Page 101 of The Playbook

After a few minutes, he finally spoke. “Gracie?” his voice was soft.

I didn’t acknowledge the nickname.

He cleared his throat. “Grace?”

“What?” I muttered, dropping the solution into the beaker.

“Can we talk? After school? My parents are going out to look at a new car. I could order us some pizza or anything you like. I could even make you dinner—”

“Our relationship isn’t at that level,” I said.

“It was.”

“Right.Was.” I made the mistake of looking at him and saw the sadness on his face.

It twisted in my heart like a knife, but I pushed the feelings away. I’d already spent too much damn time crying. I stared at the tabletop.

“I didn’t do those things, Grace. I mean, I did, but I didn’t know I’d wind up feeling this way I feel about you. And Nikki… I fucked up. She said if I gave her a goodbye kiss, she’d keep quiet about the playbook and the bet and leave us the hell alone. It was so fucking stupid. I should’ve just come clean with you, but I was so scared of losing you—”

“And you lost me anyway,” I interrupted him in a soft voice. I peeked at him.

His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “Did I? Did I really lose you?”

I let out a sigh, the hurt in my heart very real. He’d definitely broken my heart and betrayed my trust. Not just with Nikki. With all of it. He’d been such an idiot to think she’d be quiet about anything. But what hurt the most was being led on and lied to from the beginning. He could’ve come clean. Sure, I would’ve been mad, but at least the truth would’ve been out.

“I don’t know, Logan. It’s been a really rough week.”

“I know, baby,” he murmured, stepping closer to me. “I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t change what you did.” I shook my head. “You really hurt me.”

“I know.” He winced. “I never meant to hurt you. I really didn’t. I’m a damn idiot.”

I nodded, not disagreeing with his assessment.

“I just want to make everything right. Read the playbook. All of it.”

“What? You want me to read the shit you wrote about me?” I snorted and shook my head.

He grabbed my hand as I glanced away, my mind made up that I needed to get out of there.

“Yes. Read it.” He pushed a worn notebook into my hands. “Please. Nikki didn’t print the entire thing. I stole this back from her locker. I wanted you to see it. I want you to seeme, Gracie. All of me.”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat and stared at him for a moment, taking in the agony in his eyes. It was the same anguish rolling through my chest. With trembling fingers, I took the book from him, knowing I couldn’t stand to stay beside him anymore.

“Will you still go to homecoming with me?” he asked as I shoved my stuff into my bag, not caring if I even finished the lab.

I’d done enough to at least pass the assignment. That was good enough for me.

“I-I don’t think so,” I said, wincing. “I don’t even think I’m going—"

“Please come,” he said desperately. “Even if you don’t go with me. Just because I fucked everything up doesn’t mean you should have to give up your last homecoming. If you don’t want me to bother you, I won’t,” his voice cracked on the last sentence.

I stared back at him, wanting him to take me into his arms, and hold me and kiss me while I told him how much I loved him.

But we were past that now. Or had to be.

I backed away from him.

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