Play Nice (Make the Play Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

here like a lovesick fool, talking about Talia nonstop, calling her, going out with her, having her over.
    Sitting up straight, Grandpa shakes his head. “She seemed like such a sweet girl.”
    “Yeah, she did,” I agree. Glancing at Grandpa, my stomach twists, and I regret ever inviting Talia over. She’d eaten dinner here, talked to my grandpa, and helped my mom with dishes. Now her memory clings to my home, my place of solitude. It’s like I can’t get away from her, and it angers me further.
    The sound of the garage door opening catches my attention, and my head snaps up. A minute later, Mom steps into the house. She drops her purse and keys on the ground and exhales, dropping into a nearby chair.  Her hair is disheveled, her nurse’s uniform wrinkled. Even though she appears exhausted, she manages a broad smile. “How was your first day back, Hayes?”
    I throw Grandpa a quick warning look, and his subtle nod tells me he’ll cover for me. “It was great.” Mom doesn’t know that Talia and I broke up. She was working all through the weekend, and I didn’t want to burden her with it.
    “Good.” Her head rolls to the side. “What about your day?”
    “Fine.” Grandpa shrugs.
    Mom sighs. “Well, I’m going to go take a shower and change. Think of what you want for dinner. I’m ordering take out.”
    I nod, as she hoists herself out of her chair. She ambles over to me slowly, leans down and gently presses her lips to my forehead. Then she shuffles out of the room. After she’s gone, Grandpa turns to me, his eyes crinkled in concern.
    “I’m sorry Talia hurt you, Big Guy,” he says, as if there never was a break in our earlier conversation.
    “She didn’t hurt me,” I snap defensively.
    Grandpa gives me a pointed look, and I blow out a breath.
    “Sorry.” My gaze drops to my hands. “I just don’t wanna talk about her anymore.” Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
    Honestly, it’s a good thing she’s not dating Josh. At least now I don’t have to worry about running into her at my baseball games or practices. I’m not sure I can stomach watching them make out right in front of me again. I remember how angry Christian used to get when Emmy and Josh used to go at it after practice or before a game. It was different, because Emmy wasn’t his ex. She hadn’t cheated on him with Josh. It was sort of the opposite with them – Emmy cheated on Josh with Chris. But I get it. They had something real. They were in love. In fact, they still are. I’m not saying that cheating is ever right, but in their instance it’s forgivable. What Talia did to me isn’t. She betrayed me for no reason, and with a guy who’s an ass after I’d treated her so well. It doesn’t make any sense.
    I’m upset with Josh, but not like I am with Talia. This is what the guy does. I expect this from him. Besides, he was with Ashley, and their relationship was a joke.
    I pause, recalling the sad look on Ashley’s face this morning when I found her sitting in her car, appearing lost and vulnerable. My stomach knots, and I wonder once again if I’ve misjudged her. Then the memory of the words she said about me to Talia come flooding back, and I realize that she’s exactly who I think she is. I may have wanted to believe the best about her. I may have felt a moment of compassion towards her. We may have even had a second where we connected, or at the very least we got along. But it doesn’t mean anything. She’s precisely who she’s always been.
    And I’m better off without her.

ASHLEY
     
     
    “Heather!” I call as I round the corner heading toward the cafeteria. Students whizz past me, smelling of deodorant and BO. A few feet in front of me Heather stops, pivoting. I skid to halt and smile. “Hey.”
    But she doesn’t return my smile. Her lips remain in a hard line, her eyes narrowing. She crosses her arms over her chest, and my insides coil. Heather and I have been friends for years. I mean, not like besties