Playing Offsides: Chapter 3

Aspen gives me a blank stare. “Yeah, you’ve already said that.”

Her indifference is unexpected. I don’t really know her, but from what I’ve observed, Aspen is usually quiet and more reserved. Mouse-like, if you will. I’ve only really seen her with Delilah or a few of the other girls that hang out in their group.

Even though we’ve never shared an encounter before, there’s something about Aspen that is hard to ignore. She’s an enigma—a mystery. Her eyes are a soft sage color, her cheekbones high and prominent. My eyes travel down the curve of her slender neck as she grabs her raven-colored hair and swings it over her shoulder in an effort to shield herself from my wandering eye.

Lifting my gaze, I meet her look of indifference again. Her plump lips part slightly, her tongue darting out to wet them before she speaks again. “We’ve attended the same university for the past two years, have been classmates in numerous classes, and this is the first time that we’re having a conversation.” She pauses for a moment, her eyes narrowing at me. “Why the hell should I help you?”

There’s a harshness in her tone, though it doesn’t take away from the sultry lilt of her voice. The corners of my lips attempt to curl upward, but I don’t allow the smirk to form as she stares at me expectantly, waiting for a response.

“I mean, you’ve never tried to talk to me before, either.”

A harsh laugh falls from her lips as she shakes her head at me. “What could we possibly have to talk about? We literally have nothing in common, Cam. We live in two separate worlds.”

“How do you know that? Get to know me and let me change your mind.”

Aspen snorts, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, hard pass. I have to get to class, it was nice talking to you, Cameron.”

My face contorts, my heart pounding in my chest as I watch her spin on her heel and begin to walk the other way. She has such a distaste for me and I’m confused by it, but obviously my charm isn’t going to work on her.

Jogging after her, I grab her arm, spinning her back around. “Aspen, please,” I practically beg, my eyes desperately searching hers. “I’m desperate here.”

A sigh slips from her lips and she purses them. “What do you need help with?”

Wrapping my hand around her wrist, I pull her over to the wall, away from listening ears. “I’m about to fail biology and I need a tutor to help me get my grade up. My scholarship and game time are on the line with this one.”

Realization passes through her eyes and she frowns. “And that’s why you said no one can know. You don’t want anyone to know about your current status with your academic standing.”

“Exactly.”

Aspen stares back at me for a moment, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she considers my plea. A soft sigh slips from her lips as her shoulders sag in defeat. “Fine, I will help you.”

I’m caught off guard by her actually agreeing. I don’t have anything to offer her in return for the favor, but I have to come up with something. Surely, she can’t expect to do it for free.

“What can I do to pay you back? I can’t have you doing a huge favor for me like this without me returning it in some way,” I tell her, feeling my pride quickly dissolving. Asking for help was hard enough for me to do, and now I can’t help but feel uncomfortable with the entire situation.

How am I supposed to tell her that I don’t have the extra money to pay her? With my demanding schedule with hockey and classes, I don’t have the time to work a part-time job. I’m literally here on a full-ride scholarship and any extra money that I have is what my parents send me to help me pay for anything I may need.

The last thing I want to do is ask them for more money to pay for my tutoring. By doing that, I’m opening the door for disappointment—for them to see that I’m potentially going to fuck everything up.

Aspen tilts her head to the side, her eyebrows drawing together. “I don’t need anything in return, Cam.” Her voice is soft as her eyes search mine. “Consider it a favor I’m doing out of the kindness of my heart. Plus, it’s something I can add to my college résumé.”

“If you do this for me, I will be in your debt forever,” I breathe, feeling relief flood me, as well as the shame of being in this position. “Seriously, I will pay you back somehow, okay?”

She shakes her head. “You don’t owe me anything, Cameron.”

“If you can help me get out of this damn mess, I owe you everything.” Pausing for a moment, I drop my voice lower, so only she can hear me. “Can you just promise me that you won’t tell anyone about this arrangement?”

The corners of her lips curl upward and she nods. “Your secret is safe with me.”

A smile consumes my mouth and I stare down into her sage eyes. “Thank you, Aspen. I know we don’t really know each other and this is kind of out of nowhere. So, seriously… thank you.”

“Thank me after we get your grade back up.” She adjusts her bag on her shoulder, glancing at the time on her phone. “I do need to get to my next class, though. Let me give you my number and we can figure out when we can fit some study sessions into your schedule.”

Nodding, I pull out my phone and Aspen tells me her number as I enter it and save it. Pressing on the Call button, she stares at her screen as it lights up and declines the call as she glances up at me with an eyebrow raised.

“In case you need my number before I text you,” I tell her with a shrug, watching as a pink hue spreads across her cheeks.

Aspen clears her throat, shifting her weight nervously on her feet as she tucks her phone back into the side pocket of her bag. “I have to get to class, but if I don’t hear from you this evening, I’ll text you.”

“Perfect,” I smile at her as she spins on her heel and heads down the hall in the direction of her next class. Leaning against the wall, I shove my hands into the pockets of my joggers and watch her until she disappears from my sight.

This might be the lowest point in my college years, but I’m hopeful for what is to come from working with Aspen. She’s exactly what I need in my life right now… I just hope I don’t find a way to fuck this up too.