Under the Lights by Abbi Glines Read Free Book Online

imagine Willa turning out this way. Especially looking like she did.
    I shifted the one book in my hand to the other arm, then held out my right hand. “Hello, Willa Ames. I’m Brady Higgens. It’s nice to meet you.”
    This time she smiled and slipped her hand into mine as we shook. “You’re still crazy,” she replied.
    I shrugged. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
    Pursing her lips, she looked adorable. “Hmmm . . . cocky much?”
    Actually, no I wasn’t. Gunner was cocky. West used to be cocky until he fell in love with Maggie. But me, I was the good guy. I had my life planned out ahead of me. I would be choosing a college soon from the all the offers I’d hadfor my talent on the football field. But I wasn’t cocky. I was determined and driven.
    â€œJust crazy,” I told her.
    â€œFriend rule. Good ones don’t leave you cornered by those two leeches,” Gunner said, interrupting us and drawing Willa’s attention from me to him.
    She smirked at him. “Maybe I’m not a good friend then.”
    Gunner smiled at her with a look I knew. He was interested. Dammit. Why did I care? I had my hands full with Ivy. Who was good to me. My main focus was football, and she supported that. Reconnecting with a girl from my childhood because she was gorgeous and there was a past emotional connection didn’t justify risking what I already had.
    â€œI’ll teach you. I have faith in you, Willa Ames. You’ll be my wingman before it’s all over,” Gunner said.
    I liked the wingman comment. That was keeping it real. Gunner didn’t do relationships. He just did sex.
    Willa chuckled, and the sound felt warm over my skin. “I’m sure I’ll be a pro soon.”
    I couldn’t decide if this was as platonic as they sounded or if they were flirting.
    â€œBrady,” Ivy called, and my guilt came back. Here I was getting all weird about Gunner and Willa while Ivywas trying to talk to me. What was wrong with me? This was not my typical behavior.
    â€œYou’re being summoned,” Gunner said, looking amused. “We’ll catch up with you later. Come on, Wingman, let’s go get your books for first period.”
    Willa gave me a small, tight smile, then turned to walk away with Gunner. Down the hallway.
    â€œWho is that?” Ivy asked. “She new?”
    Two things about Lawton: It was fucking small, and everyone knew everything about everyone. So that question didn’t even sound believable. Ivy knew exactly who Willa was by this point, and the girls in town were all talking about her. Now that she was seen talking to me and Gunner, people would do their research and remember just who Willa Ames was, and the three of us would start being on the tongues of gossips everywhere.

The Reality of Being Broken
CHAPTER 10
    WILLA
    I wasn’t a good friend. They just didn’t know how bad of one I was. Yet. Eventually it would get out. My past and the reason I was here in Lawton, living with my grandmother. But for now I could enjoy not being alone.
    Gunner had walked with me to my first-period class, chatting on about a party this Saturday night and acting as if I would be there too. No one had invited me to a party. I had no idea who Asa Griffith was, although the name was familiar. I’d heard it being mentioned yesterday more than one time. Even more than the football game on Friday night, and that was talked about a lot. Probably talk of his party.
    When Gunner had finally said his good-bye and gone to his own classroom, I was once again left to myself. No one approached me as I made my way to the desk the teacher had directed me to yesterday. My homework was complete and as perfect as I could make it.
    Someone took the chair beside me, and I glanced through my lashes to see a tall guy with dark hair, almost black. His shoulders were wide, making him seem more impressive and large.