Playing the Game (Providence University #6) - Ali Parker Page 0,12

hear.

I looked at my hand that had turned red, and one knuckle was beginning to bruise. I hated my temper, but I just couldn’t help myself sometimes. I knew I had to change and be better, but I also had to try everything I could to get Avery back.

I tried to think of how Layla would have told me to handle it. Action spoke louder, huh? I had to prove to myself that I was doing my best. Being patient was the first test.

Chapter 5

Avery

After another long talk with Abi over dinner and a movie, I decided that my next move was to tell Seth exactly how I felt and why I had been so distant.

Practice had me nervous, especially after the second half when Coach Carr left Coach Simms in charge of the men and we all had to run laps around the entire field.

I hoped I’d catch up with Seth, but I didn’t want to be too obvious when we first took off. I ran in a slower jog that I knew he would catch up to easily, and sure enough, after several people passed me up, I felt a nudge.

“How was your date?” he asked.

“Abi was hardly a date, but we did have dinner and a movie.”

“What did you see?”

“Fist Bump. It’s that stupid comedy about those boxers who rob a bank.” I decided not to be rude and remind him that it was the movie I’d wanted him to bring me to on our date.

“Oh, I remember you wanted to see that. I would have taken you.” He seemed upset he didn’t get the chance to.

“It’s fine. I got to see it. It was funny. You’d like it.”

“Yeah, and I thought maybe you’d still like me,” he said, looking down at his shoes.

“I do like you, silly.”

“Well, I feel like something is wrong, and I dare you to deny it.”

“Okay, something is wrong.”

He slowed down and nearly stopped running, but hurried to catch up instead. “I knew it. What the hell happened? Did someone else ask you out or something? Because if that’s the reason, don’t leave me hanging. Just be honest.”

“I like how you think that I have a lot of interest, but actually, sometimes I don’t even know why you like me.”

“Because you’re nice to me, you’re funny, and you don’t put up with my shit. Not to mention, you’re sexy as hell.”

“Me? Sexy?” I had to laugh. I had never been called that before.

“Yeah, don’t even act like you don’t know it.” He shook his head. “So, if it’s not another guy, what is it? Because I’ve tried to be different with you, and I’m still just a fuckup.”

I started to say something but held my tongue. It would do no good to tell him he could be an ass.

“Don’t say it. I know I can be a bit pushy. But if you go out with me, we could talk it over?”

“I’d like that,” I said. “But just know it’s taking a lot for me to give you another chance.”

“Damn, was I that terrible of a date? If so, I don’t know if I can hold to your standards. But I know you can choose the movie from now on.” He gave a sigh, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Coach Simms blew her whistle as we passed her. “Pick it up, you two. I know you’ve got more in you than that.”

Seth smiled. “Your coach is a cakewalk. Coach Carr would skin me alive for this.”

“She can be a tyrant when she wants to be. Trust me.” Rugby wasn’t always easy, but I had to admit Coach Carr was way worse.

“So where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know. Can I wait and think about it?”

“About going or choosing where?”

I could tell he wasn’t confident about me at all. “About choosing. I’ll go. I promise. And I’ll tell you what happened.”

“Why not tell me now?” he asked.

“Because maybe I want to make you work for it.” I gave him a wink and sped up my pace to leave him behind.

He caught up with me and grinned. “It’s going to take a lot more work than that to get away from me.”

“You sound like a creepy stalker.”

He sighed. “Damn, I can’t get anything, right? But that will probably be the next rumor going around about me, right?”

“As long as you’re only stalking me.”

“I guess you have heard the rumors,” he said, looking away.

“Well, I’ve never been one to hold much truth in a rumor,”