Page 15 of The Playbook

“My hero.” I shoved a forced grin on my face and rolled my eyes.

She adjusted her phone as Ryan slapped me on the back and bid me farewell.

“Listen, Logan,” she simpered, stopping beside me and resting her hand on my chest. “Why don’t the two of us go out after the game tonight? We never got to finish what we started at my place last week.”

She and I were making out in her bedroom while her parents were away. It had been an excellent time, and I was sure we’d have finished if her fucking neighbor wouldn’t have come over banging on the door asking if we’d seen her cat.

I let out a soft laugh. “Nikki, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why?” She pouted.

“Because you know about the playbook,” I pointed out. Everyone in the clique knew about it. “I’m trying to win.”

“Baby,” she murmured, her lips brushing against mine. “My parents won’t be home tonight. Or… we could have a little fun right now.”

“Fine.” I grinned down at her, something unfurling within my guts, making me sick. I pushed the feeling away and kissed her again, my inner voice calling me an asshole the entire time.

CHAPTER9

Grace

“Girl, what on earth are you wearing?” Lana looked me up and down.

“Logan’s clothes,” I muttered,

“Logan? As inLogan Walker?” Her eyes widened.

“Yep,” I replied, still in disbelief myself. “After the whole lunch incident, he gave me something to wear. Probably felt guilty.”

Or maybe he was just a nice guy?

Or there was a glitch in the matrix.

Lana hadn’t been in band. She’d had a meeting with Mr. Jefferson, the school guidance counselor, about college stuff. Lana was still undecided and had been applying to just about every college. I’d been accepted at Rayton over the summer, so at least I didn’t have that worry plaguing me.

School let out, and we walked outside.

“Hey, wait up!” Noah called out to us.

We stopped and waited for him to catch up.

“Ladies.” He grinned.

“You look too happy.” Lana narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

“Of course, I’m happy. My girl here and I are going to rock the halftime show tonight. You wouldn’t know anything about that since you’ll be standing off to the side with your flute.”

They launched into snappy banter. It was always that way with them. My gaze wandered across the parking lot to where Logan was standing with a bunch of the clique. Nikki was with him, smiling as she clung to her trophy. I was nauseous watching them. It was common knowledge that Nikki was a popularity digging troll. And Logan was at the top of the food chain. What upset me more was that he wasn’t pushing her off. In fact, he looked like he was enjoying the attention.

There’d been talk of them being a couple at the end of last year. It made sense.Theymade sense together. It didn’t stop the nausea in my guts as she leaned in and kissed him. And he kissed her back.

Ugly thoughts painted my mind. He was probably in on her tripping me the whole damn time. My heart turned over in my chest, making me breathless. He hadn’t been in chem. I had a sinking suspicion I knew why.

Why do I even care?

He came up for air, and his eyes caught mine across the parking lot. Hurriedly, I looked away, fiddling with the straps on my backpack.

“And that’s why the drum line is better than the flute,” Noah finished proudly.

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