Page 88 of The Playbook

“Uh, yeah. I’d like that. I don’t want there to be hard feelings.” I was still suspicious, but I wanted to hope she was being sincere.

“Me either.” She smiled and let out a breathy giggle. “I was worried there for a minute. I thought you’d want to throw everything away.”

“I’m not like that, Nik. You know that. I’d like to still be friends,” I said, nodding. “I was worried you were going to give Grace a hard time.”

She shook her head. “No. Like I said, if you’re happy, then I’m happy for you.”

“So you’re not going to say anything about the playbook?” My pulse thundered in my ears as I waited for her answer.

“No. That’s your business.”

“Thank you,” I said.

She opened her arms and stepped toward me, obviously expecting us to hug it out. Grateful, that I might come out of this whole shitshow unscathed, I gave her a brief squeeze.

“Listen, the party is at my place this weekend. I’d love it if you and Grace would come. It’ll be fun. Dax said he’d bring the alcohol.”

I laughed. “Sounds like Dax. Yeah, sure. I’ll see if Grace wants to go.”

“Great.”

I walked past her to the door and stopped. “Why did you follow me into the bathroom instead of catching me at my locker?”

She shrugged. “Figured it would be quieter in here. At least that’s what I was going for.”

I smiled at her once more, feeling like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my chest. Everything was shaping up to work out perfectly. “Thanks. Really. This means a lot to me.”

“Me too,” she said, nodding to the door. “Go out first. I’ll follow in a few minutes.”

I waved at her and left the bathroom, completely in shock by her change in attitude.

If she was willing to keep our friendship intact, then I was too. It was more than I could’ve hoped for.

CHAPTER41

Grace

Awhole week passed, and nothing bad had happened. No one bothered me or teased me. Nikki wasn’t a bitch. People actually said hi and waved. And my dad didn’t completely lose his shit. He’d only sighed and gave me a look which said I better watch myself. Even when I’d worn Logan’s jersey to school today, it hadn’t caused any kind of stir.

Logan attributed his phenomenal game tonight to me being his good luck charm. Maybe I was.

I ran my fingers through my hair and stared at myself in the little, black dress I had on. It was the one I’d picked out before school started when I’d gone shopping with Lana and run into Nikki and her fem-bots. After practically begging me all week, I’d finally given into Logan’s requests for me to attend Nikki’s big bash with him. Lana and Ryan were going. Even Noah and Garrett had gotten invites.

I backed away from the mirror as the doorbell rang downstairs. Not wanting my dad and Logan to be around each other too much, I rushed down to find I was too late. Dad was already talking to Logan who’d just entered the house. He pulled his attention away from my father and beamed at me, a wide grin spreading over his face as his gaze raked over me.

Dad narrowed his eyes at Logan as Mom took him by the arm to direct him away from us.

“Gracie, you look beautiful,” Logan said as I reached the bottom of the stairs. He wrapped me in for a tight hug before releasing me, the smell of his woodsy cologne lingering.

“You look good too.”

I meant it too. Tight, black t-shirt, low-slung jeans, and a leather jacket. Logan had it going on. His hair was an untamed, strategic mess that made me want to drag my fingers through it to mess it up more. He winked at me as Dad cleared his throat.

“What time will you be back?”

“Uh.” I turned to Logan for an answer. If I had my way, I’d be leaving Nikki’s way earlier than anyone else.

“What time would you like her home, Coach? I’ll bring her back whenever you want me to.”

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