin’ agenda.”

He looks at me knowingly. “Then make sure you keep to ours and not fall into hers.”

“I don’t fall in love, Ry.” I snort at the idea. “And especially not with princesses like Maddie.”

“Yet you’re willing to pretend to get her in bed.”