For the Game Read Free Page B

liked Cooper. They cared what he thought. He was popular and charismatic, a guy everyone wanted to be liked by. He shielded me from a lot when he was around. Without him I felt naked, exposed, and vulnerable. I didn’t like it one bit.
    “London?”
    His voice caught my attention. For one second it was like he was in the room. “Yeah?”
    “You can do this. You’re stronger than you think you are. You always have been.”
    I breathed deeply. “You really think so?”
    “I know so. It’s what first attracted me to you.”
    It still seemed unfathomable that I ended up with Cooper Montgomery. A year ago I never would’ve believed it was possible. I never would’ve dreamed that a guy like him could fall for someone like me. Now I could hardly imagine my life before he was in it. He’d fit into my life seamlessly, as if he had always been there. “Really? I thought it was my sexy outfit.” I chuckled. “Or maybe it was my klutziness.”
    “Now that I think about it, your klutziness really is the reason we’re together.”
    I froze, pondering his words. “No, it’s not.” I remembered falling all over his grandma at the first baseball game I attended. Of course I didn’t know it was his grandma at the time, but still it was embarrassing.
    “Think about it. Our relationship sort of started the day you fell off your bike.”
    “True,” I agreed, a little uneasy at the odd turn our conversation had taken. “Are you saying that if that day had never happened we wouldn’t have gotten together?” I liked to think that Cooper and I were meant to be. That even if I hadn’t fallen off my bike eventually we would’ve ended up together. That fate would’ve made sure of it.
    “Oh, hell no. Trust me, I would’ve found my way to you, London.”
    I bit my lip, grateful for his response.
    “Your klutziness just moved things along more quickly.” He paused, and I listened to his breath through the line. “That day I was so impressed with your strength and bravery. I was drawn to you in a way I’d never been drawn to any girl before. And after that I could never get you out of my damn head.”
    “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” I teased.
    “At the time I thought it was. And I was scared.”
    I remembered. I had been scared too.
    “But I’m glad that I didn’t let fear hold me back. I’m glad I took a risk. It was worth it.”
    “We’re not talking about you and I anymore, are we?”
    “You’re gonna be fine today, London. I have faith in you.”
    If only I could’ve been as confident about it as he was.
     
    Cooper’s words replayed over and over in my head as Skyler pulled her car into the school parking lot. I have faith in you. I have faith in you. I clung to those words like a lifeline. And I guess that’s what they were. They were the only thing keeping me upright, the only thing keeping me from sinking. Reaching up, I adjusted the Tigers hat on my head. In the end I had decided against the wig. I knew many of my teachers probably wouldn’t let me wear the hat during class, and that would mean I’d have to take it off, exposing my short hair. Still, I felt more natural that way than wearing that horrible wig. Besides, Cooper’s hats gave me courage. It was like when I wore them he was with me. And if I couldn’t have him by side with fingers threaded through mine, wearing his hat was the next best thing.
    I flinched when my phone vibrated from my pocket. Once I yanked it out, I glanced down at it.
    Cooper: R u at school yet?
    Skyler parked and cut the engine. Students filled the lot, all walking in different directions. Brightly colored backpacks blurred past, a kaleidoscope of colors.
    Me: Yes.
    Cooper: R u wearing one of my hats?
    Me: Yes.
    Cooper: Which one?
    “Are you coming or you going to stay in the car texting your boyfriend all day?” Skyler asked, mock irritation in her voice. But she wore a kind smile, so I knew she was only teasing.
    “Don’t tempt me,” I told