The Love Game (The Game, #1)

CHAPTER Six - Braden

I watch her all through class. Make me wait? I don't do f*cking waiting, but here I am.
Waiting.
I shake my head at my thoughts and try to focus on the lesson but it's impossible. The girl I'm supposed to be making fall in love with me is calling the shots. I guess that's what happens when you f*ck up the first date, right?
F*cking hell. This is a mess already, and it's only day two. And where the hell am I supposed to take her for a second date?
Class ends, and I follow Maddie and Megan out. I tug on Megan's hair as I pass her and brush my fingers down Maddie's arm. She glances up at me and smiles. I wink at her and walk in the opposite direction, back towards the frat house.
Ryan's sitting on the sofa with his feet up when I get there.
“How'd it go?”
“I f*cked up, naturally.” I chuck myself next to him. “I have no f*ckin' clue about this dating shit, man. I can't believe you're making me do this.”
“I'm not making you do anything,” he replies. “You agreed to this.”
“Yeah, well, providing she agrees, I have to find a place to take her for a second date.”
Ryan laughs.
“What's so funny?”
“Braden Carter is asking me for dating advice!” He chuckles. “Never thought I'd see the day.”
“Never thought I'd see the day I went on a damn date,” I grumble.
“Try this Friday.”
“Friday? That's four days away and a party night.”
“What better way to show her you're serious than skipping out on your own party?” Ryan raises his eyebrows.
“And where do I take the princess for our date?”
“To the beach? Have a walk under the stars,” Ryan suggests in a girly voice and sighs.
“Great,” I mutter. “And until then?”
“Pop up when she least expects it. Spend time with her.” He shrugs. “That shit worked with Lila.”
“Right. She said she spends free time between classes in the library. That?”
“Find out from Megan when her free time is, if she won't get suspicious.”
“Dude, she told me where to take Maddie for our first “date”. I'm pretty sure Megan has her own freakin' agenda.”
He looks at me knowingly. “Then make sure you keep to ours and not fall into hers.”
“I don't fall in love, Ry.” I snort at the idea. “And especially not with princesses like Maddie.”
“Yet you're willing to pretend to get her in bed.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures, my friend. I always get what I want, and I want Maddie in my bed.”
“In that case, I hope you know what you're doing. We all know what Megan is like when she gets an idea in her head.”
“Megan's ideas can stay in her head. I never paid attention to them as a kid, and I won't start now. Besides, it's not like this thing with Maddie is even real. It's all a game, man.”
“A love game?” Ryan chuckles.
“Something like that. Except the one who falls in love, loses.”
“And Braden never loses, right?” Ryan smiles wryly.
“Right.”