Page 11 of Campus Muscle

“Because I’m here now,” I said softly.

“That’s very convenient, especially with Frank Delaney showing up at exactly the same time.”

My expression instantly hardened. “That has absolutely nothing to do with it.”

“Then be my guest and start explaining the situation because right now that’s the only assumption I can come up with.”

She had a point, and I could definitely see how this whole situation must look to an outsider, but I wasn’t just going to play into her hands because she insisted on it.

“I don’t need to explain anything to you.”

“That’s usually how people respond when they have something to hide.”

“Prescott!” Coach said, his voice cutting through the building tension. “Focus on the game, not the girl.”

“I’m focused,” I muttered, looking back at her. “And this isn’t the time for these kinds of discussions.”

Dakota looked a little frustrated, but she quickly bit it back and concealed her expression with a poor excuse for a fake smile.

“When will be a good time? Because you weren’t available after the game.”

“I had better things to do.”

“What could be more important than talking to the press?”

“I’m not a story, and you’re just a wannabe with a notebook.”

Her mouth twitched with annoyance, and for some odd reason, it was the most pleasing thing that had happened the entire day.

“You forgot to mention that you’re just one injury away from being irrelevant again. So maybe you should answer the question.”

Ooooh, that was a low blow, but hey, she had a point. That was one of the biggest problems any athlete faced. It was how I ended up on this field to begin with.

But still, I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “You don’t know anything about what we do.”

“Then make an effort and fix that.”

The whistle blew right behind me, and it was loud enough to make me jolt.

“Prescott! Now!” Coach said, finally losing his patience.

I didn’t move, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to follow orders. Journalists were notorious for twisting words, and I didn’t want Dakota to take anything I said out of context.

“This is your last chance,” she said with big, pleading eyes. “Why now?”

The way she said that snapped something inside me.

“Or what? You’ll write a smear piece for something you didn’t even bother to attend?”

She instantly stiffened. “Careful. You might end up saying something useful.”

I clenched my jaw, wondering how she kept getting everything so right when I was trying my best to throw her off track.

“You want useful? Here it is. Leave me the hell alone and go dust some books in the library. That seems to be more up your alley.”

She didn’t even flinch. “Maybe if you tried reading a book, you wouldn’t have to play with balls to secure a future.”

That earned immediate reactions from the guys closest to us. A snicker here and an exaggerated gasp there, but Dakota held my gaze.