Page 26 of The Playbook

Damn.

Me: Just thinking about you :)

Grace: I’d think that would be enough to put anyone to sleep. In fact, now I’m tired. I’ll talk to you later.

I let out a soft chuckle and shook my head.

Me: I like that you’re crazy. See you tomorrow.

I put my phone back on my nightstand and rolled over, my hands behind my head. For some reason, I felt a lot better. Sleep found me quickly afterward.

* * *

“What’s the deal with you and Grace?” Andy demanded as he sloshed water down the front of his practice jersey. It was Saturday, but that didn’t mean anything to Coach Matthews. I was pretty sure he held the early morning Saturday practices to see which of us partied too much Friday nights after games. Not that Saturday practices were exceptionally rough. Most of it consisted of running, lifting, and watching our game video.

“What’s the deal with you and Marissa?” I countered.

“Well, you can check off in your book that I’m getting a second date. You can also add that I got her most embarrassing story out of her. She’s the one who was leaving love notes in Ryan’s locker last year. No one knows about it, but she’s embarrassed just the same. Make sure you bring your fucking A game, Walker. Ryan, you heard that shit, right? Anthony? Dax?”

“We heard you,” Anthony grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“So what’s going on with you and Grace?” Andy pressed, a knowing smirk on his face.

“We’re going out tonight.”

“No fucking way.” Andy raised a brow at me like he didn’t believe me.

“Yeah, I’m picking her up later. I’ll probably get her to make out with me, maybe even hit second base,” I gloated, feeling like a real asshole for saying it. Honestly, I’d be lucky if she didn’t punch me in the throat by the end of the night.

“Whatever,” Andy snorted. “I’ll hit second before you even manage first, Walker.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” I snapped at him.

Coach came over just then, demanding we do laps. Conversation stopped as we set off around the outside of the field.

By the time we were done, I was ready for a nap. Having gone to bed as late as I had left me feeling sluggish.

“You seriously going out with Grace tonight?” Ryan asked as we walked to the parking lot after practice ended.

“Yeah,” I answered. “I had pizza with her and her friends last night. I asked her to hang with me tonight, and she said yes.”

“Does she know it’s adate?” Ryan asked, studying me.

I shifted uncomfortably beneath his penetrating stare. “She will when I kiss her at the end of it.”

“You’re asking for trouble, man. Why is winning this so important to you?”

“I hate Andy. It’s the principle of it. I can’t let him win.”

“Even if you have to hurt other people to get the win?” Ryan pressed.

I scowled at him. “When the fuck did you get holier than thou?”

“Whatever, man,” Ryan sighed. “I’m just trying to look out for you. I think it’s a bad idea, and it’s going to backfire in your face.”

“It’ll be fine,” I mumbled.

“What’s the deal with you and Nikki then?”

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