“Wanna tell me why your roommate hates you or do you want me to guess?” Nathan leans back on an elbow, his long jean-clad legs splayed out in front of him. Most of the athletes here tonight are dressed up, but he pulls off the dark jeans and black t-shirt like he’s red carpet ready.

I shift my weight, giving one butt cheek a reprieve from the hard ground. We’ve been sharing information for the better part of two hours, or rather, we’ve been trying to guess information about the other. So far, I haven’t learned much, but he’s been surprisingly accurate in his assessment of me.

He takes my silence as an indication I want him to guess.

“You slept with her boyfriend?”

“Oh, my God, no, of course not.” I laugh, and he joins in.

“Kidding.” He considers me for a moment, his blue eyes scrutinizing me in such detail, I feel the blush creep up my face. “She’s jealous of you.”

“No.” I roll my eyes at the thought of Bri being jealous of anyone. She’s captain of the team, she’s beautiful, she seems well-liked, if not a tiny bit feared. It’s more like the other way around. I’m jealous of her. Of her position on the team—one she earned—and the respect and friendship of her teammates. Our teammates. I’m jealous that she doesn’t have to start over with a new college, different city, and an altered perception of the past three years.

“You’re gorgeous. In my experience, that’s all it really takes for other chicks to be jealous.”

“That’s not it,” I say more adamantly. He cocks a brow like he doesn’t believe me. “I got kicked out of my last school for fraud or bribery. Honestly, I’m not sure what the official ruling was.”

I cannot believe I just told him that. Maybe he already knew. That douchebag who tried to hit on me earlier with some sugar momma pick up line certainly did. Nathan’s face gives nothing away. He doesn’t speak so I keep going.

“I didn’t know. Not that it seems to matter to anyone, but I had no idea it’s how I got into college. Anyway, I’m pretty sure that’s why Bri hates me. She thinks I don’t deserve to be here or maybe she just doesn’t like having someone with a scarlet letter on her precious team.”

I slam my lips shut to keep from blubbering on, but he’s looking at me so intently, I can’t not say more. “I’m sorry, I’ve totally ruined the moment.”

I go silent again and stare down at my hands, wishing I could sink right into the concrete.