Playing the Game (Providence University #6) - Ali Parker Page 0,3

followed him on social media.”

I let out a breath. How could he be so clueless? And comparing me to Layla was not winning him any points either. “I’ll call you later.” I opened the door to get out, and when I did, he jumped out of his side and came around to walk me to the door.

“Okay, if you don’t think I could change your mind. Seems like a wasted opportunity to me.” He took my hand as we stood on the steps, and I was still so upset I couldn’t even meet his eyes for too long. He lifted my chin, giving me no choice but to look. He leaned in to kiss me, but I pulled away.

“I’ll call you.” I didn’t want a kiss goodnight. He hadn’t earned one.

“No kiss? Come on. It’s not like it’s our first one. What’s going on? Did I do something?” He narrowed his eyes, and I could see his chest rise and fall quickly.

I should have said something right then, but instead, I told him no, and now I was lost in regrets and wishing I would have confronted him and worked it out. Being in limbo with him was the worst.

“Russell,” yelled Coach Simms, bringing my head around. “Are you going to stare across the field or get your head in the game?”

“I’m sorry.” I went to get in position and tried to focus, but I kept feeling like I had really screwed things up. But Seth’s words had hurt me deeply, and it was hard to tell if his intentions were pure or not.

I had always been a tomboy compared to my sister, who was way girlier and even more petite than me before her eating disorder. I had never worn much makeup, dresses, or girlie clothing. Most of the time, you could find me in boots and jeans with a worn-out T-shirt.

Jewelry wasn’t a big deal either, and I had one pair of diamond-stud earrings I had worn every day since I had gotten my ears pierced in high school. I’d never found another pair I liked more.

When Seth came to talk to me at an Omega House party months ago, I had been surprised he had even noticed me at all, much less asked for my number. He was extremely hot, really nice, and so popular that I couldn’t help but want to get to know him too.

But all of the bad rumors eventually got around to me. The one about him being Layla Roberts’s cheating ex and how horrible he had treated the girl when they were dating was the most popular one. And how he didn’t know the meaning of commitment, much less faithfulness. I had heard it all, but through that, I still felt like they were talking about someone else. Seth had never shown me that side.

It just wasn’t the Seth I had known, and I had given him the benefit of the doubt until that night at the Omega party.

As practice continued and we finished up working on the plays, Coach Simms talked to us about our progress and sent us to run a lap. I had my mind in the clouds anyway, and while the other girls were all talking and carrying on, I still couldn’t shake Seth from my mind.

What if I was making a mistake? What if I was throwing it all away on an overreaction?

Chapter 2

Seth

Avery had me spellbound as she ran around the field. The girl had a perfect body, and I ached to wonder if she would ever give me the time of day again. I didn’t know what had put her off of me, but I had done all I could to show her how special I thought she was and how much I really liked her.

Carrying around a bad reputation was frustrating more than anything. I didn’t mind being known as a party animal or a bad motherfucker who was not to be messed with, but some people acted as if I had beaten Layla or something. The truth was, the girl was my first love, or so I had thought, and I’d never laid a hand on her to do her harm. Hell, I thought I wanted her back more than anything.

And then I met Avery.

She had caught my attention, and so far, I hadn’t been able to give my attention to anyone else.

My life had been complicated. Layla and I came from the same background and could understand what the other was going