Prologue

PROLOGUE

I Will Never Date An Athlete

Charlotte

Raphael: Head inside and grab a seat. I’m running late.

It’s our second Advanced Social Media Marketing class of the year and my boyfriend is already late for class. Where I am always on time and like to have everything in order, my boyfriend is a fly by the seat of his pants kind of guy. He’s from France and he says life in Europe is a lot more laidback. He thinks I am too intense, and he likes to try and relax me. Truth is, I do find his French accent relaxing to listen to.

Me: See you soon.

Raphael: heart emoji

I enter the lecture hall early because I like to have a seat at the front of the class. I take a seat and walk over to Professor Burton to say hello.

“Hi, Professor Burton.” She’s a middle-aged professor with short gray hair, black glasses, and a tall slim frame.

She smiles. “Hi, Charlie, are you excited to find out your placement at the end of class?”

The class involves an internship with a local business, or one of the sports teams on campus. As an avid basketball fan, I’m praying I get to be the social media coordinator for the basketball team. These internships are important and can lead to a job with a major sports team when we graduate.

“I’m a little nervous,” I admit.

Her assistant, Ryan, is setting something up on Professor Burton’s laptop and he says, “They’re all good internships, Ms. Morgan.”

Both Professor Burton and Ryan know I’ve been holding out for the basketball team, but placements aren’t entirely up to them. Our résumés are given to the prospective employers, and they get to decide since the internship is paid and we are expected to produce results.

“I know, but I feel like I can work wonders for the basketball team,” I reply.

Professor Burton looks at her watch. “We should start the lecture,” she says to Ryan.

I back away and head to my seat. I look up at the clock and then the door. Still no sign of Raph.

“Good evening, class,” Professor Burton greets from her perch on the dais. I hate evening classes but this is the only time this course is offered, and I can’t back away from the opportunity for an internship. Besides, Raph promised to walk me back to my dorm after class since it will be dark outside, and walking on campus alone at night isn’t always the best idea. Riverside U has a pretty safe campus, but it’s still a university and stories pop up about girls getting roofied. “I know most of you from previous years, and I know some of you have spent the summer building your social media accounts as a portfolio.”

The door to the lecture hall opens and Raph stumbles inside. His dark hair is messy, and his glasses have slid down his nose.

“Mr. Olivier,” Professor Burton calls him out. “Thanks for joining us.”

“Sorry,” he says, wincing. He takes a seat at the back of the lecture hall.

“I was just talking about personal accounts. You’ve had great success with your socials over the summer. Do you want to explain to the class what you’ve done?” Professor Burton asks Raph. He really did do an amazing job building his accounts, but I think she is calling him out for disrupting the class. It isn’t a big class so one person being late is noticeable.

“Oui, Professor Burton,” he replies with his sexy accent. “I have gone around all summer tasting all kinds of American food. I give reviews and compare it to French culture. Some of my reviews are meant as satire and people have been eating it up.”

“Fabulous. Would it be okay if we showed the class some of your videos?” Professor Burton asks. It’s not an unusual question. It’s the type of class that is hands-on. All the students know each other through different group projects and assignments.

“Oui.” Raph stands and walks to the front of the lecture hall with his cell phone. He passes it to Ryan and shows him where to open his Instagram account. Ryan uses a connecting device in order for Raph’s screen to be shared to a larger screen for the class to view.

Raph stands off to the side as Ryan works to pull up the screen. Raph then takes hold of his cell phone and begins to scroll through it. Everything he is doing can be seen by everyone in class.

“Je m’excuse,” Raph says, looking flustered as he takes time to pull up his account.

Suddenly a video begins to play. It’s Raph in his dorm room in bed with two girls.

My eyes bug out of my head. “WTF,” I mutter as I palm my chest.

Raph gets visibly embarrassed as he tries to shut off the video. One girl is riding his dick and the other is riding his face. I did not know he was into threesomes. We’ve been dating exclusively for the past seven months.

Raph drops his phone to the floor and the video continues to play. Whispers break out around me, as does laughter. People know we are together. A guy named Tucker who is seated beside me leans over and says, “Rough.”

The air is sucked out of my lungs as Raph reaches for his phone, and he finally manages to turn off the video and sighs with relief. His first reaction is to find me watching him. By the look in his eyes, I can tell the video is not old. He looks sympathetic, but he also looks like he’s just been caught.

“I need to get out of here.” I stumble as I pack up my laptop.

“Charlotte,” Raph calls out as I stand. “I can explain.”

My heart is ricocheting in my chest. I need out of this lecture hall. I’m completely humiliated. I’m such an idiot.

I run outside of the lecture hall feeling completely mortified and out of breath.

“Charlotte,” Raph calls after me. “Please, mon Cherie, let me explain.”

His words make me nauseous. I look behind to see how far he is from me and I hit a hard wall of. . .I lose my balance and almost fall over, but then strong hands catch me. I have whiplash and it takes a moment for my vision to clear. I’ve walked directly into a guy, a very big guy, a guy built like a wall of muscle.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks.

I’m lightheaded. I look behind me again as Raph catches up to me.

“Charlotte,” Raph pants out of breath. “I can explain.” He keeps saying that but I’ve heard no explanation so far.

“Get away from me,” I reply to him.

I begin to walk away when Raph grabs on to my shoulder. “You’re my girlfriend. I deserve to be heard.”

“Excuse me, is this guy harassing you?” the guy I barreled into interrupts my encounter with Raph.

“I. . .uh. . .he’s my boyfriend. . . but he just. . .he cheated on me. . .caught him in bed with two girls,” I hiccup on the verge of tears. I don’t want Raph to see me cry because he doesn’t deserve my tears. I thought he was a good guy and he’s just a lying scumbag, and I’m a fool.

“Buddy, you should walk away,” the tall handsome guy orders. He’s got almost a foot of height on Raph and he’s all muscle, where Raph is thinner and not so built.

“I’m not leaving,” Raph retorts, tilting his chin up to the guy.

“Look, I’m not the kind of guy who likes a fight, but the lady doesn’t want to talk to you,” Tall Guy insists. He stands a little taller and crosses his arms in front of him. The muscles in his arms bulge.

“Fine, but this isn’t over, Charlotte.” Raph points his finger at me. “I made one small mistake. You shouldn’t hold it against me, I’m French, we love many.”

“Leave,” Tall Guy barks.

Raph walks away, shaking his head. I watch as he heads back in the direction of class. I hate to miss class when we are supposed to find out about our internships today, but there is no way I am going back in there after being so humiliated.

With Raph gone Tall Guy watches me. My heart is hammering and I feel like such a damn fool.

“Are you okay?”

I nod. “A little lightheaded, but I’ll be fine.”

“Shit, let me take you to Cup of Java, I think they’re still open,” he offers.

“I’m okay. Thanks for your help.” My head feels like I am swimming underwater.

“Oh, hey.” He grabs hold of my arm and catches me as I feel like I am going to fall over.

“I’m okay, just overwhelmed,” I assure. It’s probably my anxiety getting the best of me. It doesn’t happen often but sometimes when I get really overwhelmed, I become off-balance.

“Let me get you a drink, maybe you need to sit and relax for a bit,” he says with concern.

“I don’t know you. I’m not going somewhere with a guy I don’t know this time of night,” I reply to him.

A small smile tips his lips. I finally get a good look at him, light green eyes, brown shaggy hair, and slightly tanned skin. He’s gorgeous, but it doesn’t mean he’s normal or safe.

“Finn Heaton,” he introduces, extending his hand.

“Charlotte Morgan,” I say, shaking his hand. “Thanks for helping me.”

“Sure, I know what it’s like to be cheated on. But don’t tell anyone I said that because I’ll deny it.” Finn grins.

“I don’t know you or your friends. Who the hell would I tell?” I ask with confusion.

“Good point.”

I rub my temples.

“Let’s get you that drink,” he urges, and I turn back to ensure Raph really did go back to class.

“Okay,” I agree.

“What just happened with that dude? Weren’t you leaving a lecture hall?” he asks.

“I’m a social media marketing major,” I explain. “Raph was my boyfriend. We were in class together. I’ll never be able to go back to class. I’m completely humiliated.” I don’t know why I am confiding in a stranger, other than I am in a state of shock and he’s a listening ear.

“It can’t be that bad,” he says as we walk into Cup of Java and up to the cashier. “What would you like?”

“I’ll take a hot chocolate,” I say to the person working the cash register.

“I’ll have the same,” Finn orders with a smirk. I don’t know this guy, but it seems like he thinks it’s cute I ordered cocoa.

I go to pay but he has a card ready and taps the payment terminal.

We wait off to the side as our drinks are being made. Some girls walk in after us and check Finn out, but he doesn’t smile back to them.

When our hot chocolates are ready, I take mine and thank him. “We should sit for a bit,” he suggests, and he was nice enough until now and the place is busy, so I agree. We take a seat at a table in the far back corner. We are the only ones in this area.

“My head is spinning. I was with Raph for seven months,” I splutter.

“I dated my girlfriend all of high school. We grew up together and she cheated on me senior year. I bet my situation is way worse,” he states like it’s some sort of competition.

“Raph was supposed to share his socials with our class, so his phone was hooked up to the main screen monitor when he opened the wrong video and showed our entire class that he was having sex with two girls at the same time,” I rebut, feeling like my situation sucks more than his.

Finn winces. “My girlfriend cheated on me with my best friend.”

“Shit.” Now I wince. “He was never really a friend if that’s how he behaved.”

“Tell me about it,” Finn scoffs. “I’ve kept people at arm’s length since. You just can’t trust anyone nowadays.”

“That’s not true. There are good people out there. You just need to find them. My best friend is as loyal as they come. She would have my back no matter what.”

“I’m guessing she wasn’t one of the chicks in the video.” He quirks his lips on one side. He really is very handsome and charming.

“No,” I chide. “That’s an awful thing to say. You really are very cynical.”

“Not a cynic, just a realist,” he corrects.

“There isn’t much of a difference. I thought Raph was a good guy. I thought he was loyal. When I came out here, I promised my dad I would never date an athlete, and Raph, he was a marketing major with a minor in art,” I share. My eyes narrow on him. “Are you an athlete?”

“What if I am?” Finn challenges.

“It wouldn’t matter because I’ve sworn off guys now. Not that you’re trying to hit on me. I get that you just felt bad for me,” I mumble, feeling like I am putting my foot in my mouth.

“You’re beautiful, Charlotte, and no I’m not an athlete,” he says.

“You can call me, Charlie,” I say to him since no one really calls me Charlotte, only Raph did and I never corrected him.

Finn nods. “Charlie, I like that.”

I really take him in. He is very muscular. “Are you sure you aren’t an athlete because you seem very fit,” I observe.

Finn laughs. “I hit the gym a lot.” He leans over the side of the table. “You seem pretty fit yourself.” He checks out my legs unabashedly. I do have good legs. I’m not being conceited. I’m five foot six and on the track team, so they are toned.

“I’m on the track team,” I admit.

“Cool.”

“Well, you probably have better things to do with your time, other than help a girl with a broken heart,” I say to him.

“My class just finished so I’m free for the rest of the night,” he confirms.

“What is your major?” I ask him.

“Biochem with a minor in philosophy,” he says, and I swallow my hot chocolate wrong and begin to cough.

“Holy shit, that’s an intense major.”

“I’m an intense guy,” he responds.

“Hmm.” I take another sip of my drink.

Finn watches me like he thinks I’m pretty.

“I should go back to class, but I’m mortified,” I admit.

He frowns. “You shouldn’t care about that douchebag.”

“How can I not? I thought we had the real thing, even though you know he wasn’t very good at. . . Omg, what am I doing? I swear I have no filter right now,” I confess. “Is there truth serum in my hot chocolate?”

Finn grins. “Nope, just easy conversation with a complete stranger.”

“Maybe that’s why I’m telling you everything. Because I don’t know you. We clearly don’t have friends in common. I probably will never see you again after tonight.”

“Charlie?” he asks, his tone curious and serious.

“Yes,” I reply.

“What were you going to say before? He wasn’t very good at. . .” Finn waits.

“I can’t say those words out loud. I don’t know what I was thinking.” I place my drink down and palm my cheeks. “I’m overwhelmed and I want to cry.”

“Please don’t cry,” he begs. “I have three brothers and one sister. If someone made our sister cry, we would all be on that. I’ll have to go beat up Raph and I could get in trouble.”

His words cause a bubble of laughter to escape me.

Finn gives me a meaningful look. “Were you going to say something about sex? Because I’m not a prude.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you were, although you are a science nerd,” I joke.

“Is that any way to talk to a guy who just saved your ass from a cheating boyfriend?” he asks. He looks into my eyes with his forest-green eyes and my stomach is flipping. He is so good-looking. His cheekbones are sculpted and his chin has a little indent.

“I guess not. If you must know, I was going to say I never had an orgasm with Raph. Are you happy now? Because I’m mortified,” I say, covering my face. “Are you going to give me some scientific explanation as to why I couldn’t come?” I am not looking at him. I simply can’t because I don’t know who I am right now. I don’t talk this way to strange guys. I don’t flirt and I think I am flirting, although I am not completely sure.

He removes my hands from my eyes, and I see he’s watching me with amusement again.

“I may be a science nerd, as you’ve suggested, but I know my way around a girl’s clitoris,” he says.

I spray my hot chocolate all over the table. “Shit, sorry, but I can’t believe you just said that out loud.” I take some napkins and wipe the table; thankful I didn’t get him dirty.

“Are you a prude?” he asks.

“I’m not a prude,” I snip, feeling offended.

“Good, then come with me to the lake,” he invites.

“Are you crazy? I’m not going with you to the lake. I’m not that kind of girl,” I spit.

“Oh, I know you’re not, but I can make you forget all about that French stallion of yours,” he brags with a low, deep sexy voice that causes a swirl of lust low in my belly.

“He’s not mine anymore,” I correct because I don’t have something better. Why am I considering his proposal?

“That isn’t the point.” He’s staring at me like he knows that I know what he is insinuating.

“How do I know you won’t murder me?” I ask him.

“I’ve told you about my family. I have a sister. I respect women. You lay the rules out. We don’t do anything you don’t want to do,” he assures, and that offer coming from a guy like him shouldn’t make me so excited. I just caught my boyfriend cheating. It means I wasn’t enough for Raph since he needed to get into bed with two girls.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, looking genuinely interested.

“I wasn’t enough for him,” I confess quietly, my voice cracking.

He reaches out and touches my hand. The jolt of electricity I feel is shocking and I look him in the eyes. “Him cheating had nothing to do with you not being enough. When I think back to my girlfriend, I know I was enough, but I made a decision to leave Nashville and she was angry, even though she knew it was coming. She lashed out and hurt us both. People do things for all kinds of reasons, but I guarantee you, his cheating had nothing to do with you. Maybe he just has bad morals. He did tell you he loved many.”

I let his words penetrate. They do make me feel a little better, even though the taste of betrayal still feels bitter inside me. “I wish he told me he loved many when we were together. He made it seem like I was the only one for him.”

“Asshole,” Finn mutters.

I laugh again. I don’t know how this guy is making me laugh on one of the worst nights ever, but he manages.

“Okay, I’ll go with you,” I concede like I am doing him a favor, when it’s clearly the other way around.

Finn’s smile is slow and showcases nice white teeth.

“Let’s go, beautiful.” He stands, extending a hand to me.

The gesture throws me off so it takes me a few beats to respond, and I give him my hand. His hand is huge and warm. If his hand is this big, it makes me wonder about the size of his. . . nope, not going there. We walk outside to the parking lot and get in his old Honda Civic. I hope I’m in for a nice orgasm and not being murdered.