Page 14 of The Playbook

“What are you talking about?” He frowned at me.

“Like you don’t know!” I choked out. “You being nice to me. Lending me something to wear. Wanting to be my friend. None of this makes sense. I don’t know what game you’re playing, Logan, but please, leave me out of it.”

“I’m not playing a game,” he murmured, stepping closer to me and cupping my face in his hands. “If a girl looks good, I say so. And I do want to be your friend. If I wanted to get back at you or play you, I’d have let you walk around wearing cafeteria food. So how about a little trust, Gracie?”

Gracie. Did he just give me a nickname?

“It-it’s hard for me,” I whispered, a tear slipping out.

Shit.Rule number one, never let the clique see you cry.Well, looks like I failed. Logan’s fingers brushed the tears away as he cast me a sweet smile.

“I know. But I promise I won’t hurt you. We’re friends, remember?”

“More like frenemies.” I sniffled as his hands fell from my face.

He chuckled at my remark. “I’ll take what I can get.”

“Me too,” I breathed out, deciding in that moment that maybe Logan Walker wasn’t so bad. Maybe I could manage a friendship with him.

Or maybe I really did fall too hard in the cafeteria.

CHAPTER8

Logan

Iwas the worst sort of human. One who lied. And not about Grace looking damn good, because seeing her in my clothes was beyond fucking sexy. I’d lied about hurting her. If she ever found out our friendship wasn’t real, or ourfrenemystatus, she’d be hurt. I’d seen it in her eyes. I knew she’d been embarrassed and upset by what Nikki had done. I didn’t blame Grace one bit for it. But then I’d came in like a fucking white knight wanting to save the day, seeing an opportunity to get close to her, and I’d taken it.

If this went as planned, Grace Matthews was going to hate me more than she already did. The idea made me sick to my stomach. But the possibility of losing was worse, so I let my demons out to play, giving them free rein of the situation.

After the bell rang and Grace left me abruptly, as was her fashion, Ryan met up with me by my locker.

“How’s the play going?” he asked, using the code word we had for it.

“Getting better.” I grinned at him, my guilt real. I shoved it aside. I didn’t have time for it. “How’s operation spit shield going?”

“Disgusting,” Ryan muttered, abruptly changing topic. “This is fucking stupid. Honestly, I’m not cool with hurting people. I know it’s not me doing it, but I’m an accomplice. I think you should end it, man. I’ll sit with you at the dumpsters.”

“You’re serious?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“Yep.” He nodded. “I honestly don’t have the balls for this, man. Plus, there’s this girl I like. I don’t want to ruin my chances with her. If she finds out I was part of this, it’s over before it even starts.”

“Who’s the girl?” I asked as we made our way down the hall.

“Not saying. Don’t want to jinx it.”

“Weirdo,” I muttered. “I can’t quit though. Iwon’t. I’m in it until it’s over.”

“Figured.” He sighed. “You really want to keep doing this knowing it could blow up in your face?”

“Yeah, don’t see why not.” I shrugged, feeling like an ass. “Grace is hot. I could probably have her naked and in the backseat of my car by homecoming.”

“I very much doubt that.” Ryan chuckled. “Grace Matthews isnotgoing to give you any, bro. The girl is too sweet. And you’re an asshole. So yeah, keep dreaming.”

I didn’t get to reply because Nikki was in my face with her phone.

“What are you doing?” I sighed as she grinned mischievously at me.

“I’m making a video yearbook,” she answered, stopping in front of me. “Tell me, Logan, what did you think of the situation at lunch today? I got Grace back for spilling your food on you.”

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