2. Alex
2
ALEX
Twelve years ago…
“Go long! Go Long!”
I picked up speed as I sprinted across the expanse of the campus lawn. The distant sound of laughter and chatter from other students milling around carried in the breeze. The autumn air was crisp, and the grass was slightly wet under my feet.
I loved being at Harvard. I loved moments like these when I hung out with the friends I’d made. Lincoln was one of those good friends who treated me like I belonged here.
I wasn’t like most of the students. I didn’t have wealthy or middle-class parents. I only had my mom, and we were on the poorer side, but she tried her best. I grew up in a trailer park and not one of those fancy ones where campers parked their RVs. However, I made it into Harvard because I had a genius IQ.
Sometimes, I wonder about my intelligence because I always found trouble… or maybe trouble always found me… However, I’d been on my best behavior since I started college last year—I did slightly less crazy and reckless things. I was going to make it big for Mom and me.
“Come on, Alex. Go long!”
“ Jeezus, Linc. I can’t go any faster!” He must have forgotten that I wasn’t a football player like he was. Still, I sprinted as fast as I could, craning my neck to keep my eyes on him as I waited for him to throw the football.
Lincoln held back his hand, ready to launch. However, when I looked ahead to make sure the coast was clear, my attention strayed to a girl perched on one of the stone benches that were scattered all over campus. Others surrounded her but my gaze lasered in on her. She was goddamn gorgeous.
Her air of elegance seemed out of place among the laid-back casualness of the other students. Her wavy hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing her oval face. There was only one word I could think of as I gawked at her… Angelic. I mentally willed her to look my way, and she did. I stopped in my tracks to gawk at her.
Suddenly, the air was knocked from my lungs, and I staggered forward. At first, my muddled brain thought the sight of the pretty girl had literally knocked me off my feet, but when I hit the ground, I realized the football I was supposed to catch had hit me in the back.
Stunned, I glanced back at Lincoln. He had his hands thrown up, silently asking me what happened.
For fuck’s sake… sometimes, I swore the guy had superhuman strength. He was the size of a tank, after all .
I looked at the angel who had distracted me. When our eyes connected, she gave me a pitying look and shook her head. Heat filled my entire face. I’d just embarrassed myself in front of the most gorgeous girl on campus. I had to fix this.
Jumping to my feet, I grabbed the football and launched it back to Lincoln. “Is that the best you got, you big lug?” I taunted.
His grin told me he was about to stop holding back. I prepared myself to make a perfect catch. Now was my chance to impress the angel.
Lincoln launched the ball again, and I ran to catch it. However, he was too strong for his own damn good, and the ball spiraled past my head. It headed to where the pretty girl sat in the middle of her friends. I pumped my legs, going faster than I thought I could go. I’d definitely impress the beauty if I saved her and her friends from the flying ball.
There were squeals of fear as the girls scurried off when they realized the football was heading right for them. However, my angel stood her ground. She watched with expectation as if she knew I’d catch the ball before it reached her, and I wouldn’t disappoint her. I lunged and grabbed the ball just before hitting the ground and rolling. I stopped right in front of the angel. She hadn’t even stood up at the threat of the out-of-control ball.
She sat with one leg crossed over the other as she gazed down at me with a curious glint in her eyes. Still clutching the football and lying on my back, I stared into the most mesmerizing eyes I’d ever seen. They were swirls of liquid amber and emerald flecked with gold. My gaze panned out to take in her face, focusing on her full lips. She was ten times prettier up close.
Swallowing hard, I scrambled to my feet. Lincoln, quick on the uptake, saw my pointed glance and stayed put. I caught his little smirk before I turned back to the beauty sitting on the bench.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She lifted an eyebrow. Her expression and her very aura radiated a regal energy. I knew right off the bat that she was one of the rich kids that saturated the campus. Maybe Angel wasn’t a fitting name for her. Princess was more like it.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.
The smooth sound of her voice made me pull in a sharp breath. I’d never been shy with the ladies. In fact, my friends told me that I was a man-trollop… but that was because they were assholes. However, I was tongue-tied as I stared at this girl.
“Um… the football almost…” I glanced at the ball and then at the other girls who had scrambled away. They watched us keenly. However, their expressions weren’t smug like Lincoln’s. Instead, they stared at me with grimaces as if they could smell that lack of money on me. It made me feel as if I had no place talking to the brunette with the elegant aura.
When I looked back at the princess though, she watched me with a hint of amusement and interest, which boosted my confidence.
“What, do you see yourself as a hero for saving me from a big, bad football?” she asked.
I rubbed the back of my neck and gave her a sheepish grin. “Well…” That was exactly what I thought, and I assumed she’d be impressed.
“I’m no damsel in distress, but thanks, anyway.” She stood up, and I gawked at her like an idiot. What was wrong with me? Where had my typical smoothness fled to? “I should get going. My friends are waiting.”
She took off toward the group of girls who still eyed me as if I was filth at the bottom of their expensive shoes. I suppose if I were a part of a popular fraternity, had on a Rolex and three thousand dollar shoes, and wore khakis with one of those ridiculous sweaters wrapped around my shoulders, I’d be good enough to chat with the hazel-eyed princess.
“Wait,” I said.
She turned to me.
“I’m Alexander. All my friends call me Alex.” I held out a hand, and she glanced at it. For a moment, my heart dropped because I thought she was like her friends and wouldn’t even want to shake my hand. But then she placed her smaller one in mine. I might have been imagining it, but magic happened between us. I felt something like an electric current shoot up my arm and aimed right for my heart.
Sweet baby Jesus. I’d never felt anything like it.
“Olivia,” she said.
“Olivia,” I repeated, wanting to try her name on my tongue. “Princess Olivia.”
I didn’t realize I muttered that last part out loud until she laughed and said, “Excuse me?”
“I mean… er… I haven’t seen you around campus before.”
She pulled her hand from mine, and I almost sighed in disappointment at the loss of contact. “That’s because I just started.”
“Ah, you’re a freshman.” I glanced at the group waiting for her. She already seemed so popular…
“And you are…?”
“A sophomore.” Although I was likely the same age as her since I started freshman year at seventeen.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Alex. My friends are waiting.”
I smiled because she used the shortened version of my name. I guess we were on our way to becoming friends …
“Hey, Olivia. Can I see you again? I mean… you know…” I wanted to shoot myself in the foot for plunging into such uncoolness. Olivia must have thought I was a loser.
She tilted her head as she studied me with an unreadable expression. “I can’t…”
My heart plummeted as I assumed it was because she was looking down on me like her crew.
“I’m seeing someone,” she said.
It sucked that she wasn’t available, but I was relieved that she didn’t think she was out of my league or something.
“Of course you are,” I said, giving her a once-over. Her head barely reached my shoulders, but her curves were to die for and she carried herself with confidence like that of someone much older than eighteen.
Olivia blinked and then her cheeks flushed. I bit back a smile as her lashes lowered to hide her eyes. Her cool demeanor was just an act… interesting.
Before I could hit her with my full charm, a guy wearing the exact preppy outfit I always made fun of sauntered over. “Olivia, what are you doing?” The blond was about my height with light brown eyes. He practically snarled at me. I guess that was the boyfriend…
Olivia’s entire demeanor changed. She’d melted when I subtly complimented her and now she was back in ice princess mode.
“I’m talking to Alex,” she said with a note of annoyance. “He saved me from a football.” When she glanced back at me, the tiniest smile played on her lips and her eyes had softened once again.
I knew I wasn’t imagining it. Olivia was definitely into me. However, there was one problem… The Ken doll flung his arm around her shoulders possessively, and I almost rolled my eyes .
“Gee, what a hero,” he drawled mockingly. He and I had a silent pissing contest as we stared at each other. I could tell he was a massive douche. Even his girlfriend seemed irritated with him.
Olivia pursed her lips and nudged him. “Let’s go, Bryce.”
I almost let out a snort. Bryce ? Even his name was douchy. I instantly hated Bryce… because he had what I wanted. Before the duo walked away, Bryce gave me a smug look and my eyes narrowed on him. As they put distance between us, I stood there watching Olivia with disappointment. However, she looked over her shoulder and our eyes locked. My heart stuttered as she pretty much confirmed her interest in me.
A hand clapping down on my shoulder pulled me out of my trance. “Dude, put your eyes and tongue back into your head,” Lincoln said with a laugh.
I shrugged his hand off and grinned. “Shut up. Did you see her, man? She’s perfect .”
“Do you know who that is?” Lincoln asked.
I glanced in the direction Olivia had disappeared in. “The prettiest girl at Harvard?”
Lincoln chuckled. “That’s Olivia Brentwood. Her daddy pretty much runs this side of the country, and the guy hanging all over her is Bryce Mercer. His daddy runs Massachusetts. They’re probably set to get married to join their empires.”
“Yeah, I knew she was a rich princess, but I don’t give a shit about Bryce. I think I have a shot with her.”
Lincoln raised his eyebrows. “Then go for it.”
I didn’t believe in the whole love at first sight thing… until now. Olivia would be mine soon. That last lingering look she gave me confirmed it.