Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game by Katie Ashley

Author:Katie Ashley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: grief, loss, young love, death, teenage romance
Publisher: Katie Ashley Productions
Published: 2013-04-29T08:00:00+00:00

It was after ten when I dropped Maddie off at her house. “Are you sure your parents won’t be mad at you…and me?” I asked.

Maddie shook her head. “I texted them to let them know what was going on. They were worried about you, so they told me to take my time.”

“So, you can’t be alone in the house with a boy, but you can run away from church and stay out half the night?” I asked.

Maddie cocked her head at me. “My parents knew what I was doing out with you.”

Figures, I thought. “They trust you that much?”

She nodded. “And why shouldn’t they?”

“I dunno.”

“I’ve never given them any reason to distrust me. Like I told you earlier, Noah, I’m not like other girls. I don’t sneak out of the house to hook up with random guys, and I don’t go to parties where there are drugs or drinking. I respect my parents and their wishes.”

I held up my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, I get you. You’re a good, church going girl who gets her kicks inhaling ice cream sundaes, not Jello shooters!”

Maddie smiled. “Hmm, once again, I sound totally boring.”

I shook my head. “Trust me, Maddie. You’re anything but boring.”

Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “Really?”

“You’re selling yourself short. Trust me, Jake didn’t spend time with boring girls, and neither do I.”

Maddie blushed. “Thanks, Noah. That means a lot to me.”

“Well, you’re welcome. And thanks for tonight—I really appreciate you listening to me and helping me through all of this,” I said.

She smiled. “You don’t need to thank me. I was happy to do it. And I had a good time, too.”

I returned her smile. “So did I.”

She hopped out of the Jeep. I watched her bounce up the walkway to the front door. She waved at me before heading inside. I then eased out of the driveway and made my way home. My palms were sweaty, and my skin felt clammy when I turned onto my street. I felt like an absolute pussy for having such a physical and emotional reaction.

I clutched the bouquet in my hands as I tentatively stepped through the garage door. The house was quiet except I could hear the television on in the living room. When I got to the doorway, I saw Mom asleep on the couch. A quick glance into the dining room showed the uneaten dishes and empty plates. From the looks of it, she’d canceled on Greg after my bitch fit. That made me feel even worse that she’d deprived herself of having time with the man she loved all because she had an asshole for a son.

I knelt down beside the couch. “Mom,” I said softly.

She stirred, but her eyes stayed closed.

“Mom, it’s me. Please wake up. I need to…I want to apologize.”

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she gazed over at me. There was a guilty look in her eyes that told me she still hated herself for hitting me. It was then replaced by one of relief.

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