The Perfect Game (The Perfect Game 1)

“What about you?”

My forehead creased. “What about me?”

“Can you follow your own rules?” he asked, his tone serious.

“I try to live my life following those rules. Otherwise you hurt people. ”

He took a quick, short breath. “So did people lie to you a lot or something? Some guy break your heart in high school?”

“It’s more like my dad can’t seem to follow through on anything he says. He always tells me a lot of things, but he never actually does them. ” I hesitated.

“Like what?” Jack leaned forward, intrigue written all over his face.

“I don’t know, like everything. He promised he’d be at my graduation, and then he didn’t show. He says he won’t be late to things, but he always is. Or how he’ll buy me something, but then he doesn’t. He makes promises he can’t keep. All. The. Time. But it’s not just to me, you know? He tells other people things and they believe him. And when he doesn’t come through, I’m usually the one left picking up the pieces since he’s nowhere to be found. ”

I paused, suddenly insecure with my admission. “Is that stupid?”

“No. Your dad sounds like an ass. ” He frowned, his face twisted with disgust.

I looked into his eyes and then down at his mouth before continuing. “Have you ever noticed how pretty and beautiful words can be? How easy it is to say the things you think someone wants to hear. How you can affect a person’s entire day with just a few measly sentences?”

My slight smile dropped. “But when you don’t follow them up with any action, they’re completely pointless. They’re just sounds and syllables. But they mean absolutely nothing. ” My gaze glossed over as my mind wandered.

He reached across the table for my hands, but pulled away quickly before he touched them. I watched as he grabbed two loose quarters from the pile and scooted them over to my side of the table. “Almost forgot. ” He smiled before placing his hands on top of mine.

I tried not to smile, but failed. Heat swirled throughout my hands at his touch and I tried to tame the butterflies that flapped wildly in the pit of my stomach.

“I knew you had daddy issues. ”

My smile faded as I ripped my hands out from under his. “You’re such an asshole,” I said defensively, feeling stupid for sharing anything of importance with him.

“If you stop calling me names, I’ll tell you something personal about me. ”

“I don’t want to know. ” I folded my arms across my chest.

He swallowed his food when loud shouts drew his attention. He looked up from our table, grumbling under his breath.

“What is it?” I asked him, looking around for the source of the shouting. My eyes fell on two muscular-looking guys in baseball hats. “Friends of yours?”

“Not exactly. ”

I took another bite of my burger when a loud thwap diverted my attention. I jumped in my seat and noticed one of the guys had pounded his fist on top of our table, causing the quarters to spill out around me. I reached for my drink, steadying it before it toppled over. I looked at Jack, whose face was slowly turning a shade of purple. His hand flexed, his knuckles whitening with each compression.

“Get out of my face, Jared,” he threatened, his jaw tight.

“Not so tough sober, eh Jack?”

Jack looked at me with pleading eyes, as if apologizing for what was to come. Then he glared up at the unwelcome visitors crowding our table. “You’re just begging to get your ass kicked twice in one week, aren’t ya?”

“Get up!” Jared challenged.

“Can’t you see I’m on a date?” He gestured toward me.

Jared glanced in my direction. “Like she matters. Just one of many, isn’t that what you always say?”

Jack jumped out from behind the table and puffed out his chest. “Don’t talk about her like that. Don’t even fucking look at her. You hear me?” He took a step toward Jared, his fist clenched tightly at his side.

Jared noticed Jack’s intent and offered slyly, “Another time then. ”