The Hard Way: a Sports Romance by Ashley Katie

Author:Ashley, Katie [Ashley, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Katie Ashley Productions
Published: 2016-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

CADE

By the time Friday rolled around, I had made it a week at The Ark, but I was so dead-ass tired it felt more like a month. Between practice and Avery making my life hell, I could have passed for a Walker from The Walking Dead with my glassy eyes and lifeless shuffle. Because of spending a week as a zombie, I was forcing myself to connect with the living by going to a party with Jonathan and Brandon when I left The Ark. I needed to be around people who could legally consume large quantities of alcohol.

As for Avery and me, we were barely speaking. After she gave me my daily task list, we went our separate ways. To anyone who didn’t know better, it was like we were complete and total strangers. I was sure none of the kids would have ever imagined we’d liked each other once upon a time.

Okay, so it had been more than just us liking each other.

Whenever Avery was dishing out my work schedule for the day, I wanted to say, "Before I scrape the shit stains out of the toilet, I wanted to let you know how epically sorry I am for treating you like a douche." I guess douche didn’t quite cover it. Heartless bastard with a blackened soul was probably more accurate.

But the words never came. I didn't know what the block was about. Yeah, I wasn’t real big on having to say I was wrong about something, but normally I wasn’t too paralyzed to say two simple words. Part of me wanted to make an appointment with my mom's shrink to ask what my deal was. What was it about Avery that made me want to be a better person yet behave like a total bastard at the same time?

The one bright spot in the shit-storm of a job was Darion. The kid had become my shadow on Wednesday. When his buddies were shooting hoops or watching movies, he was tagging along on trash detail with me. I’d never really been idolized in person. I knew it wasn’t about me personally, but more about the fact that I played for Tech.

Although I could have told him to get lost, I kinda liked having him around. It was nice having someone to talk to while cleaning up. We rehashed old Super Bowl games and the latest NFL player stats.

On Friday, Darion’s mom cleared it with the center that I could sign him in and out to come to morning practice with me. When I came to pick him up, Avery was at the desk chatting with Vicki, the sweet, white-haired secretary.

Avery’s brows rose in confusion at the sight of me coming in so early. “Did practice get canceled?”

I shook my head at her as I reached for a pen. “No. I’m here to sign Darion out.”

Avery’s mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish out of water. “Why are you doing that?”

“He’s coming to morning practice with me.”

“He is?”

“Yep.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.