For the Win (Playing for Keeps Book 1) by Amber Garza Read Free Book Online Page B

Several cars passed by as if they hadn’t even seen the crash. But it was impossible to miss, so I knew they had seen it. People’s ability to be selfish and ignore other people’s needs never ceased to amaze me. As badly as I was itching to get to Calista’s, I couldn’t pass by a person in need like that.
    Now I was glad I had pulled over. London may be a total pain in the ass, but I would’ve felt like shit if she was stuck here all night with a sprained ankle. It was clear she was untrusting. And let’s face it, the chick was a mess. Who else would help her? Even though I was pretty sure she didn’t like me that much, at least I wasn’t a stranger. I had a feeling she would never let a stranger drive her home. It was like pulling teeth to get her to say yes to me.
    As I walked toward the driver’s side door, I glanced down at my phone.
    Calista: Where r u?
    Me: Something came up.
    Calista: U r still coming over, right?
    I stared through the window at London sitting in the passenger seat. She was holding her ankle, her face contorted in pain. She’d taken her helmet off, and it sat in her lap. Her golden hair was disheveled, a sweaty, tangled knot at the nape of her neck. She must have felt me staring because she craned her neck, her eyes catching mine. Then she flashed me a pained, yet grateful smile. It was the most vulnerable I’d seen her, and it took me aback.
    Me: I don’t think so.
    Without waiting for a response, I shoved the phone back into my pants pocket and slid into the car. I needed to get London home so she could ice her ankle.
    “Where to?”  I asked, after turning on the engine.
    “Turn around,” she instructed.
    I did as I was told, and slowly moved down the street.
    “Then turn right at this stop sign.”
    I flicked on my blinker and slowed. After turning, we passed an apartment complex and a few duplexes. Rarely did I come over to this part of town, and it was unfamiliar.
    “My house is right here.” She pointed with her index finger at a rundown duplex. The paint was chipped, the grass yellow. By the way she bent her head and bit her lip, it was clear that she was ashamed of it. Now I wondered if her hesitation of me coming over had more to do with pride than fear.
    As I pulled up along the curb, I nodded and pasted on a smile, determined to make her feel comfortable. The driveway was empty, the house dark. “Is anyone home?”
    She shook her head. “I thought Dad would be home by now, but it doesn’t look like it.”
    “Then I’ll help you inside.” After shutting off the engine, I maneuvered around the car, opened her door and reached for her. As I secured my arm around her waist, I caught a whiff of apple scent. It floated from her hair that was slowly falling out of the knot she had it in. Tendrils broke loose and whipped in the wind. Her fingers closed around my shirt, her eyes colliding with mine. They were light brown, the color of caramel, but with yellow flecks, like tiny pieces of gold. For a moment I was mesmerized by them. I paused, getting lost in them as if spellbound. A dog barked in the distance, and the spell was broken. Unsure what the hell happened, I averted my gaze and moved forward. She was walking a little more stable, her ankle able to support her slight frame better than before. But she still needed my support to get into the house.
    The interior of London’s duplex was nicer than the exterior. It was cozy, even, with old fashioned furniture and warm paintings on the wall. After lowering London into the dark leather recliner near the front door, I asked her if she had an ice pack.
    “You really don’t have to do all this,” she said, dropping her backpack on the ground. “My dad should be home any minute. Or I can text Skyler, my neighbor, and she can come over. You can go, really. You’ve done enough already.”
    She was unlike any other girl I’d ever met. Most girls would be begging me for help and attention at this point. She was practically