Page 41 of The Playbook

“I don’t know, dude. Grace is here—”

“Then take her home,” Dax interjected, coming up behind us.

I frowned at him.

“Seriously, man. Ditch the nerd. Get fucking laid. Some pussy will help get your head straight. Remember, Matthews is just a damn game. If you get attached to her, shit will get ugly. You know it will.”

“What the hell do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He and Ryan exchanged looks.

“It’s social suicide.” Ryan winced. “Even if you do think Grace is cool, she’ll never be cool enough to fit in with us. And you know damn well Nikki would shit a brick before she let it happen. I’m not trying to be mean,” Ryan rushed on seeing the rage on my face. “But if you care about Grace even a little, don’t get attached. It could hurt her in the long run.”

I gazed back at the house where I knew Grace was probably sitting nervously at my island, her head ducked down. My heart ached. The guys were right. Whatever I felt was stupid. I didn’t want to hurt her and liking her would hurt her. I just needed to win this fucking bet and call it good. Then I could push Grace out of my head for good.

But won’t winning hurt her?

I tossed the nagging voice into the back of my mind and put it on mute.

“You’re right. I want out of this. I’ve gotta win and be done with it. I’m going to try to get Grace to come outside and hang with us. You guys be cool. Make her laugh. Help me get her interested in me, so I can get the kiss and all the other shit.”

“Why not just drop out—” Ryan started.

“Not happening. No fucking way I’m going to let Andy win.” I didn’t wait for his answer. I marched back to the house and found Grace exactly where I knew she’d be.

“Hey, everyone is swimming. I thought maybe we could join them.”

“Uh.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “No? I mean, I don’t feel comfortable with all of them. I don’t have my bathing suit. And honestly, Logan…” She got to her feet and took a few steps forward closing the distance between us and stealing my breath. “I’d really just rather go home so you can hang out with your friends without me in the way. I have a book I want to read, and I need to practice a song for band anyway.”

“Gracie,” I sighed. “Come on. One hour. OK? Give me an hour. There are extra swimsuits in the pool house. Just grab one and come out. We’ll have fun, I promise. You don’t know you don’t like something if you’ve never tried it. I’ll keep your virtue safe from my friends.”

“An hour? That’s it? Then you’ll take me home?”

“Promise.” I made an X over my heart. “Now come on. Grab a suit and join us.”

I took her hand and tugged her through the backyard to the pool house. Inside, I showed her where the suits were. We always had so many people over that my mom had decided to load the place up with extras in all styles and sizes.

“Just come out when you’re done, OK?”

“Uh huh,” she mumbled, her green eyes frightened.

Not wanting to get closer than I already was, I didn’t bother asking her what was wrong. Instead, I stepped outside and made my way back to the house where I grabbed my own swim trunks and changed. When I got back outside, Grace was still nowhere to be seen.

“She come out yet?” I asked, snagging a bottle of water out of the cooler.

“Nope,” Dax answered.

I stared off in the direction of the pool house, debating on going over.

“Logan.” Jenna giggled, tugging on my arm. “Come swim with me.”

“What?” I asked, peering at her in confusion. I’d forgotten she was even here.

She tugged on my arm again while Dax grinned at me.

“Nah, I’m waiting for Grace.”

“Is she your girlfriend?” Jenna asked, pouting at me.

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