Looking To Score (Providence University #2)

by Ali Parker

“Are you sure about this? You know I can’t pay rent for a while, right?” I felt like shit, but my options were limited. I could stay with Tasha in my old dorm room or take turns sleeping in Aubrey and Layla’s beds.

  “Of course. You would help me out if I needed you, right?”

  “Without a doubt.” I set my stuff down beside hers. “I’m going to have to move some of my stuff back in here. I don’t have much, but your luxurious closet just became half as big.” I cringed as she turned around and gave me a silly smile.

  “Since when do you know me as the kind of person that gives a shit about the size of my closet? I could care less. You being taken care of? Yes, I care a lot about that.” She moved to the far side of the bed and I gripped the bottom of the side closest to me. “I look like my mother, God help me, but I certainly don’t act like her.”

  “You guys still not talking?” I groaned and pulled at my old bed until it was halfway across the room where it belonged.

  “No. We don’t have anything to say to each other, so it’s easier to just avoid one another.” She shrugged and worked on fixing the sheets back on her bed. “My dad says that I should be the bigger person and break the silence, but it really isn’t a silence like you would think. We’re not mad at each other. We just have nothing in common. She wants me to put on a tutu at twenty-one years old, and I want to wear sneakers.”

  “I get that.” I walked to the closet and was grateful to find sheets still sitting on the top of it. “I’m going to be at Brody’s until Monday morning. I’m hoping to get all my stuff together and sneak out of there before I have to see him again.”

  “Are you going to break things off?”

  “I think so.” I avoided her stare. I knew where everyone stood with that situation, and it wasn’t as if I didn’t agree. I just had far more skin in the game than anyone else who was touting advice and expecting immediate change.

  “What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon? Surely, you’re not headed over there just to hang out by yourself, right?” She dropped down on her bed and flopped back.

  “I was thinking about seeing if Aubrey and Layla wanted to get together. You wanna hang out with us?”

  “Yeah, sure. Why not?” She rolled onto her side. “Or we could play a little basketball. Layla is pretty athletic and you and Aubrey could pair up with each of us to keep things fair.”

  I snorted. “Thanks. Good to know I’m the cannon fodder in the game.”

  “I didn’t say it was that bad.”

  “You didn’t have to.” I smiled and pulled out my phone to text Aubrey. It dinged right away with her response. “They’re heading over now. Seems like everyone is just laying around, looking for something to do.”

  “That’s summer for you.” Natasha got up and walked to the bathroom. “You know you’re welcome to stay here until we graduate and not pay another penny. My dad’s picking up the bill, so until he cuts me off like my mother has done, we’re good.”

  “Your mom cut you off? When?” Not that I really knew the details of Natasha and her mother’s sordid relationship, but her mom was the head of the dance department. She had plenty of money and a reputation to uphold.

  “When I decided I didn’t want to dance anymore.”

  “When was that?” I gave her my attention as she glanced over her shoulder.

  “When I was six.”

  “All right, so graduation is next week, but because of all the shit Lucas is having to do for the Capitals, we’re going to try and plan the party for mid-June.” Aubrey twirled the straw sticking out of her Coke and glanced down at the table.

  I was still having trouble swallowing Layla’s latest excuse for the bruise on her cheek. A wayward softball that smacked into her at practice earlier that day. What the fuck was going on? I didn’t know her well enough to ask, but I was going to pull Aubrey aside and see what she knew. Surely, she wasn’t so wrapped up in all of the stuff around Lucas that she’d failed to see something was happening in her best friend’s life.

  “Mid-June works.” Lucas walked up and wrapped Aubrey in a tight hug from behind. “Ladies. How are you?”

  Jayce Moore joined us and pulled up a chair beside Natasha, giving her a warm smile and lifting his fist. “How’s the best point guard in the world?”

  “Ready for basketball season to start.” Natasha smiled, but I could tell she was uncomfortable. Aubrey and Professor McCraven had a good relationship, which caused an automatic discomfort between Aubrey and Tasha. It was almost like the two didn’t know what to say or not say to each other.

  “I hear you. I can’t wait to start playing baseball again.” Jayce gave her a toothy grin and turned to Layla. “What happened to your freaking cheek? That’s not from the pole thing, right?”

  I glanced over at Aubrey and Lucas as they spoke softly to each other and kissed a few times. Why couldn’t I have that in my life?

  Lucas glanced up, and my cheeks burned as embarrassment raced through me.

  “Sorry.” I smiled and glanced down at the table.

  “No biggie.” He moved up between me and Aubrey and put his forearms on the table. “I heard what you did for Jacob.”

  “What?” I glanced around to make sure no one else was paying attention. “How did you hear about that already?”

  “I’m close with Coach Billows, and they were all in the hockey office earlier today trying to put together the timeline and evidence of what the fuck happened. I’m so damn glad we didn’t come to that party. I swear someone in that Omega House is a rat.”

  “Really? You don’t think it was just another fraternity trying to fuck with them?” Aubrey slipped her arm around Lucas’s back.

  “I don’t think so.” He brushed his finger against his lips. “Jacob has enough shit to deal with. He doesn’t need to add anything else to the mix.”

  “Then maybe he should be a little more responsible with who he’s choosing to take to his bed. Right now, it’s like a free-for-all.” I took a drink of my water as Lucas smiled like he knew something.

  “You like him.”

  “I do not.” I stiffened. “I just think it’s silly for you guys to sit around here and talk about how great he is all of the time when he’s a whore and a half.”

  “And do you know why he’s a whore?” Lucas glanced from me to Aubrey. “Do you, baby?”

  “I do.” Layla raised her hand, bringing everyone else into the conversation. “His mother married a great guy when he was ten, cheated on him, and left Jacob there when he was twelve. He’s never seen her again, and he has no clue who his real father is.”

  “I thought his dad owned this place?” I lifted my hand and moved it around, referring to the pizza parlor we were huddled up in. The idea of Jacob’s mother abandoning him stung me. I understood all too well what being left to fend for myself was like. Where my mother was still physically there, she was mentally miles away. Her liquor made sure of that.

  “No, it’s his stepdad. He’s loyal to the man because Mr. DeAngelo raised him like he was his own son.” Jayce threw in his two cents. “Where I don’t really agree with Jacob’s treatment of women, I can respect him taking care of his father as well as he does. They’re almost inseparable.”

  “The way he treats women will change.” Layla glanced up. “When he finds a good woman that doesn’t treat him like a piece of meat, he’ll melt. He’s a softy.”

  “No way. I don’t believe that.” I glanced up to see him headed straight for us. His dark hair and well-trimmed beard made him look like someone in their late twenties. The dark circles under his eyes didn’t help much, but for some strange reason, they didn’t detract from him either. He was impossibly handsome. The warmth that filled me when he moved to my side of the table and touched the top of my back was disturbing on far too many levels.

  After we ended the day before with a fight, I didn’t think he would want much to do with me. He obviously thought I didn’t respect myself enough to leave Brody and had been quite ve
rbal about it.

  “Hey, peeps.” He lifted his hand and gave everyone but me a high-five. “Party at the Omega House tonight, but it will be censored. You guys should come on out.”

  “Isn’t there a party every night at the Omega House?” Jayce snorted and everyone laughed.

  “Excuse me.” I moved out of my chair and slipped by him, trying not to concentrate on the hint of his cologne or the way he watched me like he already owned me. I didn’t need anything else tying me to the bastard. The few things we had in common were far too much as it were.

  I walked toward the bathroom and stopped by the dartboard, checking out the hiring sign with details below. Working for Jacob’s father couldn’t be that bad, especially not with the way everyone was talking about the guy moments before.

  “Hey.” Jacob’s voice was soft and affected me way more than I wanted it to.

  “Oh, hey, Jacob. What’s up?” I turned toward him and put my hand on my hip.

  “Thank you.” He licked his lips subtly and my stomach contracted. The things his tongue could do.

  “For what?” I dropped my hand to my side, realizing the bitchiness in my stance.

  “For telling Diaz that you were with me all night.”

  “You didn’t hurt anyone, right?”

  “Do you really have to ask that?” The hurt in his eyes tore at me.

  “Of course I do. I took up for you without hesitation, but after thinking about it some, I really don’t know you at all.”

  He moved to stand right in front of me, far too close for comfort.

  “See, that’s the problem, Em. You do know me. You made love to me three years ago and opened up my soul. You didn’t take time to peer down into it and see the man behind the mask?”

  I didn’t know what to say. If his words didn’t steal my breath, his mere presence did.

  “I guess not. Your loss.” He turned and walked back toward the kitchen, leaving me panting softly. I was going to end up in his arms again if I wasn’t careful, and this time, there would be no walking away from him.

  Chapter 12

  Jacob

  Somewhere over the last week, I’d lost my positive attitude about helping out my dad at the pizza place. It had to be exhaustion. Between everything that was required of me with summer soccer and trying to maintain a social life so my nuts didn’t shrink up into my body and fall off, I was sucking at life.

  I walked into the pizza parlor and headed for the back as a long list of mantras ran through my head. I needed to get into a better mood, or I was going to rip someone’s head off for no good reason.

  “I understand that, Sheila, but can’t we just talk—” My father had his back to me, but the sound of his voice let me know something was off. “Right, but—”

  I stopped at the door and thought about turning around and giving him some privacy, but we’d been sharing our pain since I was a boy. It sounded like he was headed for another round of it. There was no way I was leaving him alone to deal with it by himself.

  “All right. I’ll help pack up your stuff tonight.” He let out a long sigh. “No, it’s fine. Thanks for being honest with me.”

  He hung up the phone as his shoulders rolled in and he pressed his hands to his face.

  “Dad?”

  “Oh, hey, buddy.” He turned and forced a smile on his face. “How was practice? Everything going good for you?”

  I took the seat across from his desk and shook my head. “It’s fine. What’s going on? Something up with Sheila?”

  I hadn’t liked the woman since he’d introduced me to her a few months back. Where I was fine using women for all they were worth, my dad still seemed to have stars in his eyes where love was concerned. Every woman he’d dated since my mother left had torn his heart out, leaving me even more guarded than I was before.

  “Yeah. She’s leaving me.” He shrugged and sat down in his chair. “It’s just part of the story of my struggle, hmm?”

  “It doesn’t have to be.” Anger burned deep inside of me. Why couldn’t a good man like him find love? All he wanted to do was provide for some bitch and love her senseless, but no. Every time he tried, the whore would cheat on him or leave without reason. It was always something.

  “No? You know of a good woman looking for love?” He chuckled, but the sound fell flat. “You know I hate talking to you about this stuff. You’ve become hardened toward women, and that’s no way to live your life.”

  “Hell yeah, it is. It’s the safe way.”

  “There are a lot of great girls out there, Jacob. You’re wasting your time if you think you’re going to be satisfied with a hundred of them taking turns in your bed at night. That’s going to get old fast.”

  “It’s already old, but I’m good with it.” I shrugged. “What happened this time? Why is she leaving?”

  “She slept with an old boyfriend a few nights back.” He glanced down at his hands. “At least she was honest about it.”

  “And would you forgive her and give her another chance if she wanted one?”

  “I don’t know. I care about her, but I’m not in love with her anymore. She’s mean-spirited.”

  “Every woman you date is a total bitch. I swear I’m going to start picking out girls for you, Dad, or maybe you should just do like me. Use them and kick them out.”

  He sat back in his seat and watched me for a minute. I hated it when he did that shit. It unraveled me.

  “What?” I barked.

  “You know what.” A smile pulled at the side of his mouth.

  “We’re not talking about my stuff right now. You have your own problems to worry about.” I got up and ran my fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry this shit keeps happening. It’s like Mom put a spell on you or something.”

  “Naw. I just haven’t met the right woman, but I’m going to. You know how?”

  “An online dating service?” I chuckled and walked to the door.

  “Nope. I’m not giving up. I’ll help Sheila pack up, and after I get over the heartache of losing another woman, I’ll get back on the horse.”

  “I don’t know how you do it, Dad. I couldn’t stomach being hurt more than once.”

  “Have you been hurt once?”

  “Yeah. The same heartless bitch that left you, left me, remember?” I walked out, not wanting to see the sad look on his face. He’d forgiven my mother a long time ago, but I hadn’t, nor would I ever.

  I finished making another batch of dough later that day and took a few minutes to check the messages on my phone. The fucking thing had been going off in my pocket for the last thirty minutes.

  A note from Coach that the money was due for uniforms.

  “Great. That’s not happening yet.” I would have to pull the guy aside to see if there was any leeway on getting the money in and ask for scholarships, which I hated to do. Being poor was my own personal hell, and I covered it up pretty well, but it never failed to have a sharp reminder rise up and poke me in the side from time to time.

  The other text was from Lucas White, asking me to call.

  I wiped my hands on my apron and walked through the restroom, exiting through the back door in the alley and moving down enough that the stench of the trash didn’t smack me in the face. He answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, buddy.”

  “Hey, man. What’s up?” I glanced up at the sky between the two buildings and felt a stab of longing. I hated being inside, but helping my dad and earning a few extra pennies in the process was a must.

  “Jayce and I are going to see Bare Naked Ladies tonight. Aubrey was supposed to go with us, but she had something come up with Layla. I got an extra ticket. You down?”

  I growled and closed my eyes. “No. I wish I could go, but I’m at the pizza parlor, working for my dad. See if Micah wants to go with you guys. He’s a cool cat.”

  “Yeah, I know him a little bit. All right, I’ll check in with him. No way you can weasel your way out of work? Where is the Jacob Wright I know an
d hate?”

  I laughed and pressed my back to the wall behind me. “He’s stuck working all damn summer to scrape up enough money to buy uniforms and gas for PDL.”

  “I heard you got in. Congrats, not that any of us are surprised.”

  “Yeah, thanks. What’s up with the Cavs? When are you heading up there?”

  “I went this last week. It’s gonna be amazing.” The tone of his voice didn’t match his words at all.

  I snorted. “Why am I picturing you crying over a pitcher of beer when you say that?”

  “Because I should be?”

  “Do I even wanna hear this?”

  “Probably not. I’m sure you’d tear up my man card over it, but I’m just sick over leaving Aubrey. We’ve talked through the possibility of her coming with me or me staying here, but neither of them really work for our long-term goals.” He grunted. “But staying apart for a year sounds like hell.”

  “That’s because it is.” I ran my hand over my chest. “Are you going to be able to visit each other a lot?”

  “I hope so. Once the money starts rolling in, I’ll have more opportunity than I do now, but you know how that shit rolls.”

  “Yep. I wouldn’t tell anyone else this shit, but if Aubrey’s a good woman, hang on tight. They seem to be rare.”

  “Not as rare as you think. Emily Campbell was asking about you last week. She’s a damn good woman.”

  “Yeah. Too good for me.” I turned and gripped the door handle to go back into the restaurant. “You guys have fun tonight.”

  “We will. You guys having another party?”

  “It’s summer and I run the Omega House. Of course, we’re having another party.”

  “Maybe you should sit this one out tonight.” Micah walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge as I leaned back in my chair.

  “Why’s that?” I yawned loudly and almost busted my ass.

  “Because you’re beat and you have another full day of killing yourself tomorrow. Something has to give, man.”