The Playmaker (A Big Play Novel Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

across my cheek and sniff, squeezing my eyes shut to stop the tears from falling. High school has changed Colt—I’m not blind. I guess I was just hoping that the tenderhearted kid I used to play with in fifth grade was still in there somewhere.
    Obviously not.
     

 
    #6:
    The Girl’s Got Curves
     
    Colt
     
    The look on Tori’s face before she spun and walked away from me is torture. She looked crestfallen, on the verge of tears. I caused that, and I want to take my butter knife and shove it into my belly.
    But, come on, I’m doing her a favor, right?
    There’s no way Mack would ever fall for her, and I don’t want to see her get hurt. Wouldn’t it be worse to string her along and get her hopes up only to crush her later? I’m doing her a favor.
    So why do I feel so bad?
    I look over my shoulder to see if I can spot her. She dashed out of sight and I haven’t seen her since. I’m hoping when she comes back to take our order I can give her a friendly smile and try to make her feel better. How can I make her understand that she won’t fit into Mack’s world? She’s not a football girl; she’s the daughter of Nelson’s candle-making, soap-creating hippie. She’ll never be one of us, and I would never put her in a position where she’d feel like a total loser. I know that feeling too well to inflict it on anybody else.
    No, brushing her off now is simply keeping her safe.
    I nod, happy with my argument, then notice Mack and Tyler walk through the door. Finn lumbers in behind them two seconds later. A wide grin spreads over my face as my security net approaches the table and chases away my earlier doubts.
    “Sup, Trigger.” Finn flops down beside me while Mack and Tyler slide around the other side of the booth.
    I pound his fist and lift my chin—enough to tell him I’m all good.
    Mack picks up a menu and flips it open, scanning the pictures and looking thoughtful. He’s got this thing about always trying to order something different off the menu. Unlike me, he’s adventurous with food.
    “Is there anything on this menu you haven’t had, bro?” Tyler nudges him. “You’re going to have to start doing a repeat at some point.”
    Mack ignores his friend, his dark eyebrows dipping as he scours the thing for something he hasn’t tasted before. His frown deepens the longer he looks, and we soon start laughing at him.
    He slaps the menu closed and slides it away as Amy Briggs approaches. She has a notepad in her hand and gives us a polite, professional smile when she stops at the table.
    “Where’s Tori?” I blurt the question before I can even think and score three confused looks from the guys around me. “She was serving before,” I mumble, like a lame explanation can somehow cover my obvious surprise and disappointment.
    Amy’s pale brown eyes flick to mine. Her gaze is sharp and all-knowing. Why do girls have to tell each other everything? Now I feel even worse. Tori is too upset to serve our table anymore. I’m such an asshole.
    “Bathroom.” Amy gives me a tight smile to hide her obvious lie, then pulls a pen from her apron and clicks it on. “You guys ready to order?”
    “Four Summer Sizzlers, please.” Mack sighs and the guys snicker. Tyler lightly punches his arm while Amy gives us a you guys are idiots look.
    “Anything to drink?”
    Tyler raises his fingers. “Yeah, a Coke for me.”
    “Dude, seriously? That stuff can be used as toilet cleaner.” Finn frowns at him, then turns back to Amy with a charming smile. “We’ll stick with ice water, thanks.”
    “You know I actually have two parents.” Tyler lifts two fingers at Finn, then lowers his pointer so only the middle one is left standing.
    Mack laughs at the insult.
    Amy rolls her eyes and walks away.
    “Thank you, Amy,” Finn calls after her, a wide smile dominating his long, narrow face. Everything about the guy is elongated, from the top of his short, black Afro to the bottom of his big, clown feet. It makes him a