“So glad you could join us, Miss …”
“Ava, just Ava” was the reply. Such a sweet, young voice.
“You may have heard that I am an ogre. Fail more students than any other professor. But to show you my softer side, please stay after class and I will catch you up on the introduction.” He smiled openly, trying to engage her. He had found his new special someone after all.
And last year’s special adjusted her legs and skirt. There was nothing more she could offer.
Hunter
At the start of the semester break, Hunter was bored. What with his parents away and all uni friends escaped back to their hometowns. His old friends from high school floated from one boring party and club crawl after another. Instead of enjoying his break, nights were spent rejecting one stoned or drunk bimbo after another who only wanted him for his credit card.
It wasn’t as if he was growing up - despite what his parents would want. It was simply no longer willing to or wanting to be known as the dumb jock, rich playboy who was only looking for another party. That may be his reputation, but it was not him and hadn’t been for a while.
This whole move from high school to university had been an absolute revelation, not only was he enjoying the challenge but instead of being the dumbest guy in the class, he understood the concepts and even enjoyed debating them with his new friends. He was smarter than he ever gave himself credit for and now he was being known as much for his sense of humor as his money.
It was a subtle change, not that his old friends appreciated the new Hunter. No longer the superficial person he once was, and they still expected. When he listened to their conversations and watched them from a distance, it was easy to judge them as the same sort of shallow person he had once been. He no longer fit within that life and didn’t want to be one of them anymore.
Moving on from their lifestyle took less than a week. The invites dropped off as soon as he was no longer willing to pick up the whole tab at the end of the night. So much for being “mates forever.”
He’d taken his boat out a couple of times, but the solitude got too much and he resigned himself to surviving a couple of boring weeks until his real friends came back into town.
A week into break and his face lit up when Grace’s number flashed up on his phone.
“How’s my favorite girl? Ready to switch sides again?” Their private joke.
“Homeless.”
“What! I thought you and Sienna were going to your mum’s place. What happened?” They knew that Sienna’s strict Catholic parents would never accept their relationship but had expected Grace’s mother to be more understanding.
“It’s okay for anyone else’s child to be gay, unless it is me and unless it is under her roof.”
“Bae, I’m so sorry.”
“She is all modern and tries to be so hip, but when it comes down to having a daughter with a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend, she let it rip.”
“What happened.”
“Either I find a nice boy to fill my bed, or she suggested I find a new home.”
Hunter wanted to reach through the phone and give them both a hug. “How could she think that this is a choice? Making you choose? Are you supposed to swipe and pick some random guy to make her feel less uncomfortable?”
“Stupid, right? She didn’t even take time to get to know Sienna.”
“You need to get out of there.”
“But neither of us have a place until semester goes back. We sub-let to pay the costs.”
“Come and stay with me.”
The same boring parties weren’t as boring with the girls by his side. The three of then entered a room and heads turned. Grace and Sienna were striking. Their relationship and chemistry was obvious to all. Hunter saw them for the gorgeous, sexy creatures they were, but also valued their friendship. Hanging out with the girls, he felt less alone, even though he still was.
“How’s Ava going?” he asked as nonchalantly as he could. No one had heard from Ava since she left town for the party to end all parties. Hunter missed her like crazy and hoped she’d been in touch with the girls.
Everyone had noticed how Ava had seemed more and more anxious about seeing Alex again. What a tool. If Hunter had a woman like Ava in love with him, there was no way he would leave her for months at a time.
“Probably hasn’t gotten out of bed with that guy of hers.” Sienna blurted out until she was closed down by Grace. Hunter grimaced, clearly, he hadn’t closed down the look of jealousy whenever he thought about Alex.
“Yeah, hopefully he appreciates what he has.” Hunter kept his tone light and hoped the girls didn’t notice the slow burn of jealousy.
“What’s on the agenda today, tonight, ladies,” Hunter was hoping that they were as over parties as he was.
“Ladies’ night in?” Grace joked.
“What am I?” Hunter expressed mock indignation.
“For one night only, we dub you Token Girl. Consider yourself one of us.”
After a week of parties, they needed this day at home, relaxing. Three young, good looking adults spending time at home with cards and board games.
“So, what’s between you and the missing Ava?” Grace asked after Sienna went into town to get some food. “I thought you two were joined at the hip, but she hasn’t been in contact since she left?”
“I’m just the friend she needs.”
“Really? Only friends?”
“Drop it, she’s got a lot of stuff going on. This boyfriend of hers, the whole hate thing with Prof Swains and we all know she’s putting in dog hours at work and study”
“You’re good for her. When you’re around she’s heaps more relaxed and less needing to be in control.”
Grace wasn’t the first to notice, but unless the lady herself did, what the hell could he do?
“Earth to Hunter,” Sienna tried to snap Hunter out of his malaise after dinner.
“Sorry, whose turn is it?”
“For the last ten minutes, it’s been yours.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“We were busy.”
“Don’t let me stop you,” Hunter got up, “I might as well head off now. Get an early night.”
“Why are you here?” Grace asked, pushing him.
“Because I live here! Why are you here?”
Grace shook her head, “Dude, your head is in the country with Ava, so why the hell are you here when she’s there?”
“Something about her being there with the love of her life.”
“What if she is there and it isn’t working? Or worse, what if she’s happy and you are here pining over her for nothing. Either she’s happy and you will have to get over her, or she’s miserable and waiting for you.”
“When did you get so wise.”
“Dude, I’ve always been wise, it’s only now people are listening. Let’s call her and tell her we are gate-crashing. We’ll make sure you get time together to see if you two have something. If you don’t then it is time you learn to walk away.”
“I am not pining for her. I hope she is happy with her country bumpkin.”
Sienna laughed, “Then what’s with the lost puppy look on your face every single time she leaves the room, you have it so bad.”
“She’s with someone and I don’t move in on someone else’s girl.”
“Then, let’s see if she is still madly in love with him or whether she needs a little city excitement.”
Grace made the call. Ava was thrilled to have them gatecrash and Hunter couldn’t hide what the girls already knew. He wanted more than her friendship, only he wasn’t willing to risk losing her friendship by asking for more.
“We’ll be there in a couple of hours,” Grace said, smiling at Hunter while Sienna started stuffing their clothes back into bags.
They arrived when the party was in full swing. Ava looking so cute in her cut off shorts and shirt. High ponytail. Happy, bubbly. Life of the party. No obvious Alex.
&nb
sp; “Babe! You’re here! Everyone, these are my newest friends. Newest friends, this is everyone!” There was no hiding Ava’s delight at seeing them.
“Didn’t we room together at the national hockey tournament?” asked one of Ava’s friends to Grace who nodded. “Ava, this girl is a demon, come and let me get you a drink.”
Hunter was happy to be near Ava. He didn’t have to hold her hand or be next to her after all she knew where he was and they both had enough respect for each other, their friendship, and for Alex to keep their distance.
Listening to Ava’s friends, he learnt that she was a highly competitive sports player, came from a close family, that there wasn’t a challenge she wouldn’t accept, and that Ava and Alex belonged together. Everyone seemed to be of the same opinion. If any two people deserved to be together, it was Ava and Alex.
Fuck.
One guy stood off to the side. Beer in hand, his eyes didn’t leave Hunter. That must be Alex. Hunter had two choices – to go over and introduce himself or wait until Ava was ready introduce them.
He knew the guy was important in Ava’s life and it wouldn’t help to piss him off. That would only make things harder on Ava and force her choose before they were ready.
No time like the present to meet the enemy. “Hunter, you must be Alex.” He extended his hand.
“Alex, good to meet you. Ava didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“Nah, we only decided a couple of hours ago. Texted her for directions once we arrived into town. So, do I wish you happy birthday, too?”
Alex laughed, “No, mate, you’re about six months too late. But I’m still young enough to enjoy the party.”
Hunter let Alex corral him away from Ava and the girls, back towards the guys where Alex was king. No matter, the guy had a lukewarm handshake and it only took minutes of conversation for Hunter to confirm the guy wasn’t in his league.
Nor was he in Ava’s. Alex was a country boy who would forever be a nice enough guy, but no competition.
But did Hunter want to be competition? He looked over at Ava and imagined his arms around her, claiming her for his own in front of all her friends.
Hell yes!
I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek of The Uni Student. In this choose your own romance, you choose which path Ava will take. Change your mind? Then follow the links back and choose again. The Uni Student. Out now, free on KU or enjoy her forever on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Short but not sweet
Have you met … Alex
Wait, there is more…
Sneak peek: The Uni Student
Have you met Alex: friends to lovers romance Page 10