Page 103 of The Playbook

Grace

Istared down at the playbook on my bed. It had been there for hours because I was too scared to open the pages and look inside for fear of what I’d find. Logan wanted me to read it though, and maybe it would give me closure or whatever the hell I needed so I could stop feeling so heartbroken.

“Screw it,” I muttered after pacing my room for another five minutes.

I scooped up the book and sat on my mattress. With shaky hands, I opened the cover to see those first ugly words I’d read at Nikki’s party.

Grace Matthews is the worst girl they could pick. . .

I steeled myself and pushed forward.

I met Grace today. Or rather, I spoke to her. She has beautiful eyes.

I read the next page, smirking at his cockiness.

I have this in the bag. Grace needs a friend. I can be that.

I wrinkled my nose at his words. He’d really thought I needed someone. Guess that just went to show how much attention he really paid to me.

She’s a bit grumpy. A little scary. And really smart. And funny. I like the way her cheeks flush red when I talk to her. . .

I flipped the page.

I don’t know how to talk to her. I think she hates me.

He went into great detail about how I blew him off all the time and how he was running out of ideas on ways to engage me.

I’m going to lose this this whole thing if I can’t get her to open up. I wish she would, and not just because I want to win. But I think she might be really cool to get to know.

I skipped a few pages and read the next entry.

I’m supposed to get her to kiss me. How the hell am I going to get her to do that if she won’t even give me five minutes to talk to her? I think I’m in over my head.

Next entry.

Coach terrifies me. If he ever finds out what I’m doing, he’ll kick me off the team. Football is everything to me. It’s my future. I’m not exactly a brainiac. I need to play, or I’ll end up staying in this town. I can’t lose. Fuck. Andy already went on a date.

I frowned at the page, my heart going out to him. Sure, he was a major dick for doing this, but I could feel his worry and fear through the pages.

I got her number. YES!

Next page.

She’s hilarious. She has the best comebacks.

Another page.

She came over to my place. She looks fucking amazing in a swimsuit, but I don’t even care about that. She wanted to experiment with popcorn flavors. Who does that? It tasted like shit, but I’d have eaten the whole damn bowl just to make her smile. I almost kissed her when I knocked her over. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

What if I kiss her and she doesn’t kiss me back?

I stared at his words, my heart hammering hard.

I’m scared. I really like her. What if she doesn’t like me? What if she really does want to just be friends?

I flipped ahead.

She wore my jersey today. I fucked up. I got jealous. I couldn’t help it. I saw Garrett talking to her and thought. . .well, I don’t know what I thought. I had a crazy moment. She put me in my place. I think I fucked up. I don’t think I’ll win this now if I can’t make a comeback.

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