Hot & Nerdy by Shannyn Schroeder

poked Phin’s chest. “If you didn’t want me, all you had to do was say so.” She ignored the tightness in her chest and continued. “You’re the one who’s not good enough.”
    Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and left. As she sat behind the steering wheel of her car, tears streamed down her cheeks. Sorrow, anger, resentment, hurt. She let the tears flow, not knowing which emotion to hold on to. When she finally started the engine, she’d decided that no one, least of all Phin, would tell her that she wasn’t good enough.

    Phin rolled over, or at least attempted to, and smacked his knee on the steering wheel. He cracked his bleary eyes open and tried to remember . . . anything. His head thumped as he sat up, and his stomach threatened to heave. He leaned his head against the headrest as memories flooded his brain.
    He’d left work early to start drinking because he’d known he couldn’t tell Layla to go back home if he were sober. Then the perfect opportunity had presented itself in the form of Katie. He and Katie had hooked up a couple of times when he’d first started working for Steve. Letting her come on to him had made chasing Layla off easier.
    Fuck. Nothing had been easy last night. He couldn’t stand that he’d hurt Layla, but he’d known she’d never listen to him. She was right; he wasn’t good enough for her. He couldn’t give her what she was used to. And no matter what she told herself, she would want that again.
    Starting the truck, he tried to focus on the street ahead of him. The short drive back to his apartment was painful on many levels. Walking in the door and noticing the lack of any sign of Layla almost floored him. He grabbed his bags and started packing. No way could he stay here. He’d lived in this apartment for months and, in the matter of a week, Layla had turned it into their place.
    Guilt and loneliness battled for space in his chest. He collected the last of his pay from a grumpy Steve and climbed back in his truck. Images of Layla, hurt and teary-eyed, chased him out of town.
    Without Layla, he’d be able to refocus on his goals. He was on track to get everything he wanted.
    He managed to get outside Atlanta before pulling over to sleep off the rest of his hangover and erase Layla from his memory.

Chapter 8
    Las Vegas, June
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    L ayla stood at the counter waiting to receive her registration materials. She halfway listened to the guy behind the counter ramble on about practice hours and dress codes. There was a dress code for a pool tournament? She smiled and accepted the packet. She’d already checked into her room, so she stood off to the side to check out the competition while reading through the schedule.
    If only she could figure out which of these people were amateurs and which were pros. Then she snickered at herself. She knew she was really looking for Phin. They hadn’t been in contact at all since that night at the bar, so she didn’t know if his plans had changed. And really it didn’t matter.
    She’d decided to participate in the tournament more for herself than for Phin. Having him witness how good she’d become would just be a bonus.
    The petty part of her wanted to rub it in his face. Not only was she good enough to play, but she was good enough to beat him.
    She’d spent that weekend on her drive back to school crying and miserable. Talking to Felicity hadn’t helped. She’d managed to completely fall in love. At least Layla could commiserate with Charlie. They’d both come out of spring break hurting.
    After returning to school, Layla had accepted the job with the NSA, poured herself back into her classes, and used every spare moment learning to be a better pool player and playing in small tournaments. That intense focus had soothed her heart and kept the panic at bay.
    Pushing herself to be in control, to be better was the best