Playing the Game: Providence University Book 6

by Parker, Ali

  “I don’t know. Being held by you while I sleep sounds pretty good right now.” I didn’t care where I was as long as I was with him.

  Chapter 20

  Seth

  The hardest thing I had done in a long time was leaving Avery in that hospital to go and play a game. Rugby had been everything to me until she came along, and now, it just didn’t mean as much. I still wanted my victory, but I was finding it hard to focus on much else.

  After the first half of the game, we were down, and I was getting a lot of flak from Motor and Carver, which had me even more pissed off. Now wasn’t the time to fuck with me, but I told myself to imagine Avery in the stands cheering me on, and maybe things would be okay.

  After I missed a kick for a score, I fell to my knees and punched the grass. It sure felt good to my anger but didn’t do much good for the game.

  Coach caught me off the field. “This is why I said to leave the girl alone, son. You’re so mixed up with emotions about that accident that you can’t even kick a damn ball!”

  “You screaming at me isn’t helping shit, either,” I said.

  “Oh, it isn’t? Well, maybe I should put someone else in who isn’t so sensitive.”

  “My head hurts,” I said, reminding him that I was playing his stupid game while barely recovered from a fucking concussion.

  Coach took a deep breath. “I need you on that field, son, and I need you to focus. I know you’ve had a rough week, but you said she was awake now, so go out there and play that game for her.”

  “Yes, sir, Coach!” I took a deep breath, knowing he was right. I had a job to do, and I had to put my emotions behind me no matter how hard it was to stop thinking about her being lonely in the hospital and put the other team out of their misery so I’d be out of mine.

  I went back to the field, got into position, and ruled the next play. I scored a three-pointer and turned to look at my coach in the eye. He was busy clapping and returning the hard look.

  But I would regret my smugness after the next play failed. I ended up missing again, this time an important pass, which made it all worse since I’d yelled at Carver and Motor for doing the same thing.

  Coach pulled me off the field. “You better focus. We are so close to this opportunity being a reality, and you’re the one who is going to lose it for everyone.”

  “I overdid it. I’m still sore from the wreck.”

  “I don’t want your sob story, son. I told you not to get involved, and maybe if you had listened, she wouldn’t be in the hospital to begin with.”

  I felt the sting of his words strike me so hard, it was as if my father had backhanded me, and coming from a man I loved and trusted, it was just too much. I went into defense mode and struck out, knocking my coach on his ass with the force of one punch to the jaw.

  The rest of the team came crowding around to come to his aid and hold me off.

  Paul pulled me away. “They just threw you out,” he said. I was too angry to know what was going on. “You’re done.”

  I was more than done. I couldn’t believe someone I had actually respected could talk to me like that after all I’d been through.

  I stormed off the field and went to the locker room to gather my things. I needed a ride out. I wasn’t about to take the bus back to the university and would pay someone if I had to.

  But when I came out of the back, I found Will Tanner was standing by the door when I came out.

  “Hey, I saw what happened. I wouldn’t go back out there.”

  “I’m not. I’m going home.”

  “Do you need a ride? I was just about to head back. There’s a big party tonight. I know you’ve missed a few.”

  “And I’ll miss a few more. But I’ll take that ride if you’re sure that’s okay.”

  “Yeah, sure, man.” Will waved me on, and I followed him to his truck.

  He was quiet at first, but once we got on the road, he made small talk. “Man, that was some punch. Great form. What happened out there?”

  I glanced over and could tell by his genuine smile he was impressed. “He mouthed off, and I didn’t have to put up with that shit.” I wasn’t going to put up with Will’s either, even if he was giving me a ride. I wasn’t in the mood for chatter and wished he’d just drive the truck and shut his fucking mouth.

  But he kept on. “Coaches do that, man. You know, I’ve offered to let you spar. It would do wonders for your temper and give you an outlet for your anger.”

  “I don’t have anger until someone does or says something that pisses me off. He was out of line. I took care of it.”

  “Right, well, you are the one they kicked from the game.”

  “Yeah, I take a lot of blame. I’m good with it. It’s not like I was doing the team any good anyway. Hell, Coach probably baited me anyway.”

  “You do realize how weird that sounds, right?”

  “A lot of things sound weird, but people don’t want to hear the truth. They want to process what they hear into something they can believe.”

  “You mean those rumors about you?”

  “Yeah, just like that. Not that it matters now. Avery and I are together, and that’s all in the past.”

  “Until you get angry again?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” It almost sounded as if he thought I’d take my anger out on Avery.

  “Well, it’s just that girls in your presence seem to have a way of getting hurt.”

  “I never laid a hand on Layla, and you can ask her for all I care, so if that’s what you mean, you’re out of line.”

  “Come on. We’ve all seen the arguments, the fights, the verbal abuse. But hey, I’m not perfect. I’m just saying you should focus that anger. I’m the one who can help you do that.”

  “You’re focusing it, all right.” At himself. I thought it was time to explain what happened before this guy put his foot in his mouth much further. “Coach had the nerve to tell me that if I had listened to him and left Avery alone, she wouldn’t be in the hospital right now. Like I need to hear that. It’s like saying since I’m into her, she’s automatically in for a rough time. It’s bullshit. I care about her.”

  “She’s hot, but shit, you have a ton of hot girls on your jock every fucking weekend. This girlfriend shit will get old, won’t it?”

  “No, the party shit is what got old. I saw how Layla moved on, and I wanted that too. Avery is the girl for me. I’m not even tempted.”

  “Dude, how? You have the cheerleaders and half the other girls at Pro-U willing to go on their knees for you.”

  I laughed. He just didn’t get it. “Yeah, half of them have been.”

  “Damn, you should get tested,” said Will, giving me his goofy laugh. He was just fucking around and making small talk, so I tried to lighten up a bit.

  “Funny.”

  “So, let’s compare notes. We’re bound to have been with some of the same girls.”

  “Maybe. And now that I think of it, maybe I should get tested.”

  “Funny,” he said, repeating what I’d said in a mocking tone. “Have you ever been with Lizzy?”

  “Who hasn’t?”

  “She gives the best head, doesn’t she?”

  “Not the best,” I said. I wasn’t sure why I was engaging in the conversation, but as long as he wasn’t saying anything offending, I didn’t care.

  “Seriously? She has no gag reflex and can take it to the balls.”

  “Maybe she can take yours that deep, but not mine.” I laughed, mostly just ribbing him. Lizzy was like a fucking black hole. She could suck you in from both ends. “I’m over all that. I saw how happy other people were settling down, and I decided that’s what I wanted.”

  “I’d have to find the right girl. Until then, with you not around to poach pussy from the Omegas, I’m going to get as much as I can.”

  “And I give you my blessing, man. You’ll have it easy with that bunch.”

  “What about Britany? She’s still hung up on you, you kno
w? She’s telling everyone she’s going to get you back.”

  “I’m off the market,” I told him. “I’ve turned her down for months. She sucked me off once, and now she thinks she owns me. I don’t need it. She’s a stage-five clinger.”

  “She’s a nice girl, though. And you have to admit she’s hot.”

  “She’s hot, but she’s short and mouthy too.”

  “See, I never mind a mouthy girl. I figure just keep it busy, and you don’t have to listen to them.”

  “That’s one way,” I said with a laugh. He had a really odd attitude for someone who was worried about my anger issues. I knew Will had an addiction problem and had really fucked up in the past. I thought it was Dillon who had befriended him and helped him out, but I decided to leave that conversation for another time. Maybe I’d ask Dillon about him myself.

  As we made it back into town, I couldn’t stand the small talk anymore. “Do you think you could just drop me at the hospital? I could get a ride home from there, but I really want to see Avery.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea after what happened? Don’t you think that will upset her?”

  I wondered for a moment if he could be right, but I decided to take my chances. “Nah, it’s fine. I’m not going to burden her or anything. I just want to see her.”

  “Oh, okay. I’m going to stop for gas first if that’s cool.”

  I reached into my wallet and pulled out a twenty. “Here, take this and put it in the tank.”

  “Thanks, man.” Will pulled into the nearest station, and when he got out to go in and pay, I noticed he had taken out his phone. He took his time in the store and even talked while pumping the gas.

  He got off of the call before he got in the car. “Okay, so, I guess I’m taking you to the hospital,” he said as if he had suddenly changed his attitude about it.

  “Did you call Dillon?” I had a suspicion he was checking up on me.

  Will shrugged. “Hey, I’m not trying to cause issues, but Dillon is my friend, and if Clara doesn’t want you around Avery, I have to be on their side.”

  I laughed. “Are you into her?”

  “Who, Avery?”

  “Yeah, Avery. You’ve been pushing other girls, trying to feel me out, and now you’re checking in to make sure it’s okay I go to the hospital. I’ve been there most of the week with her and the family, including Clara.” I thought all of this was behind me. “Did Clara or Dillon put you up to this?”

  “No, man. I was just looking out for my friends. Nothing more.”

  “Got it,” I said. “And what did Dillon say?”

  “He said it was cool and that you had been there most of the week.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought he said.” I rolled my eyes and eased back in my seat. When was everyone going to get off of my back about the past?

  Will drove me to the hospital and dropped me off at the front entrance. “Thanks for the ride,” I said before I shut the door. I didn’t have a whole lot to say to him and still thought there was something fishy going on with the guy.

  Clara was downstairs in the cafeteria waiting in line. “Hey,” she called. “Are you already back from the game? I thought it wouldn’t be until later.”

  “I left early.” I didn’t want to tell her I had a spat with the coach or that I had hit him in the face.

  “Well, Avery sent me down for some food. She hasn’t stopped eating since she woke up. I swear they took out her spleen and gave her an extra stomach.”

  We shared a laugh. “But at least that means she’s getting her strength back.”

  “Yeah,” she said. I hoped I hadn’t hit a sore spot with her. “That reminds me. I just wanted to thank you for helping her with the blood donation. It really means a lot that you care about her. And I know you don’t need it, but you have my blessing to see her if that even means anything.”

  “It does.”

  “Good.”

  “Do you want me to help you carry some of this stuff back?” I took the tray from her, making it easier to hold their drinks. She had already gotten their food but still needed to pay.

  “Yeah, but you should get you something while you’re here.”

  “Nah, I’m good. I don’t have much of an appetite at the moment.”

  “I know how that is,” she said with a big smile as if making fun of herself. She was actually really nice now that I had gotten to spend a week with her at Avery’s bedside.

  “So, Will Tanner dropped me off. He had to call Dillon for permission first.”

  Clara laughed. “He means well.”

  “That’s what I keep telling myself.” I didn’t let her know that I wasn’t so sure about that.

  Chapter 21

  Avery

  While Seth was at his game, I had another visitor show up.

  Abi sat at the foot of my bed, painting my toenails. “You’re going to love this color,” she said. “It lasts forever.”

  “And it’s crazy expensive. Clara was telling me about it. She went to pick some up and changed her mind when she saw the price.” I had noticed that Abi had a lot of quality makeup and was surprised by the prices of the few things I’d purchased. Thankfully, I had a couple of unused gift cards my father had sent to me on my last birthday.

  “Yeah, I guess so. You can have this one if you want. I can pick up another.” She talked like it wasn’t a big deal, and while I had always figured she had some money, I was beginning to wonder just how much wealth she came from.

  “That’s okay. You can keep it. I don’t paint my toenails much anyway.”

  “You have to at least paint your toes.”

  “It’s not like anyone else ever sees them.”

  “Hello? Seth might see them.”

  “I keep my feet looking nice. I just don’t like polish.” I didn’t see how it could be a big deal. “Anyway, I’m glad you came. I’ve wanted to offer you Clara’s old room. I need a roommate now that she’s moved in with Dillon, and I thought you might want to come live with me instead of the dorms.”

  She shrugged her shoulder. “I’m kind of tough to live with.”

  “Your roommate never has any problems.”

  “Actually, I don’t have a roommate. She bailed on me a while back. My parents paid her to keep her mouth shut about the reason why, but since you want me to move in with you and we’re friends, I guess I should tell you.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “I have a few problems. I know I might seem normal, but medication helps with that. If I get off of it, which tends to happen now and then, I get a little unbearable.”

  “It can’t be that bad.”

  “Oh, it is. I wanted to live in the dorm to get the full college experience and to try to be a bit normal. But my parents have been at me to get my own place. Especially when they had to bribe my roomy to keep her yap shut about my little problem.” She took a deep breath. “I’m bipolar.”

  “But you stay on your meds, and I could help you with that.” I didn’t know anyone else I would want to come and live with me.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I just don’t know right now. I’m doing good, I’m making good grades, and I’ve got things the way I want them in my place.”

  “I understand.” I didn’t want to push her.

  “But the other residents really hate my music.” She sighed. “I’ll think about it. It might be fun.”

  “Okay, just let me know. It’s no rush.”

  About that time, Clara returned with nothing but a couple of drinks. “You will never guess who I found lurking around the cafeteria.”

  “Do I want to know?” I asked as Seth poked his head around the corner.

  “Hey, what are you doing back in town? You should be at the game.”

  “It ended a bit early for me.”

  I could already tell by his expression it wasn’t good. “Did you get tossed out?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Fighting?” I held my breath and waited for an explanati
on.

  “Yes. But I had a good reason, and I’d do it again.”

  “Was I the reason?”

  “Yeah. Can you think of a better one?”

  I sank in my bed. “Oh, Seth, I’m sorry. I swore I wouldn’t get in the way of the game, and I did.”

  Seth shook his head, put my food tray on the table, and pushed it over my bed. “You aren’t to blame. I only said you’re the reason. There’s a difference. I’m to blame, and as I said, I’d do it again. Coach has been rough on me all year, and he just pushed it too far.”

  “Wait, you hit Coach Carr?” I couldn’t believe it. He had not only gotten kicked out of the game but possibly off of the team too.

  “I wouldn’t have come here if I had known you’d be so upset.”

  “How could I not be?”

  Abi looked at Clara. “I think we should give them a little space. I saw a table in the hall.” She hopped up and closed the nail-polish bottle as Clara took their food and hit the door.

  “I’m not upset, babe. I actually feel okay with it. He said if I hadn’t gotten with you in the first place, there would have been no accident.”

  “Well, now I want to hit him,” I said. “You know it’s not your fault.”

  “I know. I still wish I could have stopped it, but I know I’m not to blame, and that just hit me the wrong way. I’m sorry I let my temper get the best of me. I don’t want you to be disappointed in me.”

  “I’m not,” I said, waving him closer. “Kiss me.”

  He took the suggestion and kissed me with so much passion that my toes curled. I hoped the polish was dry, but even if it wasn’t, it was worth it.

  “Stay with me?”

  “Of course. I don’t have anywhere else I’d rather be.”

  Just when he kissed me again, we heard a deep sound as Dr. Samson, who took out my spleen, cleared his throat. “Pardon me,” he said. “Your sister said it was okay to come in.”

  Clara peeked around from behind him, giving a little wave. “Sorry,” she whispered. I could tell she didn’t mean it.