Playing the Game: Providence University Book 6

by Parker, Ali

  “Seth didn’t hit her.” I would never believe it. No one, not even Clara, could make me believe that. “Seth may have a temper, but he’s never raised his hand at me.”

  “I saw the bruises that Layla had, and everyone knew they were having problems.”

  “You believe a lot of bullshit, Clara. I just can’t buy into that. How do you know they weren’t from sports or something else?”

  “It was obvious, Avery. It’s easy to put two and two together.”

  “Well, I like Seth, and I want to give it a try. You being good with my decisions was important to me. Hell, I’ve always tried to seek your approval and make you proud of my choices, but I think it’s time that I go my own way on this one. It’s time I trust my own judgment and follow my own happiness.”

  Clara shook her head. “Avery, that’s not always the right thing. If anyone is living proof of that, it’s me. I’ve tried to do things my way and look at me.”

  I couldn’t say anything to that and not offend her, but then, I didn’t really have to defend my actions to anyone. I wasn’t my sister, and I was determined to get what I wanted.

  As I left her apartment, Clara followed me to the door. “You do what you want, but be ready for the ‘told you so’ that comes with it.”

  Chapter 8

  Seth

  Practice was growing increasingly brutal as we neared the championships. Coach Carr’s whistle echoed in my ears by the time it was over, and I hoped I didn’t have a permanent case of tinnitus.

  As we walked into the locker room, I stripped off my shirt. It was grass stained and sweat soaked like me.

  As I turned toward my locker, I heard a voice over the idle chatter of my teammates. “Yeah, it would have gone better if someone didn’t have their head up Avery Russell’s ass.”

  I didn’t have to turn around to know who was talking shit about Avery and me again, but I did anyway, just so he would know I heard it. I was sure that was the whole point of Carver saying it, and if he wanted my attention, he was going to get it.

  “If you have something to say about Avery and me, you can say it to me. And if you’d stop worrying about my relationships, maybe you wouldn’t suck on the field.”

  Carver’s lips peeled back to show his yellow teeth. “How about you suck it, you piece of shit? You’re the one who is going to cost us our championship with your head in the clouds and your mind up her skirt. And before you go and make it like she’s the world to you, I know you were at Omega House trolling again.”

  “Yeah, and I’m pretty sure who is telling you my every move.” I shook my head. “If you want to stalk me, why don’t you at least be a man about it and not use your spies? And if they knew anything about what I was doing there, they’d know better than to accuse me of doing anything wrong.”

  Motor spoke up. “We know who you were doing, and it wasn’t Avery Russell. She probably doesn’t even know you were there. Maybe she should, though.”

  I had nothing to hide, but the last thing I needed was more rumors getting me into trouble.

  Paul came in just as I stepped up to stand toe to toe with the asshole. “Whoa!” he said, getting between us. “Coach is just outside. What the fuck are you doing?”

  “He’s got a hang-up about my love life,” I said. “I’m beginning to think Motormouth here is jealous and wants to fuck me. He’s even got his bitch Carver stalking me.”

  Carver lunged forward and swung his fist in my direction. “I’ll show you who is whose bitch!”

  I ducked the punch and came up swinging. I wasn’t about to be taken out by these assholes. And sure enough, Motor, who was famous for not fighting his own battles aside from dropping passes on the court, took a swing as well.

  His fist connected with my ribs, but I was used to worse from my old man. I gave him the Mills uppercut, and once my fist hit his chin, his eyes went back in his head, and he fell to the floor.

  Coach Carr came in about that time, with all of the whooping and hollering, and blew his fucking whistle again. “Seth! Motor! Carver! Paul! My office now!”

  We all turned to look at the floor, and when Coach noticed that Motor was knocked out but coming around, he looked at Carver. “Drag his ass with you.”

  It wasn’t often that Coach wanted to see us in the office as he usually wanted to take out his wrath with an audience in the locker room. If it had come to be behind closed doors, we were all in for it.

  I led the way, knowing it so well, my feet had worn a path. I went down the hall and turned into his office, which was full of sports memorabilia and Coach’s old team photos. He followed us all the way, curses flowing from his lips like a running faucet as he helped Carver, who led a half-conscious Motor to the office with us.

  Once the door was shut, he spun around and unloaded. “What in Sam Hell is going on with you young men? I have had fewer problems with a bunch of fucking high schoolers, and if you don’t win this next championship, I’ll probably end up coaching back there again. Now I want you to put whatever petty grudges you have against each other aside and worry about the fucking game. And I mean it. You are all on probation, and if I have one more disruption from any of you, if you step out of line in any way, you’re off the team!”

  “Yes, Coach,” we said in unison.

  I turned to see that Motor was alert and holding his jaw. At least I hadn’t killed the bastard.

  “Now that I have your attention, do I even want to know what the problem is?” He looked at all of us and turned to Paul. “I know you didn’t have anything to do with how it started, so why don’t you tell me what you were doing mixed up in it?”

  Paul shrugged a shoulder. “Just trying to stop them from killing each other, Coach. I didn’t think you wanted to play a game while missing your best players.”

  “Best players?” asked Coach with a laugh. “If that’s the truth, maybe I should go and apply down at the local high school right now. Isn’t that a sad fucking truth? Tomorrow’s game is shaping up to be a real shit show.”

  “He’s not so innocent,” said Motor, who was still holding his chin. “He was there egging him on. And that bastard?” He pointed at me. “He knocked me out. I think my tooth is loose.”

  “I’ll go ahead and save you the dental trip if you want,” I said, palming my fist.

  “That’s enough, Seth. Why is it that every single time there is a problem, you’re at the center of it? I swear you make me regret that I made you captain.”

  Carver cleared his throat. I glanced at him, and he smirked. “I thought you’d want to know that Seth is not listening to you about Avery Russell.”

  I knew that fucker was going to rat me out.

  “Yeah, he’s putting his dick before the whole team,” said Motor.

  “There you go again, Motor, worried about my dick. If I let you touch it, will you leave me the fuck alone?”

  Motor lunged only to be caught by Carver, but I didn’t flinch.

  “With all due respect, Coach, you can’t stop me from talking to someone,” I said. “Especially when she helps me and makes me a better person.”

  Coach gave me a hard look. “She can make you a better person after championships. Now, that’s not an order, and you’re right. I can’t make you stop seeing her, but I can replace you as captain if you’re not focused.”

  I could tell he was disappointed in me. “If it’s what you have to do, do it, but I’m going to give it my all with or without her in my life. But I need them off my back. You there is bad enough.”

  “Oh? You want to talk smart, do you? You’ll know when I’m on your back.”

  “All I’m saying is that they are starting to make trouble, and I don’t need that. I won’t put up with it either.”

  “Well, you’re their captain. Get them back in line!” Coach was so angry he was turning bright red.

  “I believe I just did.” I turned and walked to the door. “And if he keeps on, I’ll do it again. Team or no team, game or not, I’ve had enough o
f people trying to control me in my life.”

  I walked out and shut the door. Paul came out behind me.

  “Well said, Seth. That’s bullshit. He made the problem, and you have to deal with it. If he’d stop creating conflicts, they wouldn’t have anything to be on your ass about.”

  “And he’s not going to like the way I deal with it. But I’m tired of everyone thinking they can be in my business, including him.” I went back to my locker, knowing I needed some time to cool my head.

  I was shocked that Coach didn’t come after me. But after my shower, I walked out to find that the rest of the guys had cleared out.

  Coach Carr was standing by my locker. “That was a pretty good punch,” he said. “You would make a hell of a boxer. In fact, I’m not sure why you didn’t go into that instead. God knows you have the experience.”

  “Because I love rugby. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. You know that. And I was taught that I should do what I love.”

  “Well, you do listen to me? Imagine that. And I’m glad you’re up for the challenge because I need you.”

  “I know you’re counting on me, Coach.” He had put so much pressure on me that I was beginning to feel smothered. “I’m not trying to let you down.”

  “I’m not a young man, Seth. I’ve only got a few more years to obtain my goals and dreams before I have to retire, and yes, all that talk about the high-school teams was not a joke. I don’t want to end my career that way. I can’t tell you what to do, but I can ask if you’ll do it.”

  “Avery and I are just starting to talk again. I’m not sure where it’s going, but I have this under control. I won’t let it get in the way.”

  “Go home and get some rest for a change. From what I hear, all you do is party and fuck everything with tits. I’m counting on you tomorrow, son.”

  My chest felt a heavy weight each and every time he called me son. He had been more like a father to me than my own father, and while he was tougher in many ways, the difference was I respected the hell out of my coach.

  “Yes, sir. I gave you my word. I’m not letting anything get in the way of the game. Not this time.” And I meant it too. “Avery isn’t going to be a problem. I promise.”

  “I’m just scared you won’t see it. You used to say the same thing to me about Layla. I saw how bad it was with you losing Bryan, son. And you lost Layla by acting out over that loss. I know you’re better now, but I don’t want to go through another season of your mood swings. I gave you time to heal. Stop doing things that could lead to picking old wounds.”

  “As I said, it won’t be that way. And I’ve learned a lot since Layla. I don’t want to be like my father. I have better people in my life I look up to.” I didn’t want to tell him how much I looked up to him. Or that he was the man I wanted to be like and was probably more like than my own father. But I felt he knew it. I sighed and said it again. “She won’t be a problem.”

  He gave me a regretful look. “From what I hear, she already is. It’s a hard choice, but if it’s meant to be, she’ll be there after you’re done with the season. Think it over. I’m trusting you.” He got up from the bench and turned to give me a hard look. “Don’t make me regret putting my faith in your talent above the others.”

  I felt another punch in the gut with the thought of regrets. My own father regretted having me. He had a son who he loved more than life, and when my brother Bryan was taken away, he was lost without him. Lost to the point that he had told my uncle that if God had to take one of his sons, he wished it had been me. He didn’t know I was listening, and I later found out that he had treated my mother so badly for all of my life because he never thought I was really his. Turned out, he was wrong. And by the time it was proven I was his, it was too late.

  My brother had so much promise that I had been the disappointment long before I ever played sports. Once I found my niche in something and actually succeeded enough to get a scholarship to Providence University, my father had decided that I might be worth something after all. I was the only thing he had left.

  Too bad I was already done being his son.

  During my senior year, I met Coach Carr, who offered me the scholarship to Providence University. He’d been interested in me since my glory days in high school and been to more games than my own mother and father.

  Bryan, my older brother, was the only other person who had really pushed me to be my best, and when I lost him, Coach cut me some slack that season, but he wasn’t so good about me letting my grief return over Layla.

  And now he was worried I’d let Avery be the same kind of emotional distraction.

  He got up without another word and went back to his office. I finished up in the locker room and headed out to my Jeep, only to find that Avery had stayed behind to wait on me.

  “Wow, you’re late,” she said.

  I guessed with Coach’s words and all of the conflicts in the locker room, I wasn’t that glad to see her. I didn’t want to give them any room to be right. “Was I supposed to be here sooner?” Aside from all of that, I didn’t want a girl who expected me to be where she wanted me to be at all times.

  She gave me a look. “Of course not. I just meant that everyone else has been gone for a while.”

  “Well, you didn’t have to wait on me,” I said. I felt myself growing frustrated, but I didn’t know why. I turned and looked over my shoulder, hoping Coach and the others weren’t watching me choose her over the game. I felt a sting in my gut that I couldn’t stop the thoughts, even though I didn’t want to agree with them.

  “I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.” She was so sweet and cheerful. “I missed you.”

  I felt a tug in my chest that had always bothered me. “You just saw me, and we’ve talked. It’s not like you’ve had time to miss me.” I didn’t want her to be the type of girl to overdramatize everything either.

  She’s not like that. She’s different.

  “It must mean something because it’s true. I do miss you.” She reached for my hand, and I busied myself, putting my bag in my Jeep instead of letting her.

  “It’s been a rough practice,” I said, keeping my hands on my bag.

  She grabbed my hand with a worried look on her face. “What happened to your knuckles?” They were bruised, and one had a split that kept trickling blood.

  “It’s nothing. I just punched Motor in the face and knocked him out.” She may as well know what kind of guy she was dealing with.

  “Motor, is that the big guy?” she asked with a smile. “I’m sure whatever he did, he deserved it, right?”

  Her response surprised me. “Yeah, and it’s true.”

  She gave me a narrow look. “What’s true?”

  “Big guys do fall harder.”

  She giggled. “You’re not kidding. You really punched him out?”

  “Yeah, and while I’d love to sit around and impress you with the story, I should get home and ice my hand and get some rest for the game tomorrow. I’m on everyone’s shit list right now.”

  “Oh, well, I thought after our date that you’d want to go out again. I thought I could buy you a burger or something.”

  “I’m not that hungry.” A burger would be nice, but I couldn’t be seen with her in town with everyone on my back. It would be more ammunition for them, and I knew it would upset Coach.

  “Really? Wow, I’m always starved after practice.”

  I looked at her lips and thought about kissing them and watching her eat. She was even sexy with a fork in her mouth, which was a look that most women couldn’t pull off. It made me want to put other things in her mouth too, but I wasn’t in the mood for anyone who was playing hard to get.

  “I should go, Avery. I’m not good company, and I have a game tomorrow. I’m just going to go home and rest.” If I put my all into the game and proved I could do it, maybe Coach would get off of my back a little.

  I hated looking away from her, but I knew if I looked at her much longer, especially that lo
ok of disappointment that I knew was my fault, I was going to cave, and I needed to do a little playing hard to get of my own for the sake of the team and the game.

  She gave a slight nod. “Okay, sure. Call me.” She gave me a hopeful look, and instead of going in for a kiss on the cheek, she got in her car and shut the door.

  It seemed like I was destined to sabotage my relationships, and I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t just have a normal one for a change. I didn’t want to be the kind of guy to let others dictate my life, but they could certainly influence it. I had people I couldn’t let down.

  As she started the car and drove away, I got a sinking feeling inside that was only going to get worse without her.

  Chapter 9

  Avery

  “Avery?”

  My head came around from being lost in thought. “Yeah, I’m sorry.”

  Abi sat across from me in the donut shop with an apple-filled and one coconut-cream in front of her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I’m just a little out of it, is all.” I waved it off and went back to looking at my phone.

  “You seriously were just asleep. I called your name like four times, and you had your eyes closed and your mouth hung open like a beluga whale. It wasn’t your best look, but thank God, we’re the only people in this place.”

  “Everyone else is probably still at the game.” My chest ached picturing Seth in his muscled glory playing harder than anyone I’d ever seen. “He looked good on the field, didn’t he?”

  Abi sighed. “Yes, and we left to get donuts just when it was getting good.” She picked at the topping and wiped it on her napkin. “I think I’m going to have a sugar buzz by the time we go to the party tonight.”

  “Party? What party?” I hadn’t even thought about the fact that after every game, there was a Win or Lose party.

  “The victory party, duh. Look.” She held out her phone and showed me the score. “There’s no way they can catch them now.”