Page 102 of The Love Playbook

Tomorrow is our game against Ohio State. It’s on home turf, and every single one of the guys on the team knows the stakes. They’re ranked number two, so if we beat them and take home a win, it means we clinch their spot and rise up the ranks.

For this reason alone, most of the guys are choosing to stay in for the night, prioritizing rest and sleep, so they can bring their A-game to the field, and though I want to do my part to guarantee a win, I can’t seem to take my mind off Charlotte.

She’s been avoiding me all week. In fact, ever since she and my mother went dress shopping, her presence has been scarce, which might lead one to believe their outing didn’t go well. But when I questioned my mother about it, she seemed in good spirits, if not a little tired. A little fatigue is par for the course with the crazy hours she’s been working the last couple of weeks at her own insistence so she can help Garry pay for the wedding. So, if she’s lying, I wouldn’t know.

I lift my gaze from my phone, a pout on my lips, to find Damon staring at me. “Trouble in paradise?”

“I think Charlotte’s avoiding me. We were supposed to go out tonight, but she’s not answering my calls, and I haven’t been able to pin her down to discuss the details.”

“I think that’s called rejection, bro.” Brandon claps a hand over my shoulder, but I refuse to hear it.

Shrugging him off, I shift my gaze to Jace. “Call Brynn and find out where she’s hiding for the night.”

Jace raises his hands. “I promised her I wouldn’t get involved.”

I roll my eyes. “What happened to bros before hoes?”

“Clearly it’s been a long-ass time since you’ve had a girlfriend.”

“Or gotten some.” Brandon smirks.

“Like you’re one to talk. You’re so far up Tatum’s ass all the damn time.”

Brandon’s smile fades. “It’s not like I couldn’t get any if I wanted to,” he grumbles.

“She’s ghosting me, both through text and social media,” I say, ignoring him, “and unless Samantha’s lying, every time I’ve checked, she’s not in her room. She even bailed from her class early yesterday. I waited just outside the lecture hall and when she didn’t show, I asked Danger about it, and he was far too excited about informing me she’d already come and gone.”

“Yep. Sounds like rejection to me,” Damon says. “Hate to sayI told you so, but better to cut your losses now.”

I look at him, eyes narrowed. “She’s just freaking out because she’s catching feelings. Trust me, I know these things. If she’s not falling for me yet, she will be. It’s only a matter of time.”

Damon snorts. “Says the guy she’s avoiding.”

The truth is, Idothink she’s avoiding me, but I also think there’s more at play than meets the eye, and I can’t help but wonder if her mother has something to do with her absence. And if that’s the case, then what she needs is a little stress relief. A night doing something she loves, something relaxing. And what I need is my fucking date, because thinking about her is driving me wild.

Maybe I can combine the two.

All I need is to find her first.

I glance over at Jace who’s gripping his phone in his hands, a shit-eating grin spreading over his stupid face.

“So, Brynn’s coming over to the apartment tonight?” I confirm.

“Yep.”

“And Charlotte’s not going to be with her?”

“Nope.”

His answer only confirms that they’ve discussed it, and I find it hard to believe her best friends don’t know where she is on a Friday night.

“Interesting,” I say, before I reach out and snatch his phone from his hands.

“Hey!” He lunges for it, but I anticipate the move and dodge him easily, sprinting away from him as fast as my feet can carry me, all while scrolling through his texts with Brynn. I bypass all the sexy talk until Charlotte’s name catches my eye and I crow triumphantly.

“Ha!” I point at the screen. “Says right here she’s staying in and studying with Liz tonight. You knew all along and could’vetold me. Traitor.” I shake my head at him, disappointed as he stalks toward me and snatches his phone back.

Damon claps. “Congratulations, detective. You’ve just discovered she’s likely been lying to you all week about her whereabouts.”