For the Game Read Free Page A

saying all that? Because you thought I was sick again?”
    “No. I would come back for you whether you were sick or not. But, I’m not gonna lie, if you were sick again, I’d be back in an instant.”
    “Well, you don’t need to hurry back. I’m not sick.” She sighed. “And I’m not going to ask you to come home. I’ve seen you play ball. You belong on that field.”
    “I know, and the fact that you get that is just one more reason I love you so much.” I ran a hand over my head. “Encouraging me to stay only makes me want to be with you even more, you know?”
    She blew out a breath, a slight giggle on the tail end of it. “God, I can’t win with you.”
    “Yes, you can. You win every time with me, baby.” 
     

CHAPTER 3
    London
     
     
    Staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I adjusted the wig on my head for the thousandth time. Then I blew out a frustrated breath. God, it looked so fake. It was totally obvious that it wasn’t my real hair. There was no way I could walk around school like this. The teasing would be endless. Then again, the alternative would be worse. Then I’d be walking around with hair like a boy’s. Grunting, I flung myself down on the closed toilet seat and put my head in my hands. I’d never liked high school. I was never accepted, and I didn’t really fit in anywhere. School was the place where my uniqueness seemed to stand out the most; where I felt awkward and different. For years I’d roamed the campus feeling like no one understood me. And now things were even worse. Now I wasn’t just the girl with her nose in a book who preferred fictional characters to real people. Now I was the girl with cancer. The girl with hardly any hair and an emaciated body. Damn it, I could practically already hear the teasing now. I could only imagine the types of insults that would be hurled at me today.
    Maybe going back to school was a bad idea. Perhaps I could stay home and get my GED. Would that be so bad? My phone vibrated from where it lay on the counter. I lunged for it, snatching it up. As I did, my wig slipped down, strands of hair tickling my forehead and falling into my eyes. Annoyed, I slipped it off and flung it down on the counter before answering my phone.
    “Hey,” Cooper’s voice met my ears, warm and rich. I melted at the sound of it. “How’s my girl?”
    “Not great,” I answered honestly.
    “What’s going on?”
    Standing up, I caught my reflection in the mirror again. My face was drawn and pale, and the short strands of my hair stuck up all over my head. My stomach clenched, and anxiety gripped me tightly. “I don’t think I can do it, Coop.”
    “Do what?”
    “Go to school and face everyone.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I can’t wear this goddamn wig. It looks ridiculous, but if I don’t wear it I look even more ridiculous.”
    “Okay, first off,” he said firmly, “don’t ever talk about my girlfriend like that again.”
    A slight giggle tumbled from my lips. At first I thought he was actually angry with me about something.
    “Second, if anyone messes with you I’ll fly back and kick their ass.”
    I sobered up, knowing he was serious. And I was ashamed to admit how much I would enjoy seeing Cooper stick up for me that way.
    “And third, you never look ridiculous.”
    I snorted. “You wouldn’t say that if you could see me right now.”
    “I’d give anything to see you right now, London. And trust me, the word ridiculous would never come out of my mouth. Gorgeous, yes. Sexy, hell yes. Hot, oh yeah. But ridiculous, never.”
    This time when my gaze met my reflection I was surprised to see a slight flush to my cheeks, and my lips curving upward. Even my eyes seemed to hold a spark they hadn’t earlier. It was amazing the effect Cooper had on me. If only he wasn’t a year ahead of me in school. What I wouldn’t give to have his hand in mine when I entered the school today. That would surely keep the haters at bay. People