Read Online For the Win (Playing for Keeps Book 1) by Amber Garza - Free Book Online

his arm.
    “That’s not what I meant.” My eyes flickered to the picture. “She’s gone. That’s why you’ll never meet her.”
    Cooper’s face fell. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s okay. You couldn’t have known.” And I wish he didn’t know now. Again I mentally slapped myself for allowing him into my house and life like this. I’d done nothing but give him ammunition to use against me. What the hell was I thinking? As I said goodbye to him, the ramifications of what I’d done crashed over me. I knew it had been a mistake to allow him to come over.
    And I had the strange feeling that nothing would ever be the same again.
     
     
    A loud, repetitive screech sounded in the distance. But it was far away. So far I couldn’t reach it. My body floated in nothingness, like I was lying on a cloud.
    “London? London?”
    I stirred at Dad’s insistent voice. “Huh?” Groggy, I rolled over in bed.
    The annoying noise ceased. “Your alarm was going off for like ten minutes. Are you going deaf?” Dad joked, his finger poking my ear gently. “Do you need to get your ears checked?”
    “No, I can hear just fine.” I sat up in bed, reaching for my glasses. The edges of the bandaids on my palms caught on the nightstand, pulling at my skin. “I was deep asleep, I guess.”
    “Don’t know how you could sleep through that awful noise. You feeling all right?”
    “Yeah. Just tired.” I put on my glasses, and Dad came into focus.
    His gaze landed on my Kindle. “Were you up late reading again?” He narrowed his eyes.
    “There was never a good stopping place.” I bristled defensively.
    Dad shook his head. “Well, I guess it could be worse.”
    “A lot worse,” I reminded him, shoving off my covers. “You would die if you knew what other kids my age were doing at night.”
    His eyes widened. “I don’t want to know.”
    “You’re right.” I stood up, teetering precariously on my swollen ankle. Leaning over, I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You don’t.”
    A worried look crossed Dad’s face as he glanced down at my ankle. “Still hurting today?”
    I waved away his concern. “It’s fine. Just a sprain. It’ll be better soon.”
    “Are you sure? I can stay home and take you to the doctor if you need.”
    “I can walk on it. See.” I took a few wobbly steps. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”
    “You’ve always been stubborn,” Dad said, his lips curling at the edges. “Try to stay awake during class, okay?”
    I shook my head. “I’ll do my best.”
    “Skyler’s giving you a ride to school, right?” Dad asked.
    “Yep.” Dad made me text her last night to ask for a ride. I hated doing it, but I knew if I didn’t Dad would insist on taking me, and I didn’t want him to go into work late.
    “Good. I’m heading to work. See you tonight.”
    “Yeah, see ya,” I called as he walked down the hallway. After opening my dresser drawer, I perused it for something to wear. My fingers fanned over t-shirts and jeans in search of something. Usually I grabbed the first thing I saw and threw it on. What was my problem today?
    Cooper’s face filled my mind, his blue eyes and dimpled smile. Chills skated up my spine remembering how it felt with his arms around me. I conjured up the memory of the way he smelled, of his kind eyes and caring demeanor. Chastising myself, I picked out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Then I stalked across the hall to the bathroom. After stepping into the shower, I snatched up the soap and scrubbed my skin hard, hoping it could erase all traces of Cooper from my mind. The last thing I needed was to get all tangled up about Cooper Montgomery. Sure he was nice yesterday, but it meant nothing. I would’ve bet anything that at school today he’d completely ignore me. He would be too busy with with popular, gorgeous girls like Calista, girls who fit the mold. I was not that girl, and I never would be.
    Besides, I shouldn’t want his attention. I’d already made a