Playing the Game (Providence University #6) - Ali Parker Page 0,35

use sports to get into college, we both jumped at the chance. But Layla had a much harder time getting away from that than I did.”

“But you have? I mean, your father isn’t still giving you a hard time, is he?”

“I haven’t talked to him in a long time, so no, it’s long past.” I didn’t want to get into my personal life so much that I mentioned Bryan or losing him. I wasn’t ready to go there, not yet, and knew I’d eventually have to tell her everything. “It’s not an excuse for what I did to Layla, but I couldn’t deal with her getting sucked back into her problems, and so I strayed. I’m not going to lie. I felt like shit every time. I wasn’t doing it to hurt her, but again, I know it’s no excuse.”

“Look, I don’t want to date a cheater, so I won’t put up with that, but there’s more to the rumor. Something my sister said that really surprised me.”

“Yeah, I can guess. Lay would show up with bruises, but they weren’t from me.”

“Her father hit her?”

“Again, it’s not my story. I really shouldn’t go into it, and that’s why I don’t correct the rumor.” I felt my chin quiver a bit as my emotions got the best of me. “How could anyone think I’d hit her? They don’t know me at all. My mother raised me right—in spite of him.”

I looked at Avery, and she was staring back at me with her mouth agape and sympathy in her eyes. “That’s not fair.”

“Layla had tried to tell people different things, and she never blamed me, but people want to make up what they want. I ignore it. I wasn’t perfect to Layla anyway. Both of us took out our anger on each other, and I guess I was a lot worse about it. Especially in front of other people. Hell, we thought that was normal.”

“You got to college and saw you were both wrong?”

“Yeah, and we tried. But I got to where I couldn’t take it. She made me promise to stay out of her business, and I know I should have done something to help her out more, even though she never let me. I guess I thought it best I push her away.” There was a lot more, but I felt the lump in my throat about to choke me.

Avery kissed it all away.

Chapter 13

Avery

After Seth opened up, nearly breaking down into tears as he told me his story, I felt so bad for all he’d been through. I had no idea how bad his home life was, and with all the blame he endured that wasn’t even his fault, it had to wear on him. It at least explained why he was so angry most of the time, and I could see why people might think the worst of him.

It just wasn’t fair.

What happened with Layla might not have been the best relationship, but at least he recognized his mistakes and was willing to do better to not let it happen again. And the physical abuse that he had been blamed for when he had been a victim himself tugged my heartstrings so much, I couldn’t help but kiss him for his honesty.

As our lips moved together, soft and tender, he touched my face and put his arm around me to move in closer.

Things heated up quickly, but that didn’t surprise me because of where we had left off. And when I moved to straddle his lap, he pulled away and met my eyes. “Are you sure this is okay with you?”

I could see the concern in his eyes for me. “Yes. It’s more than okay with me. I want this, and I think I’ve always wanted it since I first met you.”

He kissed me again, this time moving his hands up my back as he kissed down my neck.

I moved to pull off the long T-shirt, and he looked surprised when I didn’t have a bra on. My breasts were right in front of him, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was tempted by them.

“You can still say no,” he said. “And I feel like I have to say, I don’t want to go much farther if you’re going to make me stop.”

“I don’t want you to stop,” I whispered against his cheek. I tugged at his shirt and brought it up over his head, then reached for his pants and undid