Page 100 of The Playbook

She broke up with me. I guess I figured we were over when Nikki let out that fucking video and the playbook. It hurt to see the confirmation though.

I slammed my fist into my locker, my throat aching as I tried to not cry right there in the middle of the hallway.

How’d I manage to fuck things up so badly?I’d had the best intentions. Sure, they came later than they should have, but my heart was with Grace. Deciding if I waited any longer I’d completely lose my shit in the hall, I shuffled into the bathroom and splashed water on my face, trying to pull myself together.

I couldn’t lose her. I had to figure out how to win her back. I had to prove myself to her. Grace was too perfect, too wonderful, for me to simply walk away. I’d fucked up. I admitted that much, but I was going to make everything right. Even if she still told me to piss off, I’d at least go down trying.

With that new resolve set in my mind, I dried my face and left the bathroom only to run straight into Nikki.

Students were flowing into the hallway with lunch period ending. A few glanced our way.

“Going in the bathroom to steal from someone else?” I said, pushing past her.

She let out a snort of laughter. “No. I’ve done what I had to do.”

I stopped and turned back to her. She lifted her chin and smirked at me.

“What you did was wrong, Nik. You fucking know it. Just because I didn’t want you didn’t mean you had to make all that shit up about me and you. You could’ve just moved on like a normal person.”

“That’s the thing, Logan.No onerejects me.”

I scoffed at her, disgusted that I ever cared about her. “You’re never going to be happy. Ever. You can bring a million people down, but it’ll never fix your black fucking heart. No one is going to want a bitter, washed-up bitch who makes it her mission to hurt others because she knows she’ll never be worth more than a mediocre lay and not worth sticking around for.”

Her cheeks reddened as she stared up at me.

“I don’t want you. I want Grace. When I said you and I were over, I meant it. The little stunt you pulled won’t get me back. In fact, I wished I didn’t have any memories of you because you fucking disgust me. I wish I could peel the skin from my body and burn it just so none of me would be tainted by you. That’s not even the saddest part. The saddest part is you know you’re not worth shit, but you keep wearing a mask like you are. People like you never change. They only fade the fuck away. Have a good life, Nikki. It won’t be with me.”

I turned and stormed away, pushing through the throng of students in the hallway, leaving Nikki to sputter after me. It wasn’t everything I wanted to say to her, but it was enough.

Now, I had to figure out how to get my girl back.

CHAPTER47

Grace

Three days. I’d skipped three days of chemistry. I couldn’t miss anymore, so I had to suck it up and go to class. I shuffled into the room and sat in my spot, noting Logan wasn’t there. I blew out a breath of relief, grateful for the small miracle.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long because he breezed in right as the bell rang. I tried not to look at him as he came toward me. It was hard to miss how his eyes lit up and he picked up his pace. And it was definitely hard to ignore the way my heartbeat increased and the way the butterflies fluttered in my stomach at his approach.

“Hey,” he said softly as he slid into his seat beside me.

I opted to remain silent, staring straight ahead and listening as Mr. Benson started the lecture. Once the lecture was over though, I had no choice but to talk to him.

“I’ll grab the supplies for the lab,” I muttered, getting to my feet.

“No. Let me.” He shot out of his seat before I’d even taken a step and went to the supply closet to grab what we needed.

I sank low in my seat and focused on our assignment, skimming over it. It was a simple enough lab. Mostly. Acid-base titration. If all went well, I could be done and out of there before the bell rang, or at least have time to make up a good enough excuse to leave before then.

Logan returned and placed our stuff onto the table. I immediately set everything up as he fumbled around, handing me things.

“We need to measure PH,” I muttered.

“Right. Got that sensor thing,” he said, snatching the monitor and pushing it toward me.

Our fingers brushed, and I couldn’t ignore the zing of electricity his touch sent through my body.

I set to work as he scribbled down the notes.

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