Playing the Game: Providence University Book 6

by Parker, Ali

  I looked at the score and smiled. Seth had probably continued to play a great game. And I was not there to see him finish it. I figured I could at least explain why. “He gave me the brush off.”

  Abi’s eyes widened. “What? When?”

  “Last night. I wanted to buy him dinner, so I waited for him to leave practice, and when he came out, he was just not that into me. I guess I’m getting too close too fast. He probably doesn’t even feel the same way I do. Do you think the kiss could have complicated things?”

  “For you or him?” she asked. “Because you seem to be the one second-guessing things. Wasn’t it a nice kiss?”

  “Yes, and that’s why I can’t believe he didn’t want to do it again. He didn’t even mention it. He didn’t even text me to say goodnight. And when we first started talking, he did that every night. I guess I’m not on his mind as much as I’d like to be. I at least thought we’d made that much progress.”

  “You can’t be seriously thinking he doesn’t like you anymore. I think you’re overreacting, and listen, if you want him, you better go and get him. Guys can be clueless. I can’t tell you how many times my stupid brother had to be thrown hints by his girlfriends. Guys don’t see things the way we do.”

  “You’re right. And Seth had the game on his mind. He’s the team captain and probably under a lot of pressure.”

  “You know how it is. You have to play and focus. He needed the win, and you should consider giving him his space your contribution to his victory and see it as a positive thing and not a negative one. You can tell him ‘you’re welcome’ tonight at the party.”

  I laughed and looked down at the donut in front of me. “Is that jelly?” I pulled my donut apart to find it stuffed with strawberry jam. “Yuck. I asked for Bavarian cream.”

  “Here, eat this.” She pushed her donuts in front of me. “I hate donuts. I only got them because I didn’t want you to eat alone. The glaze on this one is the best. I hate that coconut-dipped garbage.”

  I made a face. “I love donuts, but I don’t know what I’m doing here. I guess I was hiding from him.”

  “Well, I’m sure the game is over now, so if you want, we can go to my dorm and get glammed up before the party.” She wagged her brows and gave me a great big smile.

  “You have met me, right?” I asked with a laugh. “Because I don’t do glammed up. I can barely paint my own nails, and I’ve only done that once.”

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Abi looked at me as if I were some kind of alien with four heads.

  “No, I’m not. Clara tried to do them a few times, but she always loses patience with me. I tried clear polish, but what’s the point?”

  “Come on,” said Abi, getting to her feet. “We’re ditching this stupid donut hole and going to the dorm to make you even hotter than you already are. Seth is going to be knocked right out of his rugby shoes.”

  “Cleats,” I corrected, only to earn a strange look. “We wear cleats.”

  “Whatever.” Abi waved her hand and locked arms with me as she practically dragged me from the place.

  When we got back to her dorm room, we went inside where she cranked up some music. “Don’t worry. Most everyone is at the game or out already. The ones that are here are so high they don’t mind.”

  “Could you put it on something that doesn’t make me want to slit my wrists?” I asked, hating the sound of the music more than its volume.

  “Fine, how’s this?” She put on another band.

  “I like that.” It wasn’t much better but a welcome change from the emo-depresso junk she’d had it on. Abi wasn’t even the emo type, so I didn’t understand her tastes.

  “It speaks to my soul,” she said as if trying to explain herself. “Now, sit. We’re doing your nails.”

  “I can never wait for that shit to dry,” I said, my shoulders slumping to show my unease.

  “Nonsense, this is super-fast drying, and you only need one coat. I use it all the time, and we’re going to try a little lipstick with it.”

  “No way. I don’t wear lipstick.”

  “Which is why you should try it. Come on. Trust me.”

  “I’ve tried it. It wears off and gets on my teeth. It’s terrible.”

  Abi gave me a strange look. “You have to trust me. Not all lipsticks are the same. If you use this, you won’t have it on your teeth. I promise.” She held up a color that was really pretty, but I had a feeling I was going to look like a clown by the time the night was over.

  After I let her work her magic on my face, I was so impressed that I let her attempt to curl my hair, although there was a decent chance it wouldn’t actually hold.

  But when she was done with me, I looked in the mirror and absolutely loved it. “I’ve never been able to get my hair to wave like this and hold. It’s like it’s not even my hair.”

  “It’s all in the products. I have tried and true favorites that tackle every problem. And your hair looks amazing by the way.”

  It had just the right amount of wave to it, and it didn’t look flat at all. “I don’t look much like myself, do I?”

  “Of course, you do, but just spruced up a bit, and it’s not too much. I kept everything in a neutral palette for you, and check it out. That lipstick isn’t going anywhere.”

  I touched my finger to my lips, and she was right. It didn’t budge. “I need you around.” I glanced around her room and wondered if I could get her to move in with me. But I second-guessed what I’d be getting into if she did. Her place wasn’t a mess, but she looked like she had a lot of things strewn about.

  “You sure do!” she said with a giggle. “Now, let’s go. I’ll drive.”

  Her driving was a joke, as we were only a couple of blocks from Omega House. We set out on the street, walking.

  I hoped that I was put together enough to endure the night air. If only Seth would still want to be with me. I tried to keep my thoughts positive as I walked up to the door with Abi and was let inside.

  The room was vibrating with music much louder than Abi’s and just as bad on a different end of the spectrum. It set the mood all right, but again, it just wasn’t my taste. I was more of a rock and roller.

  The room was so full of people I had to stay close to Abi so we didn’t get separated. Across the room, near the keg, I saw a group of girls who were cheering on someone at the keg.

  “Go, Go, Go, Go, Go, Go,” they chanted repeatedly. They all clapped as Seth got to his feet with a big grin on his face.

  “Body shot!” one girl yelled as she pulled up her top.

  Seth did the shot, and when he rose up, his eyes met mine. I felt my heart take a dive.

  He left them and hurried across the room. “Hey, Avery.” He was already drunk and working the room. “I didn’t think you’d be here. You left the game early.” The girl, who I knew to be a cheerleader, came through the crowd making a beeline for Seth.

  “Come on, sexy. You have more things to do with my body.” She laughed and looked over at me with a smirk.

  “Yeah, Seth, you have so much more to do with her.” I grabbed a shot off of a passing tray and gulped it down.

  “Hey, take it easy,” he said, shaking his head at me.

  “I’m sure you’ll have fun without me.”

  As I walked away, I heard Seth shout at me. “Avery! You left the game!”

  “And you’ve clearly not quit playing.” I kept on going and found another tray of shots.

  The boy holding it was a real cutie, but he was also not my type with sandy-blond hair and a surfer smile.

  “Give me another,” I said, sticking a dollar in his pants.

  He handed me the shot, and I wasted no time gulping it down too.

  When I turned away from him, Abi walked up. “Don’t let her keep going at that pace,” she said, taking the dollar out of his waistband.

  I stuffed the bill in my top as she passed it to me. “It’s fine. Seth likes to move fast. So can I.”

  “You’re tw
o shots in, and we’ve only been here five minutes. Pace yourself, Avery.” She turned back to the guy. “Baby steps for her, or I’m coming after you.”

  I glanced across the room and found Seth was watching me as his girl of the hour fought for his attention. She was doing well at holding her own, but I wasn’t bothered. If she wanted him, she could have him.

  Even though I was trying to be strong, I couldn’t stand to look at them together anymore, so I went into the kitchen, where I found a different guy making another tray of shots. “There you are, cutie. Just the man I was looking for.”

  “Who? Me?” The guy looked confused. “You must be thinking of someone else. Aren’t you that rugby player?”

  “Yes, and I want a shot. Are you going to give it to me, or what?” I gave him a smile, and he smiled back.

  “Yeah, sure. Here. Take two.”

  “Don’t mind if I do. Just don’t tell Abi.” I took them one after the other, and I began to get warm and tingly. I just wanted to drown the pain. I didn’t even usually like to drink shots.

  “Your secret is safe with me, sweetheart. Do you want a Jell-O shot too? They’re in the fridge.”

  “Oh? I’ll help you with those.” I waited until he walked out with the tray and went over to the fridge. They were so colorful and pretty. I hadn’t ever really had them before, but I liked Jell-O enough to give it a try. Besides, how much of a punch could they really have?

  I had four, trying one of each flavor they had to offer. Then I shut the fridge, leaving them where they were.

  I walked back out to the front, and Abi was nowhere to be found, but while I looked around for her, the room was starting to look a little off-balance. Or maybe that was just me.

  I turned and came face to face with the girl Seth had chosen over me. I had heard her friends call her Britany, and she was with Lizzy, one of her cheerleading cronies.

  “Wow, you really tried, didn’t you?” said Britany as I passed by. She was standing with a few other friends, who all giggled with her, laughing and whispering.

  “I beg your pardon?” I stepped closer. “If you have something to say, say it.”

  Britany rolled her eyes. “You know, the whole makeup and hair thing? It was a good effort for a plain Jane, but we all knew Seth would come to his senses.”

  “That’s right,” said Lizzy. “He knows who takes care of him.” The two girls slapped hands, and I reached for a drink off of the cutie’s tray as he passed. I snagged it just in time, and he was none the wiser. As I downed it, I knew I was going to regret it.

  “Wow, lush much?” Britany laughed. “Sorry, I can’t stand around and talk. I’m going to go fuck your dream boy.”

  Lizzy and Britany giggled, and as they turned to put their heads together and laugh, I had a strange urge come over me. I lunged for Britany, but Seth caught me around the waist before I could do any damage.

  “Whoa,” he said, pulling me close. I fought against him as the other girls laughed.

  “Control your dog,” said Lizzy. “See what happens when you bring in strays?”

  “Come on, Seth. Let’s go back upstairs. You don’t want to waste your time with her. She’s probably got a dick bigger than yours.”

  Seth sighed. “I don’t need this shit, girls. Not tonight.”

  Hearing that was enough to push him away and go after her again, but before I could take two steps, everything turned black, and the music faded. The last thing I remembered was Seth catching me.

  Chapter 10

  Seth

  I couldn’t believe Avery had made such a scene the night before, and if she had stopped to listen to me, I could have told her that she was making a big mistake about Britany and me.

  I cracked another egg into the skillet and wondered when sleeping beauty would awaken. I wasn’t sure what she had on her schedule or if she had to be somewhere with her sister. Clara would have my nuts if she knew her sister had spent the night in my bed, mostly naked.

  From where I stood at the stove, I glanced back and saw her foot peeking out of the sheets, and as if she could feel my eyes upon her, she rolled over, and sunlight shone on her perfect tits.

  She suddenly darted up in my bed, clutching the sheet around her as if she felt me looking. “No, no, no,” she said as I stirred the eggs.

  I made a face, thinking she was freaking out. I turned off the stove and walked to the bedroom door. “Is everything okay?”

  She let out a sigh of relief. “Seth.” She raked her hand through her hair.

  “Was there someone else’s bed you’d rather wake up in?” The thought had my nostrils flaring.

  “No. It’s a relief actually. I didn’t know where I was. I thought I was still at the Omega House.”

  “Nope. I wouldn’t leave you there passed out.” The history with her sister there was enough not to leave any girl there passed out.

  She closed her eyes and clutched the sheet tighter as she got to her feet. “Where are my clothes? What did we do? Did we?” I could tell by the horror on her face that she would have regretted it terribly.

  Her rejection didn’t make me feel good.

  “No, you’re all good. Despite what some might think, I’m not a bad guy. I never take advantage when a girl has had too much to drink.” Despite how my father treated my mother, I knew how to treat a lady.

  “So, where are my clothes? Why am I naked?”

  “You’re not naked. I left your undies, but the rest was kind of soaked in whatever alcoholic concoction you barfed up. It was an interesting color by the way. Kind of a purplish brown.”

  She looked up at me as her face turned green. Without another word, she rushed to the bathroom and slammed the door. I could hear her expelling whatever she had left in her, and I realized I could have left certain details out.

  I walked to the door. “I’m making you something to settle your stomach, and if you want a shower, feel free. You got pretty sick last night.” She had thrown up in my Jeep, and I had spent half the night at the car wash spraying it out. Thankfully, I had ripped out the carpet a long time ago, and the drain plugs were handy for just such things.

  I wasn’t sure she had heard me, but the water came on. I went back to the eggs, and when they were done, I pushed the lever on the toaster and set the level to two.

  She showered, taking more time than I thought she would, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she even wanted to be around me. I had brought her home to take care of her, but had that been a mistake? I didn’t know what I should be doing.

  She came out after a few minutes with a towel wrapped around her. Her long hair was wet and hanging down past her shoulders.

  “Where are my clothes?” she asked again.

  “I washed them. They are on the dresser. I thought you’d see them there. Although I must say, I like the towel look on you.” I offered a smile, and she turned around unamused and shut my bedroom door behind her.

  She was playing so cold to me that I must have done the wrong thing. “Breakfast is ready. I think you should eat something.”

  She came out dressed, staring down at her feet. “I don’t want it. Could you please take me home now?”

  “Not until you’ve had something to eat,” I said as her eyes filled with anger. “After, I will gladly take you home. And on the way, you can tell me why you downed a bunch of shots and nearly punched out a cheerleader.”

  “You mean your girlfriend? I can’t believe you protected her.”

  I stopped the fight so she wouldn’t kill that girl, but also so she wouldn’t get in trouble. “I wasn’t protecting her, and she’s not my girlfriend.”

  “You could have fooled me. You were taking body shots with her and chugging from the tap when I showed up. God knows what else would have happened.”

  “I was just celebrating, and they were giving everyone shots.” I wished she hadn’t seen it, and much more than that, I wished I hadn’t done it.

  “You did it because I left your stupid game, but you d
idn’t even ask me why.”

  “I’m sorry. But no, I wasn’t trying to do anything to you. I was just celebrating my win, and you weren’t there to see it. I was just upset you missed it. But you didn’t even stick around to tell me why. You turned into someone else instead.”

  “Yeah, and I got made fun of. Lesson learned. I looked like a fool in that makeup, and the hairstyle was just stupid too.”

  For a moment, I was puzzled, not sure why that mattered. But mostly, I didn’t want her to feel bad. “No, silly girl. You looked fucking fantastic. I think a lot of those guys saw you in a whole different light, but you got wasted and turned into a sloppy drunk who was trying to start a fight.” I didn’t need that kind of drama while I was finishing the season.

  Maybe Coach was right?

  “You really think I was beautiful like that?”

  She just didn’t get it. And probably never would. “Are you kidding? You’re always beautiful to me no matter what, but damn, I didn’t know you ever dressed like that. You surprised me in a good way. And some of the things the other guys were saying, I spent half of the time you were getting drunk getting rid of Britany and her posse and defending your honor.”

  “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.” She sank to the nearest chair. She looked so small all of a sudden, and I found myself fighting the urge to hold her.

  “You didn’t. Everyone gets drunk and does some crazy shit. If that’s the worst you do, you’re good.”

  “You cooked for me?” She glanced over at the stove.

  “Yeah, you got really sick. I made you eat crackers last night, but you probably don’t remember that.”

  “No. Was that before or after you undressed me?”

  “After.” I smiled. She had been so giddy. It was fun taking care of her.

  “Did you see me?” She looked away.

  “Yeah.” I smiled bigger. “But I behaved myself.”

  I could hear the sigh from across the room as she got up to join me in the kitchen. My apartment was so small, it was like all of the rooms faded into the next, but she sat down with me at my little dining nook and looked at the food.