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Sunday, 25 August 2024

πŸ‰ 2024/079 | CAROLINE LAKE - “THE CAMPUS PLAYER” | 1★

DETAILS

Synopsis

Lucas Sawyer is a star basketball player, a handsome stud and a hopeless romantic. He's desperately in love, however he tells himself that he's not. Luke falls deep into a love triangle with two of the prettiest girls on campus, will he follow his heart, or his primal desires?

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Ella Scott is in an unexciting relationship, she's dating a smart, handsome, kind man, but it's not enough for her. She needs to break away and start new, she's always had one man in the back of her mind but has never paid much attention to him. Things start to change when he stops paying attention to her.

*

Mary Shields has slept with nearly every man on campus, never staying with them for more than a few weeks, her carelessness with men lands her in an unsafe relationship. She is saved by a man she never thought she would fall for. She quickly realizes that she feels more for this man than all of her flings combined.

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Will true love prevail in this chaotic love triangle romance?

 

Chapters In Total

Prologue

:

01

Chapters

:

12

 

Note(s)

·       Sex scenes

 

Song(s)/Band(s)

1.    -

 

Destination

1.    Italy

 

Main Character(s)

Male

:

Lucas Sawyer

Female

:

Ella Scott

 

Other Character(s)

Lucas Sawyer

:

Son of a big business typhoon

Writer

Poet

Captain of basketball team

Basketball player

Ella Scott

:

Astronomy Department

Designer for a local T-shirt company

-

:

Ella’s father

Travel writer for a major travel magazine

Liana

:

Ella’s stepmother

Passed away six months ago

Patrick

:

Ella’s ex-boyfriend

Adam Murdoch

:

Lucas’s best friend

In love with Ella

Mary Shields

:

Ella’s best friend

Likes Lucas

Stebbins

:

Mary’s ex-boyfriend

Donna Price

:

Ella’s housemate

Matthew

:

Friend

Enid

:

Friend

Nate

:

The Gallery’s manager

Leah

:

Basketball player

Alicia Kyle

:

Cheerleader

 

Quote(s)

1.    But… but when I do settle down, I would want it to be with someone who can… who can make my life better than what it was without them. And if they aren’t doing that, I would really reconsider my choices.

2.    One thing Patrick had never understood about her was her introvert personality. Whenever she needed space, she could trust that Patrick would not understand and would jump to conclusions about what he may have done to annoy her.

3.    I thought you should tell Ella… whatever you play on doing, just let Ella know.

4.    He closed the distance between them as their lips pressed together.

5.    Lucas didn’t say anything but listened quietly. He always knew when to listen and when to respond. Unlike Patrick. Patrick always felt the need to respond and console her.

6.    In that moment, Ella realized that she would very much like to kiss Lucas.

It was a moment of clarity that had all her doubts erased. Despite feeling completely broken and mournful, she registered that she liked Lucas. She really, really, liked Lucas.

7.    “Lucas and I are together,” she announced happily.

8.    That was two years ago and they were both immature. Things were different now. everyone moves on. She would move on because he did too.

If this was really what it felt like, she would have been so much nicer to him.

9.    Adam grinned. “If you say so.”

10. “Does your sudden break up with Prince Charming have anything to do with Mary and Lucas’ sudden realization of endless love?”

“No. that doesn’t make any sense, Adam.”

“I suppose it doesn’t.”

11. Ella nodded, trying not to feel her heart sinking. Mary was happy. Ella was supposed to be happy for her.

12. Perhaps deep down, Mary knew it was too strange to be a coincidence but she did not want to think about it.

13. “Ella doesn’t like PDA,” Adam said winking before draping an arm around her and leading her away.

14. “You and Mary are one of a kind. You should have been dated her.”

“So that your path to Prince Charming Number Two is clear?” Adam teased.

15. Ella glanced at him and Mary thought she saw a glint in her eyes. Mary felt uncomfortable for one fleeting moment.

16. Lucas turned to look at her. “Because Ella was never going to like me back.”

Mary noticed at the intensity of apathy behind his words.

17. “How did you get over her?” Mary said.

18. Lucas shrugged. “I grew up, I guess.”

“That’s it?”

“Hmm.”

Silence.

19. “Mary,” Lucas said and there was a hint of amusement in his voice. “Are you worried that I used to like Ella two years ago?”

20. “No,” Mary replied truthfully. “No, I’m not. It’s just that… sometimes, you and Ella… you seem to have something that’s … hard to understand.”

21. And nothing had still changed. In the moment of clarity, Lucas understood that his attempts to get over Ella were futile. Every woman, the latest one being Mary, had been an attempt to forget Ella. And none of that mattered because she was still perfect, she was still too good for him. Despite everything he told Adam, despite all the time he tried to tell himself that he was happy with Mary, he knew deep down that none of that was true.

22. She still struggled with her feelings. In the past two years, she didn’t remember a single time Lucas hadn’t been with her at an important moment. And maybe, admitting her feelings was more important than the consequences. Because it was such a shame that she had to keep something from Lucas. Perhaps the fact that she was so overcome by emotions led to what transpired next.

23. The kissed moved too quickly, deepening, growing more heated and needy at once. Because they knew they only had about a minute before reality would strike again and they would have to stop. In a minute, they will have to pay for this or realize this was wrong or do something other than what they were doing right now.

24. Mary, who was inconsiderate and stupid at times but extremely loyal at heart.

25. Ella looked at Lucas and realized that he was trying to offer her an excuse she can use as a shield. She felt a rush of gratitude for the boy who had always been there for her, always knew what she needed.

26. So you’re wallowing in guilt for kissing your best friend’s boy friend?

Yes.

Well, that is a dilemma.

27. Well, from my experience, cheating is a lot easier if there are no feelings involved. Your case is a little different because of the feelings involved.

28. I only made myself look like an idiot by admitting it. All those times that he asked me and I turned him down. And now I’m in love with him. How the tables have turned.

29. “Mary, I kissed Ella.” He phrased them carefully so as to divert the attention away from Ella. He could have said ‘Ella kissed me’ which was what really happened but Ella had more at stake than he did.

30. The Chevrolet was the only thing that kept him going. Even though the sea crashed against him, threatening to down him, to engulf him, The Chevrolet was there to save him. Not just from the sea but from life itself. The shield against the darkness, the meaning of life, the only light that shines when all else is lost.

31. “No, Mary, we can fix this,” Lucas said because he felt as though he needed to do something, anything, to quench the guilt he was feeling.

“Do you want to fix it, Lucas?” Mary asked.

32. Oh give me a break! Of course it is her fault! She’s my best friend!

33. I can’t go back to Lucas and pretend as if nothing happened. I may b e a stupid slut but I do have self-respect.

34. “Can we ever go back to being the same as before?” Ella asked.

“I don’t know,” Mary repeated. “You’ve broken my trust.”

35. What you did was wrong. It was absolutely wrong. If I was Mary, I would have punched you or something.

36. “A simple apology isn’t going to fix everything.”

“Then what do you want me to do, Donna?”

“Fix things between Mary and Lucas.”

Ella stared at her. “I don’t think… I don’t think they want to fix things. And even if they do, how am I supposed to do that? Mary doesn’t want to look at me.”

“I still think you should try. As redemption. If it doesn’t work, you’re free to have Lucas.”

37. “I… I want to be with you, Luke. I want you so badly but… but Mary just keeps coming back.”

“We’re in the same boat,” Lucas said glumly.

“Can I stay over?” Ella asked.

He didn’t even have to think about it. “Yes.”

38. “… What I was angry about is that you went behind my back, Ella. You could have admitted your feelings for him to me first but you went behind my back and kissed him.”

39. When they exited the room, Ella felt lightheaded. The manager didn’t mention her brief disappearance. Ella smiled inwardly. People should get used to it.

 

BOOK JOURNEY

Thoughts

(3)

Yeap. I think you should do that, Mary.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(4)

Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(6)

Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(7)

Sigh… this is where Lucas fucked up.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(8)

That didn’t seem like you both are now mature.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(9)

LOL. It’s the IYKYK grin.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(10)

Aren’t you observance?

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(11)

Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(12)

You knew, yet you chose to complicate stuff anyway.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(13)

Isn’t he sweet?

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(14)

LOL. He’s so blunt.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(15)

You know you’ve been the third wheel. Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(16)

You knew something is wrong, didn’t you?

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(17)

He didn’t.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(18)

Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(19)

You sure the words “used to” are used correctly?

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(20)

Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(23)

Yeah, this is called cheating and you guys knew of the consequences of doing it. Yet you guys chose to do it anyway.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(24)

And you broke her trust and heart just like that.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(26)

You don’t say.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(30)

He is talking about himself, isn’t he?

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(31)

See, guilt is involved but not love. And Mary, oh Mary, you knew this was going to happen. I’m not talking about the cheating part, but the love between Lucas and Ella.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(32)

No doubt, Ella is at fault here.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(35)

Donna is right, you know.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(36)

You do that.

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(37)

Is this how you fix things?

Sigh…

—————— ΰΈ…՞• •՞ΰΈ… ———————

(39)

You’re proud of what you did? Geez. You just gotten signed up and you do this in your first exhibition? Something is wrong with you, young lady.

 

Conclusion

Overall, the story is very messed up. I kept sighing and it is so frustrating. URGH! This story tells me why boundaries are very important. I don’t doubt that moments like “suddenly I realised that I love him/her” comes just like that. Just that I’m not sure why you guys are still sleeping around when you had someone in mind, or heart, to be exact. You guys complicated things when you do that!

Next, I feel happy for Lucas and Ella. I do. But not like this. Not when cheating is involved. Not when one knows that her friend is having feelings for the guy and yet she still pursues what she desires anyway. Not that he knows that he still loves her, yet he chose to sleep with her best friend.

Moreover, I don’t like it when there’s a third or fourth person in a soon-to-be relationship. Relationship shouldn’t be so complicated. I’m not sure how I felt about this whole thing, yet one thing I am sure is that the feeling of annoyance is there.

Furthermore, Ella is very unprofessional. I know the manager didn’t say anything. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything in mind. Goodness.

Lastly, I’m glad that Adam is there. He knows what he saw and he is very observant. I like this character.

 

Question(s)

1.    -

 

Three Most Important Concepts in This Book

1.    Never force yourself upon a lady.

2.    Stand up when it is a right thing to do.

3.    Boundaries are important.

 

Suitable For People Who

1.    Please refer to “Tags

 

Read Dates

Started

:

16.08.2024

Finished

:

26.08.2024

 

Reading Progress (In Chapter)

16.08.2024

:

Prologue

Γ 

04

25.08.2024

:

05

Γ 

05

26.08.2024

:

06

Γ 

12

 

Tags

Fiction; Contemporary; Romance; 18+

 

Pace

·       Slow

 

Spiciness

·       🌢️

 

Rating

 

Social Media

Goodreads

Instagram

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