Draw Play: A Sports Romance by Tia Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A

behind the register rang up the books. She took every opportunity to glance up at him and smile coyly. I could have strangled her. If things had only turned out differently, I could have been the person ringing up the books while she tutored him. From the eyes she was making, I didn’t think she would mind. I could have thrown up.
    We left the bookstore, with me turning toward the dorms the second my feet hit the pavement. I wanted the whole ordeal to be over with. I’d never felt more embarrassed, and I knew that if anybody asked me exactly why I felt that way, I wouldn’t know what to say. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
    “Claire! What’s with you?” he asked.
    I tried to ignore him.
    “Hey! I asked what’s with you.” He caught up to me then blocked my way. “Listen, I’ve blocked three-hundred-pound linebackers. Don’t even try to get past me.”
    I sighed. How could I say it without sounding pathetic? “Are you sure you won’t run into somebody you know at the library? Since you’re this famous person?”
    He frowned. “Famous? And I probably will. So what? It happens.”
    “And that won’t bother you? Being seen with me?”
    A mixture of expressions crossed his face, he seemed to relax. “Oh, is that it? You think I don’t want to be seen with you?” He smirked. “Where did you get that idea?”
    “Apparently, I’m not good enough for your frat house,” I replied, wrapping my arms around my waist. I felt so exposed, and in front of a stranger, I couldn’t stand.
    His mouth fell open, he then threw his head back and laughed. I wanted to shrivel up and die. I tried to get past him, but again he blocked me.
    “Fuck you.” I snarled, unsuccessfully trying to maneuver around his powerful body.
    “Wait! Hold on. Is that what you thought I meant? Jesus Christ.”
    “Will you move? I’m over it.”
    “Claire, stop. Listen.”
    “I have shit to do, Jake.”
    “Let me explain myself. I meant it’s the last place in the world to get serious work done. I usually wear my headphones when I study, and even then, I still hear everybody else’s music, the TVs, whatever.”
    “Oh.” I bit my bottom lip.
    “Yeah—” He grinned.
    “Well, no wonder you’re not doing very well. I couldn’t imagine trying to study in that type of environment.”
    “Tell me about it,” he said with a chuckle. “So, the library is probably the best place. Unless you can think of somewhere better.”
    “No, the library works.” I even smiled a little, and he smiled back. It didn’t matter that dozens of people walked around us. For a second there, it was only him and me. I finally felt, seen, and heard for once. It was a big moment.

7
    Jake
    “ F irst things first , though. How do you usually structure your time?”
    I gave Claire a look that must have told her how lost I already was, and she sighed. I hated that sigh. It made her sound like a disappointed mother. “Sorry. Nobody ever taught me how to study.”
    She frowned. “Are you’re serious?”
    I glared at her. “Yeah. It’s possible. I didn’t even know there was anything to it until you asked me if I knew how.”
    She tapped her fingers on the table. We had chosen one far back in the library, trying to get a little quiet and a little privacy. Already three people had walked up to say “hi” though. I could feel Claire getting more annoyed with every interruption.
    “Okay.” She folded her hands. “Are you a good note taker?”
    “All right, I guess.”
    “Do you even take notes?”
    I rolled my eyes.
    “Okay, fine. You take notes. Are they handwritten or typed?”
    “Written. I don’t type fast enough to keep up.”
    “Me neither.”
    Wow, the first thing we agreed on. She wasn’t so perfect, after all.
    “So, the first thing I do after class, or as soon as I can, is type all of that day’s notes.”
    I stared at her. “You type them? Instead of just writing them out? Why would you double your work?”
    “It helps me in two