I hated looking away from her, but I knew if I looked at her much longer, especially that look 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.”
I looked at the score and smiled. Seth had probably continued to play a great game. And I was not there to see him finish it. I figured I could at least explain why. “He gave me the brush off.”
Abi’s eyes widened. “What? When?”
“Last night. I wanted to buy him dinner, so I waited for him to leave practice, and when he came out, he was just not that into me. I guess I’m getting too close too fast. He probably doesn’t even feel the same way I do. Do you think the kiss could have complicated things?”
“For you or him?” she asked. “Because you seem to be the one second-guessing things. Wasn’t it a nice kiss?”
“Yes, and that’s why I can’t believe he didn’t want to do it again. He didn’t even mention it. He didn’t even text me to say goodnight. And when we first started talking, he did that every night. I guess I’m not on his mind as much as I’d like to be. I at least thought we’d made that much progress.”
“You can’t be seriously thinking he doesn’t like you anymore. I think you’re overreacting, and listen, if you want him, you better go and get him. Guys can be clueless. I can’t tell you how many times my stupid brother had to be thrown hints by his girlfriends. Guys don’t see things the way we do.”
“You’re right. And Seth had the game on his mind. He’s the team captain and probably under a lot of pressure.”
“You know how it is. You have to play and focus. He needed the win, and you should consider giving him his space your contribution to his victory and see it as a positive thing and not a negative one. You can tell him ‘you’re welcome’ tonight at the party.”
I laughed and looked down at the donut in front of me. “Is that jelly?” I pulled my donut apart to find it stuffed with strawberry jam. “Yuck. I asked for Bavarian cream.”
“Here, eat this.” She pushed her donuts in front of me. “I hate donuts. I only got them because I didn’t want you to eat alone. The glaze on this one is the best. I hate that coconut-dipped garbage.”
I made a face. “I love donuts, but I don’t know what I’m doing here. I guess I was hiding from him.”
“Well, I’m sure the game is over now, so if you want, we can go to my dorm and get glammed up before the party.” She wagged her brows and gave me a great big smile.
“You have met me, right?” I asked with a laugh. “Because I don’t do glammed up. I can barely paint my own nails, and I’ve only done that once.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Abi looked at me as if I were some kind of alien with four heads.
“No, I’m not. Clara tried to do them a few times, but she always loses patience with me. I tried clear polish, but what’s the point?”
“Come on,” said Abi, getting to her feet. “We’re ditching this stupid donut hole and going to the dorm to make you even hotter than you already are. Seth is going to be knocked right out of his rugby shoes.”
“Cleats,” I corrected, only to earn a strange look. “We wear cleats.”
“Whatever.” Abi waved her hand and locked arms with me as she practically dragged me from the place.
When we got back to her dorm room, we went inside where she cranked up some music. “Don’t worry. Most everyone is at the game or out already. The ones that are here are so high they don’t mind.”
“Could you put it on something that doesn’t make
