The Playmaker (A Big Play Novel Book 1) (17 page)

#33:

Playing Pretend

Tori

I stand in front of the mirror, swiveling from side to side.

Man, this dress is tight.

Tugging on the edges, I pull it down a little, but the second I let go, the fabric creeps back up my thighs. I tip on my new heels. I used the last of my savings to buy them this morning.

No, do not ask me how much they cost.

But they are gorgeous. They have a pointed toe, which is kind of pinching, and they’re making me like four inches taller. Hopefully, I won’t snap my ankle tonight. I could really do without that drama. I’m nervous enough as it is.

Brushing a finger beneath my lips, I lean toward the mirror to double-check my eyeliner. It took forever to makeup my face. I spent nearly an hour watching YouTube clips on how to get my eye shadow right. I wear a little makeup, but never go all out like I am tonight. You can’t even see my freckles. They’re buried beneath a thick layer of foundation.

I seriously do not look like me.

But this is it.

This night has to count, so it’s been worth the day getting myself as close to perfection as humanly possible.

When Colt sees me tonight, he’s not going to know what to do with himself. Of course, I’m relying on the fact he will have worked out I lied about going with Mack. Once he realizes I have, he’ll try to figure out why. I’ll show up looking smokin’ hot and approach him with the truth.

He’s a smart guy. Surely he’ll be able to look back over the last few weeks and see through all my lame stories and excuses. He’ll know I was after him the whole time, and if I’m lucky, he’ll give me one of his slow smiles and we can repeat our kiss in the empty classroom.

Am I dreaming?

A small voice in the back of my head keeps reminding me that Colt might not be interested, but it’s outshouted by the desperate voice that keeps assuring me all the awesome times Colt and I have spent together must have meant something. Plus there’s the way he checked me out in the clothing store. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced he must have been attracted to me…even if it’s only a little, maybe it’ll be enough.

Besides, I’m going to act exactly like Michelle did last night, and he was all over her.

This has to work.

I’m taking away the final barrier between us.

“It’s gonna be awesome.” I look in the mirror and repeat the statement I’ve been muttering all day. It’s supposed to be making me feel better. I’m sure it will eventually.

Someone knocks on my door and I let out a little gasp.

“Uh, just a second.”

I thought my parents had left already. I scramble to my closet in search of my bathrobe. I haven’t lied to them. They didn’t actually ask what I’m up to tonight. They were too busy smiling at each other. It’s their wedding anniversary, and Dad has taken a rare night off to drive Mom into the city for a classy meal at their favorite restaurant. It’s perfect timing, actually. I don’t really want Mom questioning my choice of attire.

I thought I’d gotten away with it, but—

“It’s Amy.”

My shoulders relax and I drop the bathrobe on the floor. “Come in.”

The door creaks open and a wide smile grows on my lips. Amy’s not even through the door when she sees me. She jolts to a stop and her lips part, a look of horror morphing her pretty features.

“Okay, what have you done with my friend Tori?”

I laugh and run my hand down my arm, suddenly aware of how naked my fingers and wrists feel. What am I supposed to fidget with when I get nervous?

“What are you wearing?” Her voice pitches.

“A dress.” I giggle.

Her pale eyebrows rise. “Are you sure it’s not just a fancy belt?”

“Amy, come on. Do you like it?”

“It’s…it’s short.” Her lips purse and she tips her head.

“That’s it? Short?”

She steps into the room and tries to smile, but her lips form a wonky line instead. “I’m sorry, I’m just not used to seeing you dressed like this. With the makeup and the shoes and I…I don’t recognize you.”

“That’s the whole point! Now, do I look hot? Do I look like I could be a cheerleader?”

Amy’s shoulders slump with a sigh and she reluctantly nods.

I raise my chin against her serious lack of enthusiasm and tug on the side of my dress. “Good. Well, I know you have work so you can’t come, but I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Don’t do this,” she whispers.

A tendon in my neck pings tight as I sniff and cross my arms. “I have to.”

“No, you don’t.”

“It’s the only way to convince him I can fit into his world.”

“You shouldn’t have to fit into his world!” Amy’s voice rises out of nowhere. “You want someone who’s going to like you just the way you are. This isn’t you!” Her hand waves up and down as she points at my outfit.

My lips form a stubborn pout before I mutter, “I want it to be me.”

“Why?”

“Because I want him!” Okay, now
I’m
shouting.

“If you have to become someone you’re not to get his attention, then it’s not you he’ll be with. It’ll be an imitation of you. A very poor one. Don’t you get that?”

I blink at her harsh truth, my nostrils flaring.

“Tori, your honesty and color…your vibrancy, they’re some of the things I love most about you. And you’re hiding it all to try and get this guy. Please, stop playing pretend!”

“I like playing pretend!” I lean toward her, noticing that for the first time in history I’m actually taller than she is. “And I’m damn good at it!” I point to myself. “I compromise all the time to keep you happy, going to foreign films and getting my nails done so you can prattle on about politics and your world views. I have missed out on so many parties and events because you didn’t want to go. And the one time I try and do something for me, you won’t support me at all! Not once have you tried to encourage me with Colt, even after I told you how much I like him!”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt!”

“Best friends are supposed to support each other.”

“Not when they’re running head first into a fireball. I’ve been acting this way because I care about you.” She points to the window. “Which none of those guys do. You don’t even know them. All they care about is having a good time. Shallow relationships that don’t mean anything! That’s not who you are.”

“It’s who I want to be.”

“No, it’s not! You are being totally blinded by a stubborn obsession for Colt! It doesn’t even matter how he feels, he’s never going to go out with you. You want someone who will hold your hand in the corridor and call you his girlfriend. He’s not like that. You can’t change him!” She flicks her hands in the air and lets out a loud huff. “And for the record, I’ve never stopped you from going to anything.”

“But you never come with me.”

“That’s because I’m not afraid to be who I am and admit what I do and do not like.”

My lips twitch and tremble. “Well, I like this dress.” My voice is small and pathetic, pressed thin by the wicked lump in my throat. “And…and…I love going to parties.”

Amy rolls her eyes and walks to the door. “Then go to one.”

“I will!”

She snaps the door back and disappears into the hallway. I watch the wood bounce off my wall before slamming shut. I’m tempted to slump onto my bed and wrap my arms around my knees. Tears are burning my eyes, and if I don’t rein them in I’m going to have mascara running down my face. I snatch a tissue and dab beneath my lashes.

Amy and I hardly ever fight because I’m always happy to just go along with whatever.

Sure, I don’t like foreign films, but I actually love getting my nails done with her. I love that she’s always there no matter how stupid or crazy I am. I can be whoever I want around her and feel totally secure in that.

“Except for now.” I run a hand down the side of the dress, still annoyed by her lack of support.

She yells at me that I don’t know these guys, but it’s not like she does, either. Maybe they are genuinely good guys, and maybe Colt could genuinely fall for me. I saw his face when I tried on this dress. He liked it. He could barely form a coherent sentence.

I throw the balled-up tissue in the trash and look at my trembling, ring-less fingers.

I didn’t spend all day getting ready to quit at the last minute. Whether Amy’s right or not, I have to go to this party.

#34:

The One She’s Going For

Colt

I park my truck and wait for Finn to get out before setting the alarm. We amble across the street and head to the burger house. It’s always busy on a Saturday and we’re expecting to have to wait for a table, but we’re lucky enough to hit the family exit rush and are seated within five minutes.

I flop into the booth and rub my eyes. They’re stinging after an afternoon in front of Finn’s TV. We played Madden for three hours straight and, as expected, I won every game. Finn’s pretty good about it and if I were a better friend, I’d probably let him have a few, but we don’t work that way. Finn would kick my ass if he thought I lost on purpose.

“You going for the full house tonight?” Finn opens up the menu. “I gotta do it. I’ll feel sick afterward but it’ll be worth it.”

I gaze at the full house special—a three-course meal of massive proportions, technically meant for two, but Finn can clean that food away like he hasn’t eaten in a year.

“I’m not sure. I might go for—”

“What are you guys doing here?” Amy’s sharp voice makes me look up. Her brown eyes are dark with confusion, and she’s staring at me like she wants to slap my face or something. “Aren’t you supposed to be at a party tonight?”

My forehead wrinkles. “We decided not to go.”

“What?” Her eyes pop even wider than they already are. “No. You have to go. She wants you to go. She’s wearing a new dress and ankle-breaking heels, and like makeup and everything.”

“What are you talking about?” I pick the edge of my menu, playing dumb while my mind spikes with images of Tori in a skin-tight dress.

Amy grabs the menu and slaps my arm with it. “You know I’m talking about Tori.”

“She’s gone with Mack,” I grumble.

Dammit. I hate that he’s going to have his hands on her. That dress. Damn that dress.

“I don’t care who she’s gone
with
. You’re the one she’s going
for
!”

My head snaps up to look at Amy. She pinches her lips together and winces, shrinking back from the table.

“What did you just say?” I can barely breathe out the words.

Why would Tori be going for me? My eyebrows start to rise with realization as Amy gives me another pained expression, but I don’t have time to formulate the thought because Mack swaggers in with a scowling Tyler and half our football team.

He spots me staring at him and raises his hand with a wave. He points us out to the hostess who nods and guides them to our table. “We’ll pull some tables together for you guys, or would you rather have both booths?”

“We can do the booths,” Tyler answers for everyone, forcing a tight smile.

I stand before any of them have a chance to sit down.

“What are you doing here?” My voice comes out way harsher than I mean it to, but what the hell? Where’s Tori?

Mack gives me a weird look and playfully shoves my shoulder. “We’re just hanging out, man. What’s your problem?”

“I thought you were going to the party?”

“Yeah, changed my mind when I found out Derek and his friends are going to be there.” He shakes his head with a dark scowl. “He turned up at our place last night. I didn’t even know he was staying this weekend. Layla took off with Michelle as soon as Derek found out about the party and said he’d be there.”

“He invited his entire team,” Tyler grumbles. “I hate those sleaze buckets.”

Mack nods, looking grim. “After what they did to you, I don’t think I can handle a party without ending up in a fight with those douchebags. We all know Coach means business, so it’s better that we just stay away.”

Tyler growls in his throat, looking pretty dark. He’s no doubt lamenting the girls he’s missing out on right now.

“I sent a message around to the team, so hopefully any who do show up will behave themselves.” Mack glides past me and takes a seat.

“They’ll all bail once they hear the Bears are going.” Tyler slaps my shoulder and sits, holding out his hand to Amy, who numbly puts the menu in his hands.

“She’s gonna be there alone.” Amy’s whisper makes my blood run cold.

I jerk around to face Mack, resisting the urge to grab his collar and haul him back out of the booth. “So where’s Tori? Weren’t you taking her?”

“No.” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Why would I be taking her?”

“Because she said you invited her!”

Mack’s eyebrows rise at the tone of my voice, but he keeps his calm and even. “We were talking about it and I said we were all going. She said something about seeing me there, but I thought she’d go with a bunch of her friends and we might bump into her. She’ll be fine, right? It’s not like she’ll show up on her own.”

“She doesn’t have a whole bunch of friends.” Amy’s voice is shaking. I’ve never heard it do that before. “She has me, and we just got into a massive fight, and oh shit, she’s gone on her own expecting to find you all there! Is she going to be okay? I’ve heard Derek’s a real asshole.”

My eyes snap to Mack, whose face is etched with uncertainty.

He looks at me then swallows. “It’s Roxy’s cousin, so she’ll be there with some of her girls. They’ll look after…” He sighs, then winces, hearing the lie before he’s even said it. “Come on, it’s Tori. She’ll fly under the radar. I mean, she’s too wholesome to get noticed, right?”

“Not the way she looks tonight,” Amy voice quakes.

“That dress,” I whisper, sick bile swirling my stomach. “I gotta go get her.”

Yanking the keys from my pocket, I rush for the door. I don’t care who is supposed to do what or be where tonight. All I know is that Tori is walking into a lion’s den looking for me and I’m not there to protect her.