Chapter 7: Game On
Tyler McConnell. If campus had a king, it was him. Last semester, I’d helped my roommate deliver water to him twice, and suddenly everyone decided I had a crush on the guy.
With my reputation as the campus ice queen, the rumor spread like wildfire—one girl, two bottles of water, and now I was apparently obsessed with the basketball star.
Tyler, for his part, just told his friends: “Riley? Don’t really remember her. Not interested.”
After that, I never delivered water for my roommate again. But the rumor stuck like gum under a desk.
I bit back a groan, shaking the sting from my hand. “What is wrong with you?”
Tyler sneered, practically glowing with self-righteousness.
“Anyone who has my Messenger knows I’m a Kayla Lin fan. You must be jealous I like her, so you stream-sniped her and went off on her.”
I stared at him. “Tyler, are you for real? I was pissed to match with her twice—why would I camp her? Besides, I don’t even have your Messenger. How would I know who you like? Who you like is your business, not mine.”
Tyler rolled his eyes, convinced I was lying. “You said you matched her twice. If you weren’t camping, how could it be such a coincidence? And you don’t have my Messenger because I don’t want to add you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stalk me another way.”
He leaned in, close enough for me to smell his aftershave. “If Kayla Lin hadn’t been wronged, you’d never have a shot at talking to me. I don’t want to waste words. Apologize to her now!”
My sarcasm sharpened: “You break it, you buy it, superstar. Seven hundred bucks. Or is that too steep for the team captain?”
Tyler scoffed, like he’d just gotten a parking ticket he didn’t deserve.
“I can pay for your cup and your medical bills too. As long as you apologize, anything’s fine.”
“Really? Then pay for my cup first. Seven hundred dollars.”
He eyed the broken glass, snorting. “You? That busted cup isn’t worth seven hundred. Even if it is, could you afford it? You’re just trying to scam me.”