I pop another candy into my mouth, listening to guys blabbering. I honestly thought about staying home and watching something, but it's a freaking tradition, one that I have no desire to break. After each party we come here to talk, drink, and eat. Nothing fancy, but I kinda like it. Especially with M&Ms. I smile to myself and glance at the table where Layla and her best friend sit. Benson and Baker just walked in and stopped to have a few words with them.

Suddenly, Baker turns on his heels and stomps in our direction with a scowl. I wonder what happened to make him so angry. He slumps on the chair across from me and mutters under his breath. "Fucking bitch."

"Who?" I tear my gaze away from the table and focus on him. He meets my eyes and forces a smile.

"That Ava chick. She's hot but a total bitch."

"Ava?" Clay asks, taken aback. Baker looks at him for a second and nods his head. "Well, she sure has the guts to stand up for herself, but calling her a bitch? Come on! She's a girly girl, and pretty too."

"Don't ever remember seeing you so smitten." I nudge him in the ribs, but he laughs.

"I'm not smitten." My best friend takes a bottle of non-alcoholic beer in his hand and takes a swing. "I'm just stating the obvious."

"What do you mean she left your bed?!" Layla's voice cuts through the atmosphere and everyone is looking at their table. I try to hear what the freshman is saying to her best friend but fail. I just see her smile.

"Do you think Benson banged her?" Baker narrows his eyes on the girl, chewing on his inner cheek as if calculating something. I don't like the glint in his eyes, he looks like he's planning something.

"Hm, the thought didn't even cross my mind." Clay mumbles uncertain. "You?" He asks me.

"Me either." I shrug my shoulders. Hell no, I'm not letting them know what I know already. I will use it later for my own benefit.

"Maybe he did." Rodgers puts his bottle on the table, watching as Benson turns around and strolls in our direction. "He said she's off limits for the team."

"I don't care what he says. The chick is a piece of work, but I need to add her to my book..." Baker mutters mostly to himself, his eyes stay trained on the freshman. "She will be on my list, I don't have any doubts."

"Do you want to make a bet?" Clay tilts his head to the side, taking another sip of his drink. Baker peers at him and a leery smile starts playing on his lips.

"Yeah, why not?" He extends his palm to my best friend. "By winter break she will spend the night in my bed."

"And I say that you won't even get to finger her, let alone fuck her." Rodgers takes his hand, and they glance at me. "Break it."

I blink, putting my M&Ms on the table. "What does the winner get? I want my share too."

"Dunno." Baker shrugs. "I don't care. Make it fun."

"How about..." Clay falls silent, thinking. Suddenly he breaks into laughter, shaking uncontrollably. "The last day before winter break starts, the loser will need to go to class dressed in a dress and with full makeup."

"Are you 5?" Baker frowns. "I said make it fun."

"That's fun." I hold his gaze. "Are you backing away?"

He's silent for a second, but then nods his head. "Whatever. I know I'll win."

"What about the winner?" I press again, glancing between them.

"The winner..." Baker chews his bottom lip. "The winner will get 500 bucks."

"I don't have that kind of cash laying around." Clay furrows his brow. "How about the winner gets a bottle of their choice? Whiskey? Tequila?"

Baker rolls his eyes in annoyance. "Fine. Break it, Thompson."

I break their hands apart, sensing a strange feeling forming in my head. I don't like it. Not even for the tiniest second. Something is wrong.

"Did you just make a bet?" Evans, our defenseman, shouts, drawing attention to the three of us.

"Maybe." Baker grins, sneaking a glance at the table where the girl sits.

"What is it?" Benson asks, taking a bite of pizza.

"Nothing special." Rodgers shifts in his seat. I have known him for years. He's uncomfortable and probably already regrets suggesting the bet to Baker. It's often a problem with him. He does things and only then thinks about the consequences. "Did you fuck your sister's best friend?"

Clay, you stupid idiot! Changing the subject subtly is definitely not his strongest suit. Benson puts the pizza into his mouth, chewing on it and saying nothing. Yet, his eyes are emitting fire. He's royally pissed, and it doesn't go unnoticed. Everyone is silent, waiting for him to say something.

"Why are you jumping to that conclusion?" Drake arches an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. His muscles flex and jaw tenses.

"Dunno..." My best friend licks his lips, letting out a short laugh. "You said she's off limits... and maybe it's because you want her to yourself..."

Benson shakes his head with a smile. "Ava is my sister's best friend, but the truth is... she's my friend too. I care about her a lot, and don't want her to get hurt... That's all."

"Yeah, I understand... Sorry about that..." Clay becomes serious in an instant, as his gaze shifts to Baker. If he succeeds and she knows that there was a bet, she will be hurt. No doubt about it. "Just a pity that you..."

"She spent the night in my room after someone kicked her out of the party." Drake stares at me for a moment. "We talked and she made me realize that I don't have any right to forbid her from doing what she wants. She's not my sister after all."

"Wait..." Rodgers looks excited. "Does that mean..."

"Yes." Benson laughs wholeheartedly. "Ava is not off limits. Just keep in mind that if any of you morons hurt her, you better be ready to get your ass kicked."

Now, I feel stupid. If I'm right, and they really slept together, how could he be okay with her dating someone from the team? Or even just fucking someone from the team? If she were mine, I would never share her.

"Sorry guys." Clay exclaims, stands up from his chair and goes to the table where Layla and the girl sit. My eyebrows go up because I have no idea what he is doing. It's unusual and I don't even know what to say.

"What the hell is he doing?" Baker hisses. "Does he want to win the bet by sweeping the girl off her feet, so I won't even have a chance?"

"Fuck if I know." I mumble grumpily, snatch my M&Ms from the table and toss the rest of the candies in my palm. My mood isn't as good anymore.

We stay at the diner for about two hours. I chat with guys, glancing at Rodgers from time to time. He's still with Layla and her best friend. His hand casually lays on the back of the booth, as he moves closer and closer to the girl. Her laugh is melodic, and she's in an evidently happy mood. She is smiling and flirting with him. A few times I catch Drake looking at them too, and I don't know how to explain what I see. Though I don't know how to explain my own feelings, so there is no surprise.

I go outside to smoke and don't have even a moment alone as Benson joins me too. His gaze is severe, not a hint of a smile on his face. I light up my cigarette, looking back at him. If he wants to talk to me, he should be the one to start the conversation.

"What you did yesterday was wrong," he finally says, leaning his back on the wall. "I found her totally lost. Ava had no idea where she was going. She is still learning her way around campus, Thompson."

"I know. I'm sorry." I blow smoke and see him wrinkle his nose.

"You should apologize to her, not me." Drake muses, and I frown.

"Not gonna happen."

He runs his palms over his face, looking irritated. "What is this all about? She said she ruined your night with her roommate. Is that enough of a reason to treat her like she's nothing?"

"She just..." I stop speaking, taking a drag off of my cigarette. Does he know about the slap?

"She's just what? As far as I know, Clay was also there with you, and he doesn't have any problems with Ava. Only you." Only me. She doesn't affect Clay the way she affects me.

I lower my gaze to my feet and think. Drake isn't a chatterbox. He knows how to keep secrets and won't make fun of anyone purposefully. "She slapped me across my face for my words."

I look back at Benson and see laughter in his eyes. He chuckles, shaking his head. "Why am I not surprised?" He takes a step closer to me, pushing himself from the wall. "Listen... Ava has a temper. She's a freaking tornado as her father often jokes. And let me tell you... He's not wrong. She slapped you because you offended her, and not because she has a problem with you... She would have slapped me if I did something to her too. So, don't take it personally, Colton. And please, don't make her pay for it more than she already did. People here love gossiping and what happened yesterday didn't go unnoticed. The consequences might be worse than you think."

"I just kicked her out..." I argue, but he shakes his head.

"It amuses me that you still have no idea about the power you have around here." Drake puts a hand on my shoulder. "People will see her as your enemy. A laughingstock... I don't know what Monday will bring for her, but I'm sure it won't be nice. No one wants to be on your bad side, so they might try doing something to her to make you happy. Especially girls."

When he puts it that way, he might be right. I swallow a lump in my throat and put my cigarette out. "Okay." I tell him, throwing the butt into the trash can. "She knows I am sorry... I bumped into her on her way out of your room this morning."

Drake blinks at me, speechless. Then, he takes a step back and hides his hands in his pockets. "She didn't want to go back to her dormitory when I found her, besides my place was closer... It's not like it was the first time that we slept in the same room."

I smirk, knowingly. "Yeah, you've known each other for years. She's family."

"Exactly." He scratches the back of his neck, looking around. "I probably need to get going. I promised to give Layla and Ava a ride home. So..."

"Sure." I nod and decide to reassure him. "I'll try to behave with her."

"Please do." Drake laughs and walks back to the diner, leaving me alone.

I don't understand anything. I start doubting my own gut, since both Benson and his sister's best friend give me a headache with their actions. Like one second, I'm sure they have something going on between them, but the next - they prove the opposite. It doesn't make any sense!

The door opens and she's the first one to walk out of the diner. My eyes travel up and down her length, and again, I am mesmerized by her. She's wearing tiny denim shorts and a white tee. Simple and yet, incredibly sexy. My stomach twists and turns, and my skin warms up. Our eyes lock on each other, and I don't really want to look away... but this moment can't last forever.

"Ava, dammit!" Layla exclaims loudly, pushing her best friend out of the way. Her eyes land on me and her face lights up. I give her an awkward grin, stepping out of their way. Yet, she strolls right up to me. "Your best friend asked my best friend on a date."

I furrow my brow and my jaw drops open. I don't know what surprises me the most. Clay's invitation or his fixation on this girl. Oh, look who's talking, Mr. with a boner in his jeans! "Cool." I mutter.

"What if we make it a double date? Will you go with me?" Layla puts her hands on her hips, a seductive smile on her lips. Is she for real? How on Earth does Clay's date have anything to do with me?

"Erm, sorry, but no." I straighten my back, hands hidden in my pockets.

"Why?" She insists. Because I don't like you is the most obvious and honest answer, but I don't want to hurt her. She's Benson's sister, and I respect him.

"Because you're off limits." I exclaim, meeting Drake's gaze. He nods his head at me, stepping closer and wrapping his arm over Layla's shoulder.

"Come on, sis." He pushes her to start moving. I notice a scowl on her face, but I don't care. "Bye Thompson."

I nod my head and stay rooted to the spot, watching them walk to Benson's car. Layla argues, throwing her hands in the air every so often. She's pissed and it annoys her brother. I sneak a glance in her best friend's direction and see her climb into the car in silence. Did she agree to go on a date with Clay? Does she like him?

Ugh. I huff, turn around and walk back into the diner. I just want to be home, alone in my apartment. I feel my hard-on in my pants, and it irritates me. What was the point of my hookup with Amy if I'm even more horny than I was? Maybe because you chose the wrong girl, idiot? I literally hate my life. And that girl. She's the reason I feel like a fool.