The Game of Obsession

I glanced at the monitors lining the wall of the frat house’s basement. This was normally Dylan’s domain, but as the high-end tech was bought with my money, I figured I’d earned the right to invade his space whenever I wanted.

Luckily, he wasn’t there at the moment, so I didn’t have to worry about him questioning why I was focused on the campus’s security feeds, as well as the feeds from some other strategically placed cameras that I’d had installed.

A little money in the right hands had ensured that no one batted an eye as cameras were set up that campus security couldn’t access.

Sometimes it was really great having a rich asshole for a father.

My eyes drifted across the screens and stopped at the monitor at the top left-hand corner.

It showed the path near the library.

I held my breath and waited. It was Tuesday afternoon, meaning her biology lab just ended, and she would walk past the library, turn left heading off campus, and spend the rest of the night holed up in her cottage.

I sat up straighter, inching closer to the monitor, scanning the faces of the other students, but knowing, just knowing, none of them were her.

And suddenly, there she was.

The girl I’d met the week before classes started. The sexy freshman with the innocent vibe.

She had been cute and shy, tucking her hair behind her ear as she tilted her head to the side and quirked her lips in a crooked smile. I couldn’t help but offer to show her around.

She’d talked the whole time, her hands moving gracefully as we walked along the paths that twisted around campus. She had been sweet, and smart, and unaware of how attractive she was. It was then that I’d realized she was totally out of my league.

There had been something different about her—something I couldn’t put my finger on.

It was almost scary.

It’d unnerved me so much that I’d bailed and hadn’t talked to her since.

But I couldn’t get her out of my mind.

She was a regular at the home football games. All I had to do was glance up, and I could find her in the crowd.

No matter where she was, I always spotted her.

Just her.

No one else.

Sometimes I could actually hear her cheering for me, her voice carrying through the stands and onto the field.

It made me want to play better. To be worthy of her cheers. I played my best when she was watching.

That was scarier than pissing off my dad.

I’d made it my mission to know everything about her.

She came from a family of doctors and was enrolled in the premed program, which was interesting since I hated doctors. They always asked too many questions, wanting to know how I was feeling, why I thought the way I did.

It didn’t matter how many psychologists my mother sent me to; I was the way I was. And I wasn’t going to change. Not for her. Not for my father.

But despite all that, this girl had caught my attention.

I hated her for that.

She was trouble.

I frowned as she detoured from her usual route, heading toward the library instead of past it.

And then I saw him.

Dylan.

The same Dylan whose basement computer lab I was in right now. The same Dylan who I’d paid to hack into campus security’s camera feeds.

The same Dylan who was my teammate and supposedly my friend.

My heart sped up when she handed him something. It pounded even harder when she touched his arm.

Every second watching them talk made it harder for me to breathe.

A million questions raced through my mind.

How did they meet?

How long had they known each other?

Were they friends?

Maybe he was just helping her with computer stuff. Dylan was a tech genius, after all.

I replayed every memory I had of the two of them, trying to figure out when this could’ve happened.

To ensure Dylan’s loyalty, I’d basically forced him to hang out with me all the time. He barely had time for his other friends.

Their conversation ended, and she continued down the path leading off campus.

I switched my focus to the other monitors and followed Dylan, counting the minutes it took him to get to the frat house—ten, if you included the time he spent talking to one of our teammates outside.

He came in with two Gatorades and a notebook. He tossed the book on the couch and handed me a Gatorade.

“I figured you’d be down here,” he said, flopping down in the chair next to me.

I took a sip. “That girl—Emily—how do you know her?” I pointed at the monitors before he could say anything.

He grinned. “You know Emily? We met at the library. I helped her with an assignment, then I was late for practice and forgot my notebook. She was just being nice, returning it.”

I studied his face, looking for any sign he was lying.

Nothing.

I leaned in. “Don’t ask her out. She’s off limits.”

His grin got even bigger. “You like her. Cool.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. She kind of freaked me out.

“She seems into you too,” Dylan continued. “Even if I did ask her out, she’d say no.”

That made me feel better. “There’s something about her,” I admitted reluctantly. “I don’t know what it is yet, but until I figure it out, I don’t want anyone messing with her.”

Dylan laughed. “Okay, man. You don’t have to worry about me.”

No, but there were other guys on campus I had to worry about.

I couldn’t let myself get involved with her. That would be way too risky, but that didn’t mean I wanted anyone else to touch her, either.

I needed to figure out why she made me feel the way she did. Until then, no one had any business getting close to her.

I stood up, trying to look casual.

Dylan glanced up at me. “Where are you going?”

I finished my drink in one big gulp. “I’m going to talk to the team. They need to know to stay away from her.”

Dylan snorted. “Do your thing, but you know the seniors are assholes, right?”

Yeah, I knew. But I wasn’t my father’s son for nothing.

I smirked. “I can handle them.”

I made my way to the lounge, scanning the room for Lance and Jeremy, the team’s captain and cocaptain.

If I could get them on my side, the rest of the team would fall in line.

They were playing video games in the back. I walked over, trying to look like I belonged.

“I want you to set a rule for the team,” I said, not bothering to sugarcoat it.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow, looking amused.

Lance just laughed, still focused on the game. “Hello to you too, Richardson.”

I forced a smile even though my nerves were buzzing.

Lance beat Jeremy, and “Game Over” flashed on the screen. Jeremy cursed and tossed his controller down.

Finally, Lance looked up at me. “What rule?”

“There’s this freshman named Emily.” I glanced at the camera hidden on the shelf to the right of the TV. “Dylan, can you pull up a picture of her?”

The TV screen switched from the game to a photo of Emily.

“Huh,” Jeremy said, sounding interested. He and Lance exchanged a look.

“I want you to let the guys know she’s off limits,” I said, trying to sound casual.

Before Lance could answer, Jeremy jumped in. “And what do we get out of this? She’s hot, man. Too hot to ignore, freshman or not.”

I had to swallow down the urge to punch him.

“Right,” I said, staring him down. “You could go after her, or I could hook you and the whole team up with a trip to Miami for spring break. My dad’s got a house right on the beach. He wouldn’t care if we crashed there.”

Jeremy leaned back, a thoughtful look on his face. Lance scanned the room, like he was weighing his options.

“So, what’s it gonna be?” I asked, tapping my foot impatiently.

Lance looked back at me. “It’s a nice offer, kid, but—”

“What?” Jeremy cut him off, frowning. He shot Lance a glare. “Can we have a minute, Rich?”

I knew my instincts were right. Jeremy would always pick perks over a girl.

Girls flocked to him on the regular. Missing out on one freshman wouldn’t keep him up at night.

I nodded and stepped aside. Jeremy and Lance started whispering.

After a few minutes, the two of them stood and walked toward me.

“Look, I get what you’re doing,” Lance said. “You want to protect your girlfriend. That’s sweet. But next time, at least pretend you’re asking. I’m doing this because you’re a good kid—annoying and cocky as fuck, but good.” He patted my back and walked away.

I did ask him. Jeremy was the one who wanted something in return.

“He’s full of shit,” Jeremy said with a laugh. “He was always going to say yes, no matter how you asked. Just a tip—Lance hates being controlled. Remember that. He might seem nice, but there’s a viper in there. He likes you more than the others, though. Don’t fuck it up.”

He wandered off, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Mission accomplished.

“Listen up.” Lance clapped, getting everyone’s attention. “Richardson here is offering us a trip over spring break.” Everyone looked at me. “But there are a few terms. Like this Emily girl.” He pointed at her picture on the TV.

“Stay away from her. If I see anyone near her or talking to her, you’ll regret it. And I’m sure the rich kid will make you regret it even more. Got it?”

A few guys said yes. Some just nodded.

“Good.” Lance grinned. “Spread the word.”

Relief washed over me.

Emily was mine. I just didn’t know what I wanted to do about it yet.