Player (What Happens on Campus Book 1) by M L Sparrow Read Free Book Online

and was laughing up at him. Forgetting her earlier grievances, she grabbed Parkers hand, “I want to dance some more.”
    “Shouldn’t you take it easy for a minute?” he protested as she pulled him into the crush of dancers.
    “No, I’m fine.” When he continued to hesitate, she scowled at him, “Come on, this could be the only chance you ever get to put your hands on me.”
    “Well, when you put it like that…” With that cocky grin once more firmly in place, he slid his arms around her and Chloe lifted her own to wrap around his neck. Shivering at the feel of their bodies aligning, she bit her lip and tucked her head beneath his chin, just for a moment. It felt indescribably good to be held like this. New and exciting.
    His hands moved further down and she tensed, waiting to see that he’d do next, but they just settled at her lower back and remained there, big and warm.
    Lifting her head from his chest, she craned her neck to catch a glimpse of Riley, just to check that she was all right and saw that she had been joined by Jet and Terri, looking to all the world like a couple as they danced, her back pasted to his front. Smiling to herself, she looked back up at Parker to catch him grinning down at her.
    “You look stunning. That dress…” he whistled between his teeth and shook his head, leaning back as if to admire her better.
    Blushing, Chloe slapped at his chest. “Stop it.”
    “What, a guy can’t compliment the prettiest girl in the room?”
    “Not when they’re only supposed to be friends. You didn’t want to date me, remember, so you can’t go around spouting stuff like that.”
    “If that’s the case we shouldn’t be dancing like this either.”
    “Dancing’s fine,” she decided, unable to resist pressing against him once more. “Friends can dance without it meaning anything. Look at Jet and Terri.”
    That was a barefaced life, if ever she’d told one.
    By the time people began to leave, Chloe was exhausted. Turning her head to yawn into her shoulder, she sat on the stairs as she waited for Riley to come back from the bathroom so that they could go. Terri and Jet had left a while ago, but Riley had wanted to stay until the party was officially over. Her feet were killing her, so she kicked off her lethal heels and rested her head against the balustrade, letting her eyes drift shut.
    “Long night, hey?” said a deep voice, which was familiar after tonight. Peeling open her eyes, she peered up at Parker, who had been helping his friend Dawson tidy up. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”
    “I’m waiting for Riley,” she replied around a jaw cracking yawn.
    “She’s just coming,” he gestured behind her and she glanced over her shoulder to see Riley descending the stairs, looking dishevelled after a night of dancing, but happy nonetheless.
    “That was so fun!” she exclaimed when she reached them, flinging her arms around Chloe’s neck and almost causing them both to fall down the last few steps. “Let’s do it again tonight.”
    Laughing, Chloe guided her out of the house. “Let’s see if you’re still saying that when you sober up.”
    Behind them, Parker snorted with amusement, closing the door as Chloe tried to stop Riley from veering into the bushes on either side of the path. Catching up to them, he clasped Riley’s other arm and together they steered her towards Willow building as she chattered to them about everything and nothing.
    When they got to their room, she sat Riley on her bed and went to say goodnight to Parker, who was lingering in the doorway. “Tonight was great,” she conceded, “maybe you will make a decent friend after all.”
    “I told you, I’m fun to be around,” he smirked, pushing his hands deep into his jeans pockets as he leaned his body back slightly. For a moment, they just stood there, neither of them really sure how to end the night. Suddenly he said, “I suppose a goodnight kiss is off the table?”
    Instantly serious, she