By the Playbook

By the Playbook (5)

@God please make April better than March bc I can't take this anymore

I had been the new girl for most of my life, but always with Emily beside me.

There, no one was expecting me to be anything more than new. Here, I was expected to be perfect, to be the girl that could land Ryder Green.

I was already dressed, nervously running a flatiron over my hair until it was dead straight and hanging down my back. Kasey and Cassie were getting themselves ready, Ryder had come in for moral support but was now fast asleep on my bed again, already dressed and ready for school.

My hair was perfect. My makeup was impeccable, outfit exactly how I needed it to be. Usually, I'd be happy with how I looked, but the nerves wouldn't leave me alone, and I only wrapped my arms around myself as I slid my feet into a pair of black wedges, inspecting myself critically in the mirror.

The scar on my leg, which usually I was unconcerned about, kept catching my eye. It was too big to hide, running from the top of my thigh almost to my knee, a jagged line from a piece of metal tearing in and out of my skin, faded to silver and dark pink with the years. It was still noticeable, and I knew I would be critiqued for it for the simple reason that girls were b¡tches.

I considered dabbing concealer on it, but flung myself on my bed before I could give into the urge. Ryder opened his eyes, his ridiculously long eyelashes dark around the clear blue.

"You okay?" He asked, voice husky with sleep. I sighed and laid on my side next to him, facing him. "Nervous."

His eyes softened and he brought his hand up, smoothing his thumb over my cheekbone. "You don't need to be. You'll be fine."

"I know," I said, but neither of us were truly convinced by my tone. Ryder opened his arms. "C'mere."

I gladly crawled into them, nestling my head against his chest and listening to his familiar steady heartbeat as his arms came around me. One hand slid down my side reassuringly, ghosting over my scar. He paused, his hand resting on it, then pressed his lips to my forehead. "Beautiful," he murmured against my skin, then held me tighter.

I melted. Ryder could be a cocky jerk and was eighty percent of the time, but his soft side was one I absolutely adored. We had fun teasing each other, but when he got serious, I was either in trouble or he was being romantic.

"I love you," I closed my eyes as I whispered it to his chest. His thumb stroked the slip of skin my shirt revealed. "I love you too, Addie."

"That's all very romantic," an unimpressed voice said from the door. I opened my eyes to see Caleb scowling tiredly at us from the door. "But I'm not in the mood for live porn today."

"Caleb, get out." Ryder ordered, his gaze fixed on my lips. Caleb rolled his eyes again. "You're going to be late and I know you want to show her off before school, too."

Ruder let out a dramatic sigh when I got off the bed, slipping my feet back into my low black wedges. Caleb disappeared and Ryder pulled me to him in a long kiss before taking my hand and leading me upstairs, the house strangely quiet without the sound of the kids running away.

Kailey was just waking up to get ready for school, sitting on the table with Olivia across from her, chewing on a plate of waffles. Her tired brown eyes lit up when she saw me and she swallowed hard to rid her mouth.

"You're so pretty, Addie," she said longingly, twirling a strand of my hair around her finger. I kissed the top of her head. "I can straighten your hair for you tonight after your bath, pretty girl."

She looked satisfied as Olivia got up, kissing me on both cheeks. "Good luck," she said with a warm smile.

"Ryder, you take care of her, hear me?"